Waterbury Fire Fighters Association

What's New at IAFF 1339

Updated Message From President Schaitberger About Health Care Excise Tax

Updated On: Jan 15, 2010 (23:12:00)

Excise Tax Update

January 15, 2010 -- With a health care reform deal announced loudly in the media between “labor,” the administration and Congress on changes to the excise tax provision, I want to provide you a new update today that outlines some of the key elements of that deal and what we know about the potential impact they will have on each and every one of you.

From Day One, we forcefully argued that the excise tax was bad policy and bad politics and that it had no place in any health care reform bill. Not once did we waver from that argument.

Our message was heard and we believe had a significant impact on what ultimately came out of the negotiations between representatives of the labor movement, the administration and Congress.

We believe we can say with confidence that our constant and consistent message resulted in significant changes to the excise tax provision of the reform bill that the House and Senate now must finish debate on and send to the president.

I don’t want to overstate this, but suffice it to say that our hard opposition to the excise tax convinced negotiators to agree to new provisions that, while they fall short of our goal of eliminating the excise tax, these changes do effectively eliminate the burden of additional taxes that would have fallen on our members had the tax remained unaltered.

Based on the initial information we have received from the AFL-CIO on the changes to the excise tax provision, we know that:

• Every health plan covering our members is exempt from the tax until 2018, based on new provisions that collectively bargained health benefits will be exempt from the tax until 2018, as would the benefits of all state and local municipal worker plans even if not collectively bargained;
• The threshold for the tax to kick in on family plans has been raised from $23,000 to $24,000 for all workers, and from $26,000 to $27,000 for our members;
• The cost of dental and vision coverage will be excluded from the cost of the plans when determining if they rise above the threshold beginning in 2015;
• Each year after 2013, the $27,000 threshold for our members will increase by the CPI + 1 percent and will rise even more in high cost states;
• Further, if health care costs rise faster than expected prior to 2013, the initial thresholds will also be increased, as well.

While there’s significantly more to the deal than just these initial bullets, and we are going to do a full and complete analysis over the coming days, we have not been able to identify a single IAFF member’s health care plan that would or will be subject to the excise tax based on these new provisions scheduled to take effect in 2018.

We know there’s a lot more to go in the political process before this bill is finally approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President, but we are pleased that our efforts to protect our members from a severe economic penalty appear to have made a significant impact on what we are told will be in the final legislation.

We will update all of you as more details of the bill emerge.

January 14, 2010 Message from President Schaitberger on Excise Tax

January 11, 2010 Message from President Schaitberger on Excise Tax

Fallen Buffalo Fire Fighters T-Shirts

Updated On: Jan 13, 2010 (21:17:00)

Buffalo Fire Fighters Local 282 are selling T-Shirts in memory of two fallen fire fighters, Lt. Chip McCarthy and Fire Fighter Jonathan Croom. All proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go directly to the families of our fallen brothers.

Click Here to go to the Website

Click Here to Download Flyer

Remembering the Worcester 6

Updated On: Dec 03, 2009 (21:35:00)

10 Years Later, IAFF Remembers Fatal Worcester Cold Storage Fire

December 3, 2009 – On the 10th Anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire, which claimed the lives of six Worcester Local 1009 fire fighters, the IAFF pays homage to Brothers Paul Brotherton, Jeremiah Lucey, Joseph McGuirk, Timothy Jackson Sr., Thomas Spencer and James Lyons III.

“We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by six of our best that dark day,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “They served every day on the job with dedication and professionalism and will not be forgotten.”

IAFF 3rd District Vice President Mike Mullane says, “We must also remember the families of the fallen. Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”

Worcester Local 1009, the Worcester Fire Department and the City of Worcester is holding a memorial and remembrance event. Fire fighters will march to the Franklin Street fire station, built on the former location of the cold storage warehouse. Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts President Bob McCarthy expects at least 3,000 to attend the tribute. Click here for more information.

The 1999 fire started when two homeless people knocked over a candle. As the blaze grew to five-alarm status, Worcester and neighboring fire companies were called to respond. When fire fighters arrived, the homeless people were thought to still be inside.

Complicating their efforts was the building’s structure: it was windowless with thick walls designed to maintain cold temperatures. But, on the day of the fire, the building held in the heat and smoke.

Fire fighters inside the warehouse made repeated mayday calls and activated audible location alarms. However, Brotherton, Jackson, Lucey, Lyons, McGuirk and Spencer perished. It took eight days to recover them.

Local 1009 President Ronald Armstrong, a 33-year veteran fire fighter, was serving as PFFM 7th District Vice President at the time. “I was on duty that night and was called to the union office while our local president, Frank Raffa, went to the scene. The sense of loss was powerful. It was hard for everyone,” he says.

On December 9, 1999, an estimated 100,000 visiting fire fighters from around the world, along with President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Representative McGovern (D-MA), Governor Paul Cellucci and thousands of mourners participated in a memorial service for the six fallen fire fighters. Kennedy delivered one of the more memorable speeches in fire fighter history. He closed his speech with the Firefighters Prayer/Poem, which is now hanging in every firehouse in Massachusetts.

Click here for a transcript of Kennedy's remarks.

Following the funerals, Steve MacDonald, then a member of the Boston, MA Local 718 Executive Board who was on the ground from the start, wrote about the fire and memorial service, documenting the tragedy and the story of the IAFF response and the part of this union in taking care of its members and their families. Click here to read the story.

After the fire investigation was complete, the building was demolished and the lot left vacant. After Worcester’s former central fire station was usurped for development purposes, a new central fire station – dubbed the Franklin Street station – was dedicated and became fully operational in November 2008.

2010 Waterbury Fire Fighter Calendar is Now Available

Updated On: Nov 23, 2009 (23:48:00)

The 2010 Waterbury Fire Fighters Calendar is completed and is now available. The next signing will be December 11th at 7:00PM at JC Hooks on Chase Ave in Waterbury. All proceeds go to benefit the Connecticut Childrens Burn Camp.

Click on the picture to go to the calendar website

Governor Rell Signs Infectious Disease Bill

Posted On: Jun 29, 2009 (17:16:52)

Governor Rell Signs Bill Protecting

First Responders Exposed to Infectious Diseases

Governor M. Jodi Rell today signed a bill that requires hospitals to promptly notify paramedics, firefighters, police and other emergency responders when a patient they have treated or handled has been diagnosed with an infectious disease.

“This bill help protect the lives of those whose job it is to save lives,” Governor Rell said. “It is vital they know as soon as possible when one of their patients has a serious infectious disease, such as tuberculosis. The law ensures they have access to that information and are promptly notified.”

Senate Bill 1010, An Act Concerning Exposure to Infectious Diseases and Emergency Responders, requires that hospitals notify emergency service organizations – within 48 hours verbally and 72 hours in writing – after a patient has been diagnosed with an infectious pulmonary disease. The bill also adds exemption from liability.

The bill restores the protective language for emergency workers that was inadvertently stripped from the federal Ryan White Act of 1990 when it was reauthorized in 2006. The omission created a significant safety issue for emergency responders, who are exposed to diseases when they treat patients in uncontrolled environments.

“With all the privacy laws surrounding health care now, it is essential to preserve the rights and health of our emergency responders,” Governor Rell said.

Congratulations to the 20 Members Promoted

Posted On: Jun 24, 2009 (20:38:12)

The Waterbury Fire Fighters Association congratulates the 20 members who were promoted this evening, June 24, 2009.

Promoted to Deputy Chief: Stephen Ayotte and Richard Hart

Promoted to Battalion Chief: Javier Lopez, Daniel French, Robert Stoeckert, and MIchael Couture.

Promoted to Captain: Steven Veneziano, and Thomas Meier.

Promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal: Terrance Ballou

Promoted to Lieutenant: Tom Cassin, Patrick Crimmins, Thomas Eccleston, Marc Divergilio, Jason Emery, Daniel Huften, Jeffrey Boulanger, Keith Fortier, Ronald Maia Jr, Gene Steneck, and Bruce Bachinsky.

Once again congratulations to all!

Remembering the New York Fathers Day Fire, 2001

Updated On: Jun 16, 2009 (15:36:00)
Thank you to Retired Deputy Chief Marty Groody for sending this along.With Fathers Day approaching a reminder to Please be careful out there Father's Day Fire by the late Andy Fredericks Father's Day 2001Queens, New York I could not let such an important day pass with mentioning two things: first Read More...