• Past President Reports

Special Order of Business

• Security Benefits Fund (SBF) Help Table Today
  Members who require help regarding dental, prescription drugs, optical or any other benefits provided via the UFA SBF should visit the SBF table today. SBF personnel are there to help you.

Today's Agenda

1. Contract Update
Since the Special Delegate Meeting in August, communications have continued with the City Labor Commissioner, James Hanley, regarding the re-opener for the 2004-06 contract, and also the 2008-10 contract. The Executive Board is preparing for its next meeting with the City, which is scheduled to take place on September 29th.

2. Rescheduled October Union Meeting
The October 9th Union Meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, October 16th due to conflicts with the Jewish Holy Day of Yom Kippur. Please insure that this date is adjusted on all your personal and firehouse calendars.

3. UFA Scholarship Fund Deadline Oct. 10th
The UFA Scholarship Fund filing deadline for submission is October 10, 2008. Applications and instructions for the UFA Scholarship Fund are now available on the UFA website: www.UFANYC.org. Each scholarship award will be in the amount of $600. Any questions please contact Scholarship Fund Chairman, Don Ruland.

4. FF Family Scholarships List Available on UFA Website
www.UFANYC.org includes a special Firefighter & Family Scholarship Section. You can look up scholarships offered by the UFA, FDNY fraternal organizations, memorial scholarship funds, and other scholarship information that the UFA is made aware of. General descriptions of the types of scholarships and eligibility are posted. Contact information or links are provided on the site, which enable you to follow up with each organization for particulars. Scholarship dollar amounts, filing periods and other criteria change periodically. Persons seeking scholarships need to contact the listed organizations sponsoring the scholarships for the current types of scholarships offered and application procedures. If you wish to add scholarships not yet listed, forward the info to UFA Recording Secretary, Joe Miccio via fax at 212-683-4359 or email at RecordingSecretary@UFANYC.org.

5. UFA Urges 'No Water' Radio Alerts
The UFA asked the Department in August to require dispatchers to call incident commanders every five minutes about water-supply problems, and then alert firefighters in burning buildings by radio. This would help our members decide whether to move to safer locations if they've been in a building too long without water. It is our belief that this simple change to FDNY protocol could help avert another disaster like the one that unnecessarily killed FF Joseph Graffagnino and FF Robert Beddia. The Department stated that it is reviewing our proposal. See attached media clips.

6. Governor Signs Law to Reduce Military Salary Payback Liability
Governor Paterson signed into law this summer UFA supported legislation that relieves the financial burden on all FFs (and other City employees) who were called to active military duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, significantly slashing military vets' salary repayment obligations. There is also an extension of the time-frame in which they can pay what is owed and a reduction in the maximum percentage of salary that may be deducted each pay period. Significant improvements include:

• Repayment terms were modified from 10% of an employee's salary over five years to 7.5% of an employee's salary over ten years. All debt has been reduced by an administrative adjustment of 15%.
• Changes the City's program to a differential pay program where employees receive the difference between their City salary and military pay when the military pay is less than the City salary with no repayment required.
• DCAS reported the reductions began in July. Some members may need to have a manual adjustment made to their check and therefore, can expect to see the adjustment at a later date.

7. IRS Ruling on Taxation of 1/60th & ITHP
After a question about the 1/60ths and ITHP components of disability retirement tax-free status was raised last year, the City, UFA and other fire and police unions jointly urged the IRS to keep the disability pension for civil servants injured on the job completely tax-free. The Fire and Police unions hired a law firm that specializes in tax law to assist in negotiations. In order to be exempt from paying current or retroactive taxes on these additional incomes, the recent IRS final ruling requires that a member be retired prior to 1/1/09. The disability application does not need to be finalized by then. That is so because in the case of a retiree, a disability application decided after retirement, but which was put in prior to retirement, will be retroactive to the retirement date. On the other hand, for an active member, the relevant date will be the date of the award of Accidental Disability Retirement benefits. The UFA urged that all retirees, including future retirees, should continue to have their full pensions excluded from taxes. Unfortunately the IRS disagreed with the argument. However in most cases the portion of a member's LODI disability pension that will be subject to taxes will be minimal and the current retired members will not have any tax liability. The new taxable portions are:

• The portion of the annuity that is attributable to (A) member contributions that were picked up under 414 (h), and (B) accumulated interest on all member contributions, whether or not those contributions were picked up;
• ITHP attributable to years after 20; and
• The additional "1/60th" benefit for years after 20.

8. Primary Day & Election Day Update
The UFA would like to thank all the members that turned out for Primary Day. Operations took place for Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver in lower Manhattan and Mike McMahon for Congress on Staten Island. We are happy to report that both of these UFA endorsed candidates won their primary elections. Speaker Silver and Mike McMahon both expressed their sincere thanks for our members help and support. The general election will take place on November 4th this year. Members will be needed for the Get Out The Vote Operation on Election Day and the days leading up to it. Delegates should start compiling a list of their members that will be turning out to support UFA endorsed candidates. A list of endorsed candidates will be sent out in October.

9. Self Mutual & RSOT Payback
As the calendar year draws closer to an end, it typically becomes more difficult for members to have approved payback of Self-Mutuals or a rescheduling of RSOT tours. Members are advised to submit IN WRITING all requests for repayment of Self-Mutuals and to document IN WRITING any time you are refused to reschedule an RSOT tour owed due to a group change. Keep a copy of all documented refusals. It is also recommended that a company journal entry is made documenting refusals. Member rights regarding Self-Mutuals and RSOT are spelled out on PA/IDs 3-94, 1/90 and 1-90 Addendum 4, respectively. PA/ID 1-90, section 11.2 specifically notes: "Firefighters with a group/vacation change which results in the opportunity for fewer hours of RSOT are authorized to work additional tours as needed by the Department for 96 hours of RSOT in the calendar year." Without proper documentation of refusal you can lose your right to carry over RSOT tours to the following year, and you may be penalized for not repaying Self-Mutuals within 90 days.

10. Random Drug Testing Quarterly Report
The FDNY reports that the following units were tested randomly between 4/01/08 and 6/30/08. A total of 90 Units were tested within this period: 46 Engines, 29 Ladders, 10 Battalions, 1 Probie School Group, 1 Borough Command, 1 Division, 2 Squad Companies, and 9 Fire Marshals. Reports listing each company tested and individual dates are attached. They are sorted by both company and chronologically.

11. Delegate Education Seminar Location & Dates
In accordance with the UFA Constitution, Atlantic City was chosen by an overwhelming majority vote of the Delegate body. Company Delegates will participate in extensive training sessions regarding matters of significant importance to all NYC Firefighters. Exact dates for next spring will be announced shortly.

12. Proposed Constitution Amendments
In accordance with the UFA Constitution, the Constitution Committee is scheduled to meet on September 24 and September 29 (if necessary) to review proposed amendments, which will be published prior to the October and November Union Meetings. Proposed amendments will be discussed and voted on at the November Union Meeting.

13. City Health/Medical Plan Transfer Period
The Health Benefits Transfer Period for both active and retired members begins November 1, 2008 and ends November 30, 2008. Health plan changes requested during the Transfer Period will be effective the first day of the first full payroll period in January 2009 for active members and effective January 1, 2009 for retired members. Late changes will not be accepted by the City!!! During the annual Transfer Period members may transfer into any health plan offered for which they may be eligible, add or drop optional rider coverage or add or drop dependent(s). To make changes, (including enrolling in the Buy-Out-Waiver Program), the member must complete a Health Benefits Application. (To elect the Buy-Out Waiver Program or change health premium contribution tax status, members must fill out both a Medical Spending Conversion Enrollment/Change Form and a Health Benefits Application. Conversion Forms must be completed and returned to your agency personnel office or health benefits rep by a date to be announced.) Forms are available at www.nyc.gov/olr or through the Health Desk at Fire Headquarters. Members who waive their City health benefits, will lose their PICA drug coverage. City Health/Medical Plan vendors will be present at the October 16 Union Meeting to answer your questions and distribute literature. Make sure you get the info you need to best protect your family!

14. Update Your Address, Email, Phone #s with the UFA
Members and Delegates wishing to receive important information or notifications from the UFA should insure that their residence addresses, email addresses, home and cell phone numbers on file with the UFA are updated and accurate. In order to do this, you must prepare and sign a 'SBF Change of Address Form' and mail to the UFA, Attn: SBF. Forms can be obtained from your Delegate, who can assist you, or you can call the UFA SBF at 212-683-4723, or visit the Forms Section of the UFA web site at www.UFANYC.org.

15. Change of Beneficiary/Address Checklists
UFA Recording Secretary Joe Miccio reports that Change of Beneficiary and Change of Address Checklists are inside the following three 2007 updated Delegate Manual Booklets: 'Security Benefits Fund', 'NYC Health Plans', and also 'Insurances & Free Benefits.' They also include contact information for making changes. More Booklets can be ordered from the Recording Secretary's office at 212-545-6973.

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President