"FTM"
"Open Wounds" should be pretty much self explanatory.  These are the stories about injustices that have been heaped upon Brothers and Sisters on the job by those in management who've forgotten what it's like - or more likely were Firefighters in name only while on their quest to a seat in the marble palace.  "F-I-N-O" or Firefighter In Name Only!  MUTT will work too. 
It would seem that some find it easer to hide their head's inside an NFPA 1500 Manual, forsaking the lives and families that we hold dear.
~~~ 
OW-2
Received via email: 10.05.07  So, how has a probie been talked down to at #3? I've got to know! Please, enlighten me! The way I heard it, his poor attitude was the real problem. I now know who we have been talking about and recall seeing the worn out probie at a fire Thanksgiving Day. Would you like to know the assignment which caused so much exertion? 'Catching the hydrant!' Now, as previous post have indicated that the ability to do the job is what, ultimately, matters, should this be cause for concern?

I, anxiously, await your comments.

Sam Adams, Patriot and Brewer

Received via email: 10.05.07  If my father had kept me from fu**ing the maid, I would have moved out permanently to the beach house. That's the kind of bullshit we had to tolerate in my hood, homey. Don't be talking your "from the hood" bullshit with my ass.

Received via email: 10.05.07  I had to use my mother's Cadillac to go to my senior prom because my lame ass dad fu**ed up and sent the Mercedes to the shop. On fu**ing senior prom weekend! Can you believe it? What an asshole.

Received via email: 10.05.07  10-05 #1 I am done with whole thing. My mind is made up about this situation. You HEAR whatever you want, the conversation about the probies are done. If you want answers you go take it up with them. For some reason I dont think you will approach neither one about what you want to know.

Received via email: 10.05.07  That is "either" one, not neither one. Most of you are grammatical rebels.

Received via email: 10.05.07  10-05 5# either or neither suck a ball.

Received via email: 10.08.07  who is josh white and which department does he work for?

Received via email: 10.08.07  Hoo-ray....." Grammar Guy " is back. Once again our site is safe. Thank's for being our friend Grammar Guy. You sure know how to keep us looking smart.

Received via email: 10.08.07  Subject: Retired Lt. John Stevener 

We were informed this morning that Retired Fire Lieutenant John Stevener passed away on Saturday, October 6th. There will be a Memorial Service this Saturday, October 13th, at 1:00 pm. It will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 - 5th Street North, St. Petersburg. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Stevener and the family.

Received via email: 10.08.07  One thing I have gotten from this page: I really like the term "suck a ball." I look forward to using that at the station.
Suck a ball. Suck a ball. Fantastic.
Peter Frampton
Career went with the hair

Received via email: 10.15.07  Question.....What station do you work at when you get excited about going to work and using the term "suck a ball". IkD

Received via email: 10.16.07  I work station # suck a ball

Received via email: 10.16.07  That has to be #3. It's the one I most associate with the term 'suck a ball'.

Received via email: 11.06.07  All that suck a ball talk killed this room.

Received via email: 11.12.07  ummmm hairy balls maybe from one or the women?

Received via email: 11.17.07  Here we go again. When will Firefighters learn to keep there mouth shut? While attending the Seminar Thursday and receiving the generosity of the Salvation Army's refreshments, one of our Brothers was overheard complaining to the servers about the choice of donuts. Seems that firefighters are bagel eaters. I hope this individual hasn't destroyed the fine relationship we have all enjoyed with the SA over the years. Way to go Shithead..whomever you are.

Received via email: 11.18.07  Here's a little piece of history that enforces what 11.17.07-#1 had to say. Back some time around 1979 #11 station had been open about three years. At that time the Alberston's grocery store on 54th Avenue and 31st Street thought it would be a nice gesture to bring all the one-day-old pastry over to the fire station and give it to the men to eat or take home or whatever. The station cooks did their shopping at Albertsons and they appreciated it. Most of the time the pastry was the same as what you'd pay for in the store. It wasn't stale or moldy and there was a very large variety of items. This wasn't a daily occurance because they didn't always have items they could give us. But is was usually one to two times a week. The men enjoyed having the free pastry to eat coming on and going off duty. Many times we threw away what didn't get eaten but that was because there was so much of it given to us we couldn't eat it all. The person delivering the pastry usually came on a "B" shift night. But for whatever reason he had occasion to come on the "A" shift night. I don't know about now but in those days the "A" shift guys disliked just about everything and almost always had complaints about something. When the person brought in the pastries on this night one of the "A" shift guys, true to form said (and I paraphrase) "When are you gonna give us some of the good stuff instead of this stale stuff all the time? That was the last time we ever saw a free donut or bear claw or anything else from the Albertson's store. Just remember. There's always one who will screw it up for everyone.

A piece of history just like me,
Dick Tully
TEAM:  We think there's a similar "pizza caper" that haunts station no.4...

Received via email: 11.20.07  As the TEAM touched on, the #4 "pizza caper" was committed by a shift other than the "A". The "A" shift made a point to inform visitors that nothing other than "thank you" and a tip from the kitty was exchanged.

Received via email: 11.22.07  Both stories are true, sadly enough.

Received via email: 11.25.07  Is Dick Bully still on this site. Oh sorry, I meant Dick Tully, no pun intended.
TEAM:  Dunno.  Seen any shit stirrers?

Received via email: 11.30.07  Say what you want about Dick Tully, but I was just a broom when he went over the bargaining table and threatened to kick one of the city manager's do-boys azzes. That's back when we had a city manager, probably before your time, newb.

Received via email: 12.01.07  Yes, that was classic Dick. Always trying to move our image upward from the bar room to a higher level of professionalism. That is an old school redneck story that only a true hillbilly could love.

Received via email: 12.01.07  "threatened to kick on the city manager's do-boy azzes." Yeah that was the problem back then, a bunch of threats and no action. Typical hillbilly bullsh--! Its still the same, except now the old farts are gabbing over the internet. Get a life and enjoy your retirement. When you leave the department, you should leave. Quit hanging around, you got a new life now.

Received via email: 12.03.07  Ref: 12.01.07 Atleast Dick Tully made it over the table, instead of working under the table like you, newb.

Received via email: 12.03.07  Yeah, but its so much fun being retired and still spending hours upon hours on a fire department related web site. GET A LIFE.

Received via email: 12.03.07  Hey leave Dick alone.

Received via email: 12.04.07  Hey, leave YOUR dick alone.

Received via email: 12.05.07  Cant we call him Richard, Dick went out years ago. Run Dick Run.

Received via email: 12.07.07  Hey, I kind of like calling him Dick.

Received via email: 12.07.07  It's MR. Dick to you.

Received via email: 12.07.07  Wow, I thought I worked with professionals. If I read this I wouldn’t confer us a raise either.

Received via email: 12.09.07  Nice use of the word confer.
TEAM:  We concur...

Received via email: 12.09.07  12-7 # 3. Don't get discouraged, remember these thought's conveyed on these pages that are somewhat demeaning to our profession are coming from a very small percentile of our ranks, I figure it's about 3 percent. So that means that 97 percent of us are smart and should be promoted to chief's.
Just trying to let alittle sunshine on a cloudy day, hopeing it find's the right ass to shine on.

Received via email: 12.10.07  Old Southern Saying: "The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time".

Received via email: 12.29.07  Guess its been shining on the same one since 12/10.

Received via email: 01.01.08  you should close this room

Received via email: 01.01.08   Did you hear that? Is that crickets?

Received via email: 01.10.08  Dick didn't die . In fact its now double dick. And its alive and well tryng to run the b-shift north of central.

Received via email: 01.11.08   Speaking of dicks... did the latest HQ refugee have to do the "big 5" or 4 or whatever it was, like the rest of the 40hr and light duty guys before they returned to the companies?

Received via email: 01.12.08  first 1-11, come on, be serious ! Do you really think RF can do anything beside be an ass h-l-, or whine and cry when he is finally put under control. GET REAL !!!

Received via email: 01.13.08  No he did not. He is an LR and all they need to know is monitor, sleep all night, and be safety if they do go on a call.

Received via email: 01.14.08  Local 754 (Tampa) is holding a sign rally this coming Friday (01/18) downtown at 0800. This is also the same day scheduled for the first PERC hearing regarding the COT withholding our step increases. The meeting area is the public parking lot on Florida between Jackson and Kennedy. Please wear a Union t-shirt if you have one, DO NOT WEAR any TFR issued uniform clothing or approved TFR uniform items. 

We need every available member to participate so please spread the word. Most importantly, please invite family and friends to participate as well if they are able to attend. Your Union officers, the economist, and the attorney have been working hard these last few months. Now its your chance and time to get everyone in on the fight! 

Frank is having signs printed up. Don't hesitate to bring American flags to help mix it up a bit and show our National pride and patriotism as well. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone there, please help get the word out and encourage everyone at your station on A and C shifts to show up. B shifters with a Friday r-day are welcome as well.

Received via email: 01.14.08  http://glumbert.com/media/baddayoffice

Received via email: 02.02.08  How does the Training Chief of this Department get elected as Fire Training Officer of the Year? I guess they voted for a person with the most stents. Another Legacy to the SPFR. We have had more than one Officer of this Dept recieve such an award, We are all Journeymen. Our Dept is accredited. All this comes from the work done by us the Firefighters, nothing else. Is this why we were offered the generous 2.5% raise? I would hate to see what we worth if we didnt have JATC.

Received via email: 02.06.08  where is the Harper letter? Bring it on.

TEAM:  You'll find it on the "Editorials" page...

Received via email: 02.09.08  I just read the Harper letter, I hope that the frustration shown is taken to heart by the city administration. Harp showed what he is made of when he and his partner disarmed a gun wielding subject that was threatening to shoot people at an accident scene. He's a true hero, even though (like most) he'd never admit it. I feel fortunate to have worked with a bunch of people like him who wouldn't hesitate to step up if the time came.

*I'm Rob Edwards and I approve this message*

Received via email: 02.10.08  Too bad they did not want to ***** the mayor. Things might have ben different.
TEAM:  We removed the word "shoot" from the sentence above, to protect the innocent.

Received via email: 03.07.08  How's come there has been no bitchin on this page since 2/10, is it broken or something?
TEAM:  100% up-time since 8-06-2005.  Maybe it's spring fever or preparations for the Grand Prix.  We're giddy over the race!

Received via email: 03.07.08  I don't know who the writer of this letter may be nor do I know what's going on with the city trying to railroad another boondoggle onto the unsuspecting public.  What I do know is that this guy, the letter writer, should be approached for
1. Running for mayor and
2. We should question the cities ability to pay $500,000,000.00 (that's dollars) for a new stadium when they can't pay their employees a decent living wage.  It would appear that the GRAND PRICK MAYOR, or GPM as he's known to his supporters, is trying to get his name on something positive before leaving office.  At least ONE person in the city has his number and is calling him on his usual tactics to hide the facts and figures to get what he wants.  Hopefully it will alert more of those who know a pile of shit when they see one.  Go here to see the Letter To The Editor from 3/7/'08:   http://www.itsyourtimes.com/?q=node/3517

Received via email: 04.20.08  I just cant understand it. Why does Chief Large not love me? I do my job and come to work, and I still cant get one of those pretty little coins.

Received via email: 04.20.08  You can for $4 bucks.

Received via email: 04.20.08  Hey I got one of the little coins and it really does help! It helps me jump up in the middle of the night and spring into action!  Wow, they are great!!!!  You will love yours when you receive it !!

Received via email: 05.05.08   I think our coins should have our great chief Large's face on the front.  Sort of like George Washington on the dollar bill.

Received via email: 05.06.08  WHO'S FACE WOULD GO ON THE 3 DOLLAR BIL?

Received via email: 05.08.08  Skip Hawkins for the three dollar bill.  I can't prove it, but I have always suspected.

Received via email: 05.11.08  Who is Skip Hawkins?

Received via email: 05.11.08  Skippy is a legendary figure in the fire dept. Have they stopped teaching about him to the probies during their time at HQ?

Received via email: 05.11.08  Remember Jabba the hut, that fat thing that was pure evil and so self absorbed that he couldn't recognize good from evil, talent from non-talent, or could ever  hope to see his own shoes ever again?  That was Skip Hawkins.  If he was still here at least half of the new guys wouldn't last a year.  Evil.  Pure evil.  However if you outranked him he would happily blow you, so I guess he had a good side.

Received via email: 05.11.08  Skippy so mis-understood !

Received via email: 05.11.08  Skippy - firefighter turd of the century.  If you ever see his fat ass, avoid him, cause he'll just make some smart ass comment to you and walk away.  I agree with pure evil comments above, but you have to add pure asshole to the comments or it just wouldnt be our dear skippy peanutbutter boy. 

Received via email: 05.11.08  He's probably the best chief we have ever had"  are you for real.  A real chief fights for his firefighters, Palm Harbor has a real chief that fights for his firefighters, so does Largo and Pinellas Park.  Get real butt kisser, we have had better.

Received via email: 05.12.08  There are two good things about Skip. One is that he is retired so his reign of terror is over and I forget the other thing.

Received via email: 05.12.08  Wait. Now I remember.  There was no other thing.

Received via email: 05.12.08  You are entitled to your opinion of our chief, but I suspect that you have no idea what he has done behind the scenes to protect us from the wolves at city hall that continue to try to rip our little department to shreds.  They are your enemy, not your chief.  Chief Large was always a great officer.  I worked with him when he was a lieutenant, and a captain.  I was always on other shifts when he was a DC, but most everyone I knew thought he was a good one.  He is probably the best all around educated and awarded man in our headquarters.  Don't confuse your enemies.  Your mayor sucks, Chief Large is your buffer.  I don't see where you have any legitimate complaint.  HQ has problems, but I don't see him as one of them.

Received via email: 05.12.08  Skip retirement party  said it all. ask around how many A-shifts went to it .

Received via email: 05.12.08  I knew both JOW and JDL coming up through the ranks.  One was want a firefighter, fire officer, fire captain and a fire D/C then an Asst chief and fire marshal and currently is chief.  This over a 30 stint.  The other was paramedic, LR, a fire captain of rescue then a very brief stint at the master station then given a D/C's position all within a couple years currently an asst chief .

You decide who's more qualified. Give Large a chance.  In a few years when he's gone and Prince is in charge, you'll see how good you had it and be wishing you had your 25 on!
TEAM:  With this bullshit pension "30" is an early out, now!

Received via email: 05.13.08   I agree webmaster/spellcheck. Thanks

Received via email: 05.14.08  "Don't confuse your enemies.  Your mayor sucks, Chief Large is your buffer." You better bet that behind close doors Chief Large does hammer the mayor and his tactics, He only tries to appease him but he is a true firefighter at heart and will eventually be very happy once this a-- hole of a mayor is long gone.  "Dont confuse your enemies" Many have heard the truth behind closed doors!

Received via email: 05.14.08   Enjoy Chief Large now.  When Prince takes over he will be looking to take the "fire" out of St. Pete Fire Rescue.

Received via email: 05.15.08   Chief Large for Mayor.

Received via email: 05.17.08  JW for Mayor

Received via email: 05.20.08  PLEASE, the comments are frightning.

Received via email: 05.26.08  I don't know about Mayor but we do need a good Dog catcher .

Received via email: 05.26.08  Winnie for mayor sane difference .

Received via email: 05.28.08  Pinellas Park has a good chief WTF

Received via email: 06.01.08   I like Doug.

Received via email: 06.10.08  I like Doug, too. Store Keeper Doug, that is! DOUG BLACKMAN FOR <insert position here>!

Received via email: 06.10.08  You talk about the so called education of the higher up's at H.Q. Most of them got their so called degrees at Eckerd College . On the eared credit for job experance. SO WHAT thats like getting your paramedic patch at Webb City.

Received via email: 06.18.08  I don't think it's fair to mock their degrees.  It's not like they could stay employed and run off to an ivy league school.  A degree is a degree.  When a job requires a degree, it doesn't specify which school.  Most people don't even know where most of the people they do business with went to college.  So unless you received a superior degree at a superior school you are probably out of line throwing stones.

Maxwell Smart
Beauty School Dropout

Received via email: 06.19.08   Just proves my point! Degrees are a joke ! You said it yourself in your above statement. Thank you for your responce Agent 86. ( funny how everyone use to make fun of B.M. and his masters degree but any one eles can have a hand me degree and its ok )
TEAM:  In certain circumstances, wisdom trumps education.

Received via email: 06.22.08  Well, B.M.  his degree was from the university of tampa.  It was no fake.  I put it in his folder.  To bad he was m smarter than most people thought he was.
TEAM:  Right page?

Received via email: 06.22.08   AMEN Webmaster

Received via email: 06.23.08  to 6-19   That was probably written by BM s crazy ex who is mad because she couldnt get all of his money.

Received via email: 06.24.08  WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN B M 'S FOLDER ????

Received via email: 06.25.08  Just because a few dumbasses have degrees, that's no reason to go all anti-education.  Obama and the Clintons all have some of the finest education money can buy and they are idiots.

Received via email: 06.25.08  Okay, who's BM?

Received via email: 06.25.08  bill moore

Received via email: 06.25.08  who cares hes gone either out of state or country

Received via email: 06.29.08  I dont care where BM is. At least he still supports Local 747 by paying his retiree dues. I would hate to let you all in on the list of past great ones who told the union to stick it, after they got their going away parties and axes and left us.

Received via email: 06.30.08  I guess it shows you the people with true loyalty and the ones without.  hmm   I guess most people had him wrong.

Received via email: 06.30.08  He is alive and well just saw him 2 days ago at N.E. Publix

Received via email: 06.30.08  i have part of the list and yes alot would be suprized.

Received via email: 07.05.08   post the list expose them

Received via email: 07.08.08  I just made a BM,and feel good about it! (ps to LTGW, it floats!)

Received via email: 07.10.08  I doubt you could make a real BM  you dont have enough class or education.

Received via email: 07.11.08  Don't put a lot of stock in education. If you have one and don't use it, it wasn't worth the time, effort, or money.

Received via email: 07.11.08   Ok, we have picked on BM long enough, lets pick on M.R. for awhile, now here is a person that is justly deserving to be picked on. What a load he was when he was here and he is nothing but a cry baby now. Maybe the biggest one ever. Way to go.

Received via email: 07.13.08  whos MR

Received via email: 07.20.08  7/11 #2. you couldn't carry MR's soiled bunker gear. He may have been a big one, but no better a firefighter/driver was there. Now go check your drug box.

Received via email: 07.23.08  Pick on MR !, get real clown - 2nd 7/11.  MR is no comparison to BM.  MR had a successful career and was well liked by the troops.  All he has done over the years was fight for justice and fairness.  Must be either a chief or real loser who wrote the post for 7/11 # 2.

Received via email: 07.24.08  OK olets move on to something that is relevant to the present.

Received via email: 07.24.08  Heck, thats brings us back to bitchin about Cubby....

Received via email: 07.24.08   Make cubby do the combat challenge that will put him in retirement forever.

Received via email: 07.25.08  Cubby needs to retire. Then the department can be pro active and begin its move toward true safety and training.  None of this playing games and setting traps for those out in the field.  Game time is over cubby, retire and stay at home.  Our department will have a much safer working environment when you are gone. Anyone, and I mean anyone will do a better job than you are or have done.  Take one for the team and hit the door pal.

Received via email: 07.28.08   Can we vote a vote of no confidence for cubby ? Everyone already knows it, we just need a vote to make it official.

Received via email: 08.02.08  I noticed this month in the Chiefs fire connection article he talked about the Gestopo amd how it compares to our Training Div.  I am not sure it is proper to use such verbage today, but what the heck, he is the chief.  So I guess the head Gestopo would be our beloved lil cubby.  Just remember, the Gestapo ceased to exist after the Nuremberg Trials. By the way Chief, just for your info, the Gestapo is a word for the Secret Police. Nice comparison.  Cant help but love your articles each month. The picture you added to the article goes hand and hand.  Great Job !! 

Received via email: 08.02.08  Well the secret police are the dictrict chiefs and SK.  Never trust any of them.

Received via email: 08.04.08  2nd 8/2 They are not the secret police, they are the secret turds. Police is to good a name for them. Real police protect and serve, not destroy and pillage for power.

Received via email: 08.04.08  I know and the bad thing was we let those idiots into our union.  Now they cant be fired or gotten rid of in the normal way.

Received via email: 08.07.08  Just heard this from a downtown station.  A certain female medic could rhyme hapchinski is actually a spy for admin.  Be careful what you say around that person.

Received via email: 08.09.08  Is this the same medic that placed a bogus 911 call when she was shit faced at a probie party so she could get a certain medic from 3 to show up. Oh thats right, that's supposed to be hush hush. If memory serves me right I think somebody from a southern dept lost their job for doing the same thing when he was running late for work.
I guess little miss innocent isn't all that she thinks she is. I wonder how she felt when she puked in her shirt as to not get it on the seats of the person driving her home. By the way AK, Fergs is in your first due area not in 3's. I guess you just had a blonde moment, or you don't know your territory, or both. I can't believe you got away with that one, or maybe you didn't. FTM

Received via email: 08.09.08  Of course she got away with it.  Thats what happens when your a admin girl.  Curious though if she was still drunk when she came to work?  Hmm  or did she have to orally explain her way out of that one.

Received via email: 08.09.08  Mmmmmmm....them's some pretty strong words there my friend.  Got anything to back it up?

Received via email: 08.09.08  you can ask her crew.

Received via email: 08.20.08  Ask her crew. We all like her. The number is still the same 893-**** (****) Call anytime, day or night.  Unlike our union officials we are there every shift.

Received via email: 08.20.08  Maybe she thought if it worked for a D/C it would work for her.

Received via email: 08.23.08  8.20  #1 Only as long as you don't include your DC's that prefer chasin tail, I mean visitin sick friends, than sittin around in one of the dullest stations in the city.

Received via email: 08.24.08  Yeah, my DC hangs around a certain Chiefs Secretary sniffin her tail so much you can always find him.

Received via email: 08.26.08  1st 1/24, yeah, he's a real family man!! I'm so proud to work for such leaders of character and integrity. 

Received via email: 08.26.08  you must mean MM.  Thats why that certain secretary got a divorce.

Received via email: 08.26.08  HEY!  NIP IT!  This is not the place to shoot off your mouth about things that are part of the personal lives of others.  What the hell is wrong with you?  Before you go throwing unproven inuendoes around about the personal lives of ANYONE you should remember that this is a public site and not everyone may share your animosity toward those you slander.  You may THINK you're incognito because you don't sign your name but you're not.   There is always someone who knows who you are.  It's not intelligent or relevant for you to post this sort of trash.  You need to THINK before you post this garbage. 

Fraternally,
THE CONSCIENCE
TEAM:  MM=Mickey Mouse?  Shit.  Now Disney's gonna be up his ass!

Received via email: 08.27.08  Hey nip it boy. I guess its the...whats that new catch phrase going around now a days, oh yeah, Its the principle of the thing. I guess these folks are your mentors and heroes?

Received via email: 08.27.08  God forbid any secret love affairs would escape our holier than thou marble castle.

Received via email: 08.28.08  "HEY!  NIP IT!  This is not the place to shoot off your mouth about things that are part of the personal lives of others".  Better to say it here than in front of a crowd of people at HQ.

Received via email: 08.28.08  HQ is like a Jerry Springer show

Received via email: 08.28.08  The "B"lind lead the blind into a ditch.  Becareful not to fall into it, you may need help getting out.

Received via email: 08.28.08  Dear editor, would you please consider censoring the master fire station's unpublished phone numbers in post dated 8.20.08 #1, respectfully submitted local 747 member.
TEAM:  No prob.  We've been told that "information" will give the number out, though...

Received via email: 08.28.08  8-28, You haven't the stones to say anything in public. Allegations can be damaging to the innocent.

Received via email: 08.28.08   It would not be a surprise to the folks that work at HQ. Adulterly is obvisously approved behavior by the Leaders in the Palace of Doom.

Received via email: 08.29.08  Your right about that.  Just ask BM.  SZ  is a HQ boy and he was screwing BMs wife and HQ thought that was ok.  Well what do you expect from the 2 DCs  One is a attempted murderer and the other a back stabber,

Received via email: 08.31.08  Your right about that.  Shows you what kind of leaders you have that condone such actions.

Received via email: 09.02.08  Your just jealous that MM is getting some strange and you're not. At lease he's not off on stress or sleep deprivation. Wasn't it Vinny that said there is no such thing as stress?

Received via email: 09.09.08  Is it true LT R.E. has had enough of lil cubbies BS and is wanting out of Training?  Hmmmmm, lil cubby always seems to be such a pleasant chap, especially when he doesn't get his way, or someone doesn't want to hear his one sided opinion.  If its true, good luck to ya RE, your much to classy for those bozos at HQ.

Received via email: 09.09.08   SZ didnt start playin with ouu my back hurts BM, I'mtoo stressed towork anywhere else than 12. See my daddy the Dr sent a note! BM drove her away, SZ picked up the goods! ^5 SZ.

Received via email: 09.10.08  Ok, now thats out of the way. Who cares about any of them and what happened in the past. Lets move on to something that is important.  Like problems with the current administration.

Received via email: 09.10.08  Thanks for all the calls to calls to Lt Girk from or union officials and members not.   Some one way motherfuc**s around here.  brotherhood my ass

Received via email: 09.10.08  you can post the last one about Girk from Rizzo

Received via email: 09.10.08  This is only a guess, but it was well covered on TV and in the paper that he got blistered and was released.  Is he on his death bed or something or are you going to tell me that the chief showed up at the hospital and now he's in the brotherhood?

Received via email: 09.10.08  Way to go executive board we had a member hurt at a fire and none of you even bothered to check on him or his family.  I thought this was a brotherhood. I agree with 9/10.

Received via email: 09.11.08  Chief might not be in the brotherhood but he was there at the hospital,  blister or not. The man was hurt and in hospital with burns.

Received via email: 09.11.08  Why does everyone expect the union officals to be your union? YOU are the union.  If you visited him and you are in the union then the union visited him. Grow up you bunch of thumb sucking babies and quit depending on everybody else to do your job.  You are the UNION - Period.

Received via email: 09.11.08  I understand that the VP called to check on Girk and he found out that he wasn't in the best mood, so the VP never got a chance to speak to him.  I guess Girk never mentioned that, Rizzo.

Received via email: 09.12.08  As of my posting he had not received a call which had been almost two days

Received via email: 09.12.08  Actually the VP called the station to ask who got burned.  He never bothered to call the actual individual.  So get off Rizzo's ass jerkoff!

Received via email: 09.14.08   The New Breed!  The cry babies!

Received via email: 09.14.08  "Actually the VP called the station to ask who got burned."  Then he ate a tin a tuna.  Took a shit, etc........  How do you know he didn't try to contact him?  I don't know about you, but it's kind of hard to prove any of this if he didn't want to speak to anybody.  Why don't you ask the VP instead of trying to PROVE what you can't prove.  Sheesh!

Received via email: 09.21.08  get off Rizzo's Ass 9/12 #2 is still humpin'!

Received via email: 09.22.08  If you are calling me out at least sign your name coward.
  Rizzo

Received via email: 09.24.08  Rizzo, your are a fu**in' fu**, an irritant, and don't play fu**-fu** with me boy.

Received via email: 09.24.08  Once again sign your name you coward.

Received via email: 09.24.08  damn boys and girls. grow the hell up. We all know there are too many kiss ass'ers everywhere. except it and move onya mutt!

Received via email: 09.26.08  Whats better a respected firefighter or a kiss a--  Lieutenant who has an ego a mile high?  Not to mention he thinks he's actually a bad a--.  Sad, once respected now a loser. There are a few that fit that category, and they are poison for our organization.

Received via email: 09.26.08  A few there are alot of them.  Just look around.  The people that would make great officers are still firefighters because they are not sellouts.

Received via email: 09.27.08   Name one great firefighter or paramedic that hasn't taken the test.
 
Received via email: 09.27.08  "The people that would make great officers are still firefighters because they are not sellouts." - Nah, they couldn't pass the test.

Received via email: 09.28.08  Wouldn't say they couldn't pass the test.  Because there is not any passing score.  How do you think certain 'people' get promoted.  And the ones that also don't do well are not the ones that are given the questions and answers.  I wonder how many golden boys wouldn't do so well if an outside agency wrote the test and were the only ones that had the test and answers.

Received via email: 11.03.08  The chosen people are still going to be coached for the assessment center and that is 60% of the total score.  Training is not doing the written test this time, so I guess no more "south of the skyway" secret study sessions.  It's funny how admin waited to give this next test until after the first of the year.  Could it be that they know they will have a couple of positions open and will be able pick and choose who ever they want out of the list?

Received via email: 11.04.08  You have got that backwards.  A great firefighter knows better than get sucked is to the B.S. at HQ. The smart firefighter stays a firefighter where respect is earned. Not like with the officers - you have to respect the position but not the Man/Woman. Who in their right mind would want the kind of respect? Oh yeah thats right.  I said any one in their right mind.

Received via email: 11.05.08  Hey, now that all this bullshit election stuff is over with, when is our union going to get off their ass and start meeting with our own elected politico's and get us the money and benefits we all know we should be making?

Received via email: 11.05.08  Hey, if you want better benefits and more money, maybe you better realize St Pete may not be the place for you. Go to a smaller department in the mid or north county and you will get paid what your worth. But if you want a heavy work load, stay here, your in the right place.

Received via email: 11.05.08  Get our money and benefits?  We just signed off for another two years.... what money and benefits are you talking about?

Received via email: 11.05.08  I like this page because when you write something you go back in time one month.  You know, before Obama won.

Received via email: 11.06.08  So more work and bad pay in St. Pete is a GOOD thing?  Then I guess I have it made!

Received via email: 11.06.08

Received via email: 11.11.08  Did you read the lastest current events chief large released? At first I thought he really cared, but then I realized that it was purely a sham. It was evident that the mayor barely allowed jimbo the time off his knob to allow him so many words. It would have been much more sincere if he would have acknowledged that a tremendous effort was made in spite of our understaffed equipment and low morale that is obvious in the SPFR. Until any of our admin steps up and addresses these two important issues then I will consider anything else moot. It appears, Lip service is what our top administrators are best at.

Received via email: 11.13.08  Hey at least the chiefs tell us in their own words that the mayor is a piece of crap. Our chiefs are on our side in heart. They just cant say that to the mayor's face. The other day the some of the div chiefs were telling us how screwed up the city admin policies are and that they are just riding their drop out.  Said they cant speak their true feelings in the USSR st petersburg.

Received via email: 11.14.08  I don't know what chief officers you're talking to.  This mandatory overtime thing is utter bullshit and I've yet to find a lick of sympathy in the form you're talking about when they're doling it out.  It's a great intrusion into my life and if you all haven't figured it out yet, I don't work here to be told that I've got to work in excess of my 24.  I work here to enjoy my 48 off.  Wimberly is such a fool, he actually believes all the bullshit that he's fed from the top so he believes the same shit that comes out of his own head.  Trouble is, he's full of shit 24/7 and I wish him a lifetime of agony, strapped to one of his f*cked up sofas.  FTM

Received via email: 11.15.08  "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. These three aspects are listed among the "inalienable rights" of man.  There is not much pursuit of happiness when you are forced to work over and above your regular work schedule for no other reason then to allow the city to operate the department on the backs of the firefighters instead of hiring needed personnel.  Ask any chief that is not forced to do this, and they think its fine.  Ask anyone who is forced to do this and they will all be against it.  Sounds like this may need to be challenged and taken to a higher court.

Received via email: 11.15.08  Again, has anyone stood up and told their DC NO I will not work manatory overtime?

Received via email: 11.15.08  Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness refers to your ability to be and do whatever you want, within reasonable parameters of law.  I don't see what it has to do with the fire department's need to staff trucks.  You give up certain rights when you decide to embark on a career. 
If you want to change how overtime is given out, go right ahead.  But I wouldn't quote the Declaration of Independence as one of your resources.
Also, stop relying on Wikipedia as your number one source of information.
TEAM:  Here... work with this:

Received via email: 11.16.08  3rd 11/15 "But I wouldn't quote the Declaration of Independence as one of your resources." Maybe you would quote something more like the communist manifesto. Obviously you arent one of the ones who are mandatoried every other week.  Keep blabbing but no one is listening to you.

Received via email: 11.17.08  Of course people are listening to me. By the time people read your blather their brains are aching to read someone that makes sense.  The Declaration f Independence wasn't written for employees to whine about their working conditions.  It was written about 90 years before slavery was outlawed.  I was just pointing out that it wasn't relevant to mandatory OT, dumbass.

The way to begin the fight against mandatory is to refuse to take it.

Starting DECEMBER 7,  anyone with more than 5 years should refuse MANDATORY  OT.  Or just continue to take it.
You know, like a bitch.

Received via email: 11.18.08   No body is going to do that they fear the pathetic power of the DC and they dont have the money to hire attorneys to stand up to the cits.  Only a few people did that and won.  because they had money and the courage.  Maybe a few of the Dcs could have "accidents"

Received via email: 11.18.08  This just out... During today's so called negotiation session, Jim Wimberly told the union officers that if they dont like being treated as Slaves with the Departments brand new. out of no where overtime policy, they could just retire and then they would no longer have to worry about it. Talk about a caring soul.  Oh yeah, he sold his soul. I thought we were supposed to believe that our Chiefs cared for all of us. I wonder if that goes for those with child/ family care issues? Does it also effect Anderson and his PTEC gig? Probably not, too many DC's rely on his generosity.

Received via email: 11.18.08  You call that a policy? Sounds more like a take it or leave it policy. Wait till the boys and girls on the speciality teams get OT on a daily basis. Maybe they will REALLY get off the team this time around. Chief Large is so interested in people having the option of opting out of the unions pool time, maybe he wont have a problem with the troops opting out of mandatory overtime.

Received via email: 11.18.08  This just in...stop calling in sick and the OT needs will decrease! I know we don't want to hear it, but, part of the problem is Us! Can't you good, hard-working, union folk see that?! Be a brother, not a brother-f*cker!
TEAM:  Hazmat, Volcano and Surfing team schools have little or no ongoing impact on the day to day operations of this dept.

Received via email: 11.18.08  Again, if any of the chiefs had to work as much OT as the FFs they would be having a cow. Especially the Div chiefs.  But hey they have families and second homes that require their time. Extra working hours just wouldn't work for them. But the rest of the troops, just do it and shut the hell up about it.  Whiners. You signed up to be the city and chiefs slaves, not just civil servants.

Received via email: 11.19.08  Every hour required to staff every vehicle in the SPFR fleet is factored in every year in the budget. Its really quite simple.  Every seat they choose to fill is multiplied by the number of hours in a year divided by the 3 shifts. Now from that number they subtract the hours caused by r-days, minus the use of max holiday hours, minus the max sick leave accrued in 1 year, minus the max vacation time accrued by a 20 year employee.  The final total is subtracted from the starting number and that is the additional hours that must be made up.  Now most departments hire additional personnel to fill these empty slots.  Welcome to "got no idea land."  SPFR would rather call these "shortages" that they know about a full year in advance, "overtime."  By the way, did i mention that every hourly figure is based on the highest maximum amount of hours that can be earned by the most senior employees?  That adds up to quite a few additional hours the admin. is soaking the taxpayer for and not producing.  How dare they say that the use of leave time is the cause, when it has already been factored in?  Sounds like I should have put this in the bullshit column.  Call it what it is and it truly is BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!

Received via email: 11.19.08  DECEMBER 7!! DECEMBER 7!!  JUST SAY NO!

Received via email: 11.19.08  I agree completely.  I hope I am not the first (no balls), but if everyone else does it I will refuse mandatory starting December 7.

PEARL HARBOR DAY!
DECEMBER 7   NO MORE MANDATORY!

Received via email: 11.19.08  Mr. Editor: Please recall the Christmas after the shift rotation proposal failed. A large number of A shifters worked Christmas Day because of the mass sickness the B shift was overcome with. I agree about the various schools that are being staffed and that points to the facts that are well known; understaffed, overworked, and underappreciated by those with the purse strings. The point made was for members to stop exacerbating the issue.
TEAM:  Understood - Point taken.  Oh, and FTM!

Received via email: 11.22.08  So Jim boy has put out another please don't make me look bad in the eyes of the mayor memo. I am talking about the 'don't forget to send in your opt out of the Union pool time' forms. What a piece of shit he is, and as for those mindless shitheads that listen, wise up. I am willing to bet you are the same assholes that report early, have your emails checked, filled out the daily to do list, and completed Kronos all before the start of the shift. Answer this, did that take more than the 2 and a quarter minutes the union needs from you to do its job for you? I'm not just talking about officers either, I have seen plenty of suction cup acting officers do the same thing, I have seen paramedics, which we all know this dept don't give a shit about from the get go, stay over after their shift to do late reports without putting in for OT. I have seen firefighters spend as much as a hour after the shift to complete some little project they thought would gain them gold stars from a superior. Everyone of you are guilty of giving more time to the city then what the union will ever ask of you. Sad thing is, I hear on a regular basis that the union asks too much. Most of what the union asks for is time to help others (MDA, Sickle Cell) or help to protect your future (Politics). The FD on the other hand wants more from you so that they can return bigger chunks of their leftover budgets each year so the mayor can pay more to the legal peeps to continue their assault on us. Please take the time to read this and give it the same processing time that you would while studying a boat trader. Then go back and re-read it again. You will be surprised, and if you are truthfully with yourself you will see that the pool time request makes sense.
TEAM:  Give yourself an "A+."

Received via email: 11.23.08  It will be hard to get some of these Jimmy lovers to sway. I was lucky enough to uncover the oath they must take to be one of his. I hear Wimberly is jealous. "Jimmy is my idol, I want to be the first non female to carry his child. It would be able to form in my gullet. I love his life giving gifts. I will continue to pay homage for the remainder of my life". I understand this is quoted daily while on ones knees.

Received via email: 11.23.08  They wont sawy away because they are promised things like.  I know that they are never on the mandatorey list or get moved as long as they do the bidding of certain DCs.  Among other things.

Received via email: 11.26.08  Has anyone wondered why it is that there is so much manditory overtime now?  Every year it gets worse and worse and if what Im reading on here is true that they've increased the funding for overtime again, theres obviously something going on.  Do any of you recall how all of city council's jaws dropped wide open when they found out the reason for it costing so much more to hire a FF in St. Pete than in Tampa?  It's the giant unfunded liability that's the ball and chain around our legs.  When they hire back FF's at straight time or even overtime they don't have to pay for another benefits package.  Its like the dept. is running a temp agency and we're all the bums being hired of the strieet at no bennies.  Is the union doing anything to stop this bullshit?
TEAM:  Your union is working on this constantly, despite the fact that some of the Kool Aide drinkers in this union would rather read the fire chief's memo about dropping out of the 'not so manditory' pool time account -- and then drop out of said same!  Until the day comes that we all get in our head's that the fire chief and the assistant fire chief are working soley for the city and find our wants, needs and desires to be their last priority, we're all destined to live as slaves on the same slave ship!  See you at the next union meeting of Fire Fighters.

Received via email: 11.28.08  If you think OT now is bad? Wait until we become a transporting agency. Your second, and possibly third day off are now in that spin for OT. So you old EMT's unless u wanna work, drop that patch before it happens. You know we all suspect who will be the "leader" i.e. chief of transport. Yes Satan's own son, CSK! watch your a-- now ladies and gentlemen. Hell's a coming, and he's wearing red hair & 3 bugles! FTM again, and again.

Received via email: 11.29.08  why dont you just take him out

Received via email: 11.29.08   You must be mistaken, Chief  Large would NEVER allow for such a burdensome work load. He is such a stand up guy. I bet he will go before our council and their DUI attornies and put up a fight. If that dont work, he will surely track down the Mayor and tell him what is what. OMG, I just relized what I said......Get me the hell outta here.

Received via email: 11.29.08  Remember the good ole days when a St.Petersburg Fire Chief of all levels represented something.  With the future of this dept. almost scripted with you know who and you know what, at least they earned the respect of the probies. This future admin. will defend its subordinates with as much power as Sunstar supervisors do for theirs.  May God help us all, we are sure gonna need it.

Received via email: 12.01.08  It's all shit now.  There's no one at the chief level that you can trust anymore.  It's all about money and firefighting as a profession officially ended for them years ago.  The only one's left in the profession are still in the companies

Received via email: 12.03.08   There seems to be a common thread on all of these pages. Seems that most agree that Cheifs Large and Wimberly, along with the Division and District Chiefs are all tick turds. But wait dont leave out the bottom feeding Captains and Lieutenants, and the Do-Me wanna bes. God help us all.

Received via email: 12.17.08  There is the same common thread with Fire Admin. Wimberly and Knight and coming along nicely Dan Robinson. All shit heads for sure. I find it more and more difficult to be able to even acknowledge that they exist.

Received via email: 12.20.08  Dan Robinson went from a person with no future to one with a new outlook on life and no memory of how it is the union that got his measly 10 years fully vested, had the unthinkable had happened. He most certainly sold his soul for the opportunity to be a full fledged MUTT. SK and WW keep injecting the Kool-aide down his gullet daily.

Received via email: 12.22.08  Dan Robinson isnt totally to blame. He was peered into being an asshole by his fellow co-workers in his station, Whod-a-thunk Spike was the best thing Dan ever had to keep him straight. Other than that look what makes up his mind for him now. The A shift is made up of 96% losers, B shift 98% whiners, and of course the C shift 99% ASSHOLES, and of course this is all due to their leading cry baby District Chiefs. God what a sorry bunch of FINO MUTTS. God Bless em.

Received via email: 12.22.08  All the people that stood with Dan are now the ones he is screwing.  He must not have a gag reflex. Maybe in retrospect we should have left him to his own and see how far he would have gotten.

Received via email: 12.23.08  Do we really need 6 LRs.  I think 3 is more than enough.  Any thoughts?   Lets use the other 3 somewhere else where needed. Maybe on a fifth ladder truck.  Oh wait, we are too poor of a city to have 5 ladder trucks.  Oh well, it was a thought.

Received via email: 12.24.08  How about three less LR's, three less DC's, and use the money for 7 or 8 more firefighters to help with the mandatory OT?

Received via email: 12.24.08  That would mean we would have to demote all the usless Dc's on a shift.  Send Dan robinson back to the companies.  Can we do that or get him out of here?  Where else can we cut?  How about all the Secretaries?  I mean with all the chiefs they are banging they dont need a job.

Received via email: 12.25.08  12.23 and 12.24, Lets take your ideas a step further, Bring all nine firefighters, paramedics, and Lt's out of their cushy 40 hour HQ positions along with the 3 LR's and 3 DC's and then you would have the entire staffing level for the new truck company. Then lets get Todd and Steve to work on writing grant requests for actual firefighting equipment and staffing instead of all the pretty toys that don't get used and put the brakes on this train wreck before it reaches the end of the line. OMG What a concept. A Fire Department that actually wants to specialize in Firefighting. Damn I think I'm on to something here.

Received via email: 12.25.08  Now we are thinking. Excellent ideas.
TEAM:  Musta binah chief!

Received via email: 12.26.08  The problem with your fifth truck company theory is that the LR's are paid for with county funds.  So the only way to dedicate that money back to suppression would be to put them on ALS vehicles.  An ALS truck company is possible, but doesn't seem very practical.  Better to just hire medics and firefighters and put them towards manning the vehicles we are already forcing mandatory OT to staff.  The other problem is that we need a fifth truck company about as bad as pinellas county needs 30 fire chiefs.  Or as bad as headquarters needs security locks.  Or as bad as Wimberly needs a sack.

I have a few minutes left if you have any other problems you need me to solve.  Bring it on.

Happy new year,
The Answer Dude

Received via email: 12.28.08  I say put the 3 rescue Lts. on an ALS engine that way the county can still pay for them and that will free up 3 non medic Lts for the new truck.
Thanks to the answer dude for making me rethink my thinking.  But the best part is that 9 more individuals will now be in the companies for the PTEC MUTTS to get additional $$ to train.

Received via email: 12.28.08  Don't be jealous of the PTEC mutts you tard. It is a part time job to make ends meets since the city is not willing to step up. Ask anyone of us, we are not getting rich teaching and if your dumbass would do things right we would be out of a job so thanks for not knowing how to catch a plug or pull a line you dumbass.

Received via email: 12.29.08  You PTEC folks are the ones that teach it to us in the first place. Now who is the tard?

Received via email: 12.29.08  There's only 1 ladder truck west of 9th street on the north side of town and that's truck 9.  Of the 4 ladder trucks in town truck 9 is the furthest away from the interstate (which runs north and south and and runs nowhere near the west end).  The city is sorta J shaped.  If you look at it from that perspective all the bases are covered ecxept the top of the J.  If you were to move truck 9 to the top of the J, the other end would be without coverage.  Your not fixing shit, just moving the problem around.

The chief needs to man up and get the money from the mayor if he has to.  If he can't make it happen with this dickcheese of a mayor then he better cozy up with the union because the next mayor is going to be put in office BY this union.  I think the chief and the union can do a better job of getting extra funds for equipment and manpower rather than either of us doing it on our own.  Wimberly should have made this his first pitch to the chief when he came back from his labor training class in Phoenix (hahahahahahahahahahahahahah yeahhhhhhh right)!  The only way that asshole will work with us is to bend us over.  The JW is not our friend, he is our enemy.

Received via email: 12.30.08  Well when we get a new mayor I think the chiefs better hope they supported him.  because if they didnt theymay be on the chopping block.  I hope that both o the loser Jimmies either are fired or leave.  Has Wimberly ever fought a fire?  I cannot remember if he ever did.

Received via email: 12.30.08  Seriously fools, PTEC is a means for keeping our people up-to-date on procedures and practices. The people that bitch are the worst performers on the training and firegrounds. You should thank your lucky stars that a bunch of you aren't taken out of the companies to go through orientation all over again (or the first time). Keep wanting more pay, fools; we that know our job will carry you.

Received via email: 12.30.08  Actually, if you were to take the response area of truck 4 to the north, and extend that around to the south, truck 4 would be first due to the pink streets.
Thank God there's always truck 7.

Received via email: 12.31.08   Why do we even have truck companies?  Wouldn't it be easier just to put the TIC's in the DC's cars?

Received via email: 12.31.08  Seriously fools, PTEC is a means for keeping our people up-to-date on procedures and practices.
*You have got to be kiddin me. Do you sleep during these drills (or are you one of the trainers?)
These guys are so self serving - wanna have their butts kissed, the thing they do best at these "training experiences", is to disrespect the firefighters.  Again, not pointing out what they did correctly but what they didn't do and how BAD it was to do that... Oh yeah they do luv the pay.  The days when self respecting officers trained the crews, had actual time TO train, (plugs, re inspections, pub eds, xmas inspect., BCE, well u know there is NO time for it. So FTM, and let us be the best we can without out them beating us down.

Received via email: 01.02.09  Fools?  Are you pitying the fools?  Sure is nice having Mr.T in here again.

Received via email: 01.03.09  PTEC actually stands for Please Take it Easy on my Crapper. These FINO's are constantly in line for another going over by the Chiefs of our department and they honostly believe the shit they spew forth from their pie holes. Its amazing how none of the officers will stand up to their demeaning attitudes and their self proclaimed god like better than you speeches.

Received via email: 01.03.09  what if you just hit them with a nozzel or axe by accident on the training grounds.  Maybe then some sense will get put in their heads.  Accidents are known to happen.  I wouldnt have a problem doing that to fake firefighters who try to screw the crew.  I have a loser officer at 4 who could use that.

Received via email: 01.05.09  I think the idea of creating accidents to injure our co-workers crosses the line.  We are better than that.  At least we used to be.
Team:  We're sure it was toungue-in-cheek.  Kind of like telling us that there's only one MANDITORY OVERTIME LIST!  Pricks!

Received via email: 02.05.09  I will describe a drill that happened about a year ago. I had alot of trouble and one of the firefighters that works for PTEC helped me and was supportive of me. I think if your honest with yourself, you know that most of these guys care and want us to do the best we can. Let's not put them all in the same boat.

Received via email: 02.06.09  I went to use the bathroom at the drillgrounds once and one of the PTEC guys watched.  It made me uncomfortable.  Wow.  It feels good to get that off my chest.
TEAM:  Musta been a Peetec Quality Assurance officer.

Received via email: 02.08.09  Only reason we watched, was we were trying to figure out why you were sitting down to pee?

Received via email: 02.09.09  Sittin so you wouldn't hump up my bung-hole ya scab suckin fino!

Received via email: 02.09.09  Pretty sore that you have to sit down to pee huh. It's ok it will just be our secret. Make sure you wipe that mangina when you are done.

Received via email: 02.09.09  Why is he a scab? Because he is a PTEC intructor or because he knows more than you?

Received via email: 02.13.09   I like PTEC instructors. They are proof that we dont need so many people in the training division.  Lets concentrate on downsizing HQ by 50% and put the money in buying more blue shirts to do the real fire department stuff we all came on to do.  Too many district chiefs and not enough indians around this place.

Received via email: 02.13.09  I was watching the history channel the other day about wwII russia.  And one of the worst communist looked like one of our a shift DCs.  hmm look the same and act the same.  That person sold his own people out.

Received via email: 02.17.09  they all saw the same picture and have all promised themselves they want to be just like them.

Received via email: 03.03.09  I forget what did the germans do to the reds?

Received via email: 03.05.09  why dont we do to the dcs and admin what the germans did to the reds.
TEAM:  Grudge?

Received via email: 03.06.09  we all have a grudge against all of them.  maybe they should all be removed wholesale and new put in to make this a better dept.

Received via email: 03.09.09  RE: 3-6-09  #1
Why do that?  You'd just hate the new guys in a couple weeks and have the black ass all over again.

Received via email: 03.12.09  Dayyyaamm! What's wrong with "the Black Ass"? Why not the "Blue" or the "Orange-Mango" ass?

B.Elliott

Received via email: 03.13.09  HMM  ass.  I know some guys I work with that like the male ass  How about pink ass

Received via email: 03.15.09  Speaking of "asses".  It would seem that some 17 of you bucketmouth's who claim that you do all the work and the rest just go along for the ride.....nearly got your "asses" handed to you.  And ironically enough your "asses" were saved by the very person whom you so willingly and vociferously bad mouth on this site.  It showed a lot of character for SK to do that. And now that you owe him your "asses" let's hope you appreciate the turned tables.

Mr. Ellliott, you should be aware that long before you thin-skinned shit stirrer's, who think that anything with the word "black" in it is an affront to your social position in society, the term "black ass" was merely a description of attitude, not a color of skin.  Kinda like "having the rag on" or "your womb tilted".  Now I don't know if you're black or green or if you're just a wanna-be black.  Don't care either.  Just know that the word black isn't always a derogatory term even though there are those like you who read shit into everything.  Relax.  Take that chip off your shoulder and act like a man with an ability to think with the big head.

Congratulations to the union on some outstanding work this past few weeks.  It almost felt like the old days once again.  The "team" is to be commended on it's professionalism and tenacity.  I, for one, couldn't be more proud of the job they did.  This Local is very, very fortunate to have the active leadership it has and every person on the job should give thanks for it.  Sure, other Locals are successful (Belleaire) and we're very proud of them too.  It just proves once again that without the union your "asses" would be in a sling most of the time.  That's why Local 747 has always been a leader in the fight against unfair, unequal and uncaring treatment by the city's goons.  And we've always been a winner. 

VCF

03.17.09 From the IAFF L747 Email List: 
It is with the greatest sorrow that I must inform you of the passing of Billy Mott's Father.He passed away last night at 11 PM under Hospice care at the Bay Pines VA Hospital.

Many of you may know Billys father from his work with the Salvation Army during the Christmas season as a Red Kettle Bell Ringer out in Station 7 and 13's area stores, or you may have been served a cup of coffee and a sandwich at one of our many bay area disaster drills, or at one of the real disasters where he has worked on the Salvation Armys Disaster Canteen at incidents like the 1996 ValuJet Flight 592 crash in the Everglades, the 1995 Bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma, or maybe one of the many Gulf State Hurricanes from Florida to Texas.

There are no Service Arrangements at this time. Bill requests that in Lieu of flowers, Cards be sent to his mother, Margaret Mott @ 13040 Faxton Street Clearwater, FL. 33760. Donations can be made to The Salvation Army  3800 9th Av. North St. Petersburg FL. 33710. 


Fraternally,


Winnie Newton , Pres L-747

Received via email: 03.17.09  I'm sure that if it's true that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree that Bill's father must have been a pretty good guy.  My condolences to you Brother Bill.

Received via email: 03.17.09  I have been there quite recently myself Billy and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless. G. Hadley

Received via email: 03.19.09  To 3/15 You speak of having "thin skin". The 'ass' thing' for me was just an attempt at a little humor.

There have all types of terms, phrases and sayings that have used to negativly describe or belittle people of color, gender, culture or someone with a different religon. I don't (hope) think you would tell a woman to her face that she's behaving like she's "on the rag". I'm sure you know them all.
HUMOR ya know! CHILL MON!

Shit stirrer! WANNA BE BLACK!! Listen ASSHOLE if you want to talk about race or have a open conversation about how it really is to live in my SKIN, my name is Bruce Elliot Smith.
Everybody on SPFR knows I'm at T.V. #2.  Call me.  You can meet me at Union meetings or go to lunch. Eating a good meal together is always good. Maybe I can give your "race baiting" ass a something to chew on.

Oh yah, You didn't sign your name!! R U SKEERT BEEOOOCCHHH?

Received via email: 03.20.09  A lot of negativity has often been cloaked in humor.  I accept your justification of your thoughts to be an attempt at humor but doubt seriously if it would have elicited the same response if I had said "blue ass" or "red ass".  And PLEASE don't give us that old cliche about how it is to live in YOUR skin.  I think I clearly stated that I didn't care what color you are; blue, green or purple.  And I still don't.  The color of your skin is irrelevant to me.  It's your attitude that I'm repsponding to.  White, black, red, yellow. it doesn't matter.  It's how you act and what you say that gets a response from me.  And you ACT like you take offense at anything that might even remotely have to do with what you cosider to be racist.  Cloaked in humor.  Not buying it.  I don't know you and I'm sure we'd get along just fine but be assured that I'm not a "race baiter".  That term was coined by a faction that sees a hood behind every tree.  I doubt that you can give me something to "chew" on but I would be happy to have lunch with you any time your want.  And I go by the name Vontavious Cassius Filmore.  Nice to meet ya.

VCF

Received via email: 03.20.09  Hey Bruce and Von... here's a little ditty just for you!


Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh lord, why dont we?
We all know that people are the same where ever we go
There is good and bad in evryone,
We learn to live, we learn to give
Each other what we need to survive together alive.

Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh lord why dont we?

Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony, ivory, ooh

We all know that people are the same where ever we go
There is good and bad in evryone,
We learn to live, we learn to give
Each other what we need to survive together alive.

Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh lord why dont weeeeeeeeeeee?

Received via email: 03.21.09  Everyone will be equal when there are no more set asides nor affirmative action.  What if everyones application was just a number and no names or race.  List their experience and qualifications.  How about that?  Who would argue agaisnt that.  Well, there are a few.

Received via email: 03.22.09  I believe that not only are all of us created equal, some are created significantly more equal than others.

RWG
Biggest Brain on SPFR

Received via email: 03.22.09  Affirmative action is racist.  If you support it you are a racist.  If you are dating someone who supports it but you do not support it you are a hypocrite that is dating a racist.  If you were born out of wedlock and are a racist that supports affirmative action but are married to someone that hates racism along with affirmative action, that must be some champion pussy, bro.  Congratulations, you hypocritical racist stud bastard.

Received via email: 03.22.09  Who is affirmative action working for?  For every 2 black firefighters 6 white firefighters are hired in this department.  Out 370 employees 40 are black (could be wrong about that # but im close).  328 are white.  Out of 73 officers there are only 7 black officers.  Out of 12 Captains 2 are black.  Out of 6 DC's 1 is black.  Out of All of Administration officers there is only 1 black.  Out of 12 inspectors there is 1 black.   Don't go talking about that qualified shit because all is required is an EMT and firefighter certificate to be a firefighter. Degree and fire officer classes to be an officer.  This all seem to be bullshit that you guys make up in your head to justify your bullshit statements.  Keep hearing from you guys that JW was not qualified to be an DC, EMS chief or Ops chief.  I tell you one thing. He is more qualified than any of you who post bullshit comments on here including me.  Post your qualifications next to JW With no name or race and see who they will choose. 

SMD
F**k u and 3 people that look like you.     

Received via email: 03.22.09  SMD has pointed out a really ugly truth.  Even with all of that help through affirmative action, blacks are still having trouble keeping up.  What are you saying, SMD?
TEAM:  Oh... this is going places!

Received via email: 03.22.09  Oooh. Ah.  Wish you hadn't used JW as your example.  HE ISN'T QUALIFIED to be a chief unless it's the chief of Human Relations. He's the biggest company automaton. His own testimony sunk the company ship when he testified against Bobby Martin. He cost the city a bundle. The boy ain't wrapped right! He believes everything that comes out of his head no matter the outcome. So much the better for us. Our biggest trouble comes not from the fact that he's so qualified but from the fact that SOMEBODY thought he was qualified for the job he's got. He's good at introducing people for awards on TV. Maybe he missed his mark and should have tried out for Bob Barker's old TV job.

I'm getting ready to complain to the union. I'm past due for my physical and I understand that the new company is GREAT and EXPENSIVE and they don't share information. I can't wait to get my FREE WORLD CLASS PHYSICAL. You know the one. The one where the city thought they were going to get more information that they'd ever gotten out of Baycare. Could have settled for MY Dr. giving me a physical but NOOOOOOOO. They wanted me to keep getting a company physical where everybody knew my business. Thanks Bobby. Your name should go on a plaque in HQ. JW you will never be chief of this FD like Clearwater's chief will never be chief of another dept. He's cooked and so are you.

Come on MFS boys, write another memo that will become a matter of public record. 

EAB
F**k u and 3 people that claim to know u.

Received via email: 03.23.09  3-22-09 #5.  Im not talking about what he did to Bobby Martin.  Im talking about affirmative action and qualifications.  Im no fan of JW.  Put your qualifications against his qualificatons and see who gets chosen.  I can care less whether he is a chief anywhere.  That was not the point I was trying to make.  Like I said before you guys make bullshit statements to keep shit going.

3-22-09 #4.  What im saying is who is affirmative action helping?  Nepotism is working better than affirmative action.  1 out 6 firefighter hired have someone on this job that has family.  In the history of this department there has only been 2 and they are recent hires.   You guys come in here and complain about affirmative action to stir shit up.  To make it look like we are the problem.

SMD
Nepotism is our affirmative action       

Received via email: 03.24.09  DDDAAAYYYAAAAAAMMMM!!!!!! See what a little HHUUUMMMOORRR can do? This is a good thing. We have needed a forum to talk about these things.  Respectful and open dialog. No name calling.

The facts or stats are there. Let's be open and honest about them, see them for what they are.

Do we take care of "OUR" own? Damn RIGHT! And should!

Are our Promotions fair and sound? Do we get the best leaders? Hell no. Not without a psycological
evaluation thrown into the process.

As far as 'Paper Qualifications'. If you ain't got them, you ain't in "The Game".

And Affirmative Action? Well it helped a lot of Brothers and Sisters get here. Those with great qualifications, those with none (non minorities too!), like myself. So what, some firefighters kid gets a pass! You got the same pass with family if the person wants in. To me THAT's a thing worthy of passing on!!!!!

But I tend to think that Chief Zel Greenway and Maggie Falcon gave a 19 year old punk-ass a chance.

B.Elliott Smith
F**K a FINO

Received via email: 03.25.09  I gotta say you guys took this WAY past the original posting.  It's almost amazing to see that the old term "black ass" got morphed into Affirmative action and nepotism.  Way to go Smitty.  Were you the 19 year old or was it someone else?  Not hatin', just askin'.  Even had a few bars of Ebony and Ivory submitted.  I was waiting for Elton or McCartney to show up.  It's been MY observation that almost ALL of the sons of previous members of the SPF&R have been stand up guys and those that aren't sometimes don't deserve the bad mouth that's put on them.  I can tell you about their dads but not about them personally.  In MY mind it's not a case of WHO they are but instead a case of WHAT they are.  On a level playing field it all boils down to doing the job.  It doesn't matter what color your skin is or what set of nuts you came from.  It's actions that speak louder than anything else.  I've always felt that if the man (or woman) is doing the job to the best of his/her ability then we should respect them for that.  This job quickly weeds out the one's who are weak and the one's who are strong.  The one's who are using their skills to get promoted and those who use their race to get promoted.  There's always going to be injustice being done in SOMEONE'S eyes.  It's a given.  But if enough time were taken to examine ACTIONS then the Playing field is very close to level.

VCF

Received via email: 03.25.09  We need to sit down a eat lunch together, Bro. Talk. And yeah, that's me. Guess my ACTIONS were ok. :-)

B.Elliott Smith

Received via email: 04.07.09  Hi B Smith! Ya know I really liked the way that kid n play cut you use to sport looked! Stove pipes rule!

Received via email: 04.09.09  I had to look up Kid N Play.  Major talent.  Kick ass moves. Busta hang homie yo sup home dawg. Yo, check it, Bro:

Received via email: 04.10.09  Sup Dawg? Yo, Homie bro blood dawg, shit no dawg.  Shit.

Received via email: 04.10.09  Hey Holm, I can dig it! You know he ain't gonna lay no mo' big rap upon you man! Knock yourself a pro slick. Gray matter back got perform' us' down I take TCBin, man'.

Jive Guy from the movie Airplane
1980

Received via email: 04.15.09  Sheeeet, man, that honkey mus' be messin' my old lady got to be runnin' col' upside down his head!  You know wha' they say: See a broad to get that bodiac lay'er down an' smack 'em yack 'em.  Col' got to be! Yo!  Bet babe, slide a piece a da porter, drink si' run th' java.  Lookie here, I can dig grease and butter on some draggin' fruit garden.  I say hey sky, s'other say I won say I pray to J I get the same ol' same ol.  Bet babe, slide a piece a da porter, drink si' run th' java. Jus' hang loose blood. She goonna catch up on the`rebound a de medcide.

Received via email: 04.16.09  Uh, far out !!!  Keep on truckin', mofo.  Smell ya later. 

Received via email: 04.19.09  As Sweet Dick Willie would say, " you know what I'm talking about, you know!"

Received via email: 04.19.09   Oba kayba.

Received via email: 04.19.09  Please tell me this is not how our people speak on the dept. No wonder we have some of the officers we do.

Received via email: 04.19.09  I used to work with that guy who wrote in on 04.15.09     I think he was a photographer.

Received via email: 04.24.09  OHHHHHH you said Hussein Obama.  The boogie man.  We are scared now.  I guess that is the reason he won the election.  You say his middle name to demean him and it makes you look stupid.  Nobody cares about his name but right wing racist.  Let me get this right. President Obama wins all electoral votes as well as popular votes. Obama 52% to McCain 47%.  Bush wins electoral votes(Florida electoral votes are in question) but looses popular vote. Bush 47% to Gore 48% but the black man stole the election.  I guess you dont watch Sheppard Smith on Faux News.  "WE ARE AMERICA WE DONT FU**ING TORTURE.  Cant make this shit up.  You guys come in here all the time talking about how "liberals hate America".  Do something about it.  All you do is come in here and talk.  If you truly feel that way then you would take up arms and do something about it.  If you feel so deeply that your country is being taken over.  Do something about it.  Bunch of fu**ing cowards.  Talk big but no action.  You have a TEXAS rightwing Governor talking about secceding from the United States but you will cheer that sh*t on and nod your head in agreement.  That is Fu**ing treason but in your eyes he's a patriot.  Who hate america more.  Someone that disagree with a fuck up president(BUSH) or someone who is willing to leave the union.  You guys are a joke.  How the fuck did we get on GPS systems.  There is no program in the government that monitors your GPS.  There was a program that monitored your phone conversations.  Big difference here.  One program doesn't exist and the other program does exist.  Big Ford,Dodge and GM trucks are designed for Tough guys that are really in the closet right wing republican fags.  Which is worse?   

Received via email: 04.24.09  Eggy be hangin' bad, bro.

Received via email: 04.25.09  Sorry for th rant.   Was responding to somone in STRAIGHT DOPE page.  Got the page mixed up.

Received via email: 04.28.09  Don't apologize for the rant, apologize for hating America.

Received via email: 04.29.09  I love America, and Obama'a got a hottie wife!

Received via email: 04.29.09  Michelle Obama is a hottie?  So you are into RuPaul?  Liberal faggot.

Received via email: 04.29.09  Remember Bubblehead?  Ever notice how you never see any pictures of him with Michelle Obama? Yes, it's true that I am thinking what you are thinking: They are the same person.

Received via email: 04.29.09  I always refer to Michelle My Belle Obama as being 'handsome'.  Infer what you will.

Received via email: 04.29.09  you mentioned RuPaul...whos next for you? Michael or a lil fashion, say Boy George, ( george? OMG its W inthe 80's!)

Received via email: 04.29.09  Wait a minute, you like tall repub's? So how long have you been up the Baker's dozen? Lil dough boy arn't ya rightie! Do you laugh when he sticks his finger in you? Your the conservative fluffer here. HA!

Received via email: 04.29.09  Bubblehead's real name is Michael.  Mrs. Hussein Obama is Michelle.  Michael = Michelle.  Why are we the first to get this?

Received via email: 05.01.09  Any man that finds Michelle Obama attractive secretly wants to fu** Patrick Ewing.

Received via email: 05.03.09  Any man that finds your wife attractive secretly wants to fu** a gremlin.  What's your point?

Received via email: 05.03.09  (pssst, he doesn't have a wife, well I guess you could call his Fem guy a girlie..)

Received via email: 05.04.09  Well,, anyone who is banging someone elses wife should be put to death.  Or let the husband of the woman take out the guy.  No questions asked.

Received via email: 05.04.09  The point was that Michelle Obama looks a lot like Patrick Ewing.  Why do we have to explain EVERYTHING to you liberals?

Received via email: 05.05.09  I sort of forgot what Patrick Ewing looked like so I googled him and it is true that Michelle Obama looks just like him.  What kind of a pervert is Barrack Hussein to marry a dude looking chick like that?   Sick sick sick.

Received via email: 05.05.09  There is no doubt that Barurp Hussein Omama married a dude.  It's in this months edition of "Cross Dress" magazine.  My DC on the A shift loaned me his copy.
TEAM:  ...and he got his copy from The Punisher.

Received via email: 05.06.09  Talk talk talk you loser closet homo republicans, face it you LOST America won! Hate will carry there until the next election in eight years when Sec. Of State Clinton is elected to the White House. Oh boy you will have more material to play FOX news with then! F-T Repub's!

Received via email: 05.06.09  Clinton will be our next president?  Have you been reading the papers?  Nobama just wrote a check that will be impossible to cash.  His shortsighted idiocy will create such havoc in our economy that the Republicans won't even need to reorganize to challenge him next time since American taxpayers will be ready to throw his ass out.   Clinton was a lousy president, but Obama is actually making people miss him.  What were you morons thinking when you voted for this guy?

Received via email: 05.07.09  Hey, according to Californians.  Mustaches are gay.  Doest MZ the DC have a mustache.  Did he come out of the closet yet?

Received via email: 05.07.09  Deutcheland uber alles

Received via email: 05.16.09  Yakov have cousin with moustache. Is gay? Yakov is no like hear news he gay. Once fall asleep on cousins couch wake up no pants. Is bad news for Yakov.

Received via email: 07.14.09  What happened? I dont stay involved, go to union functions, or read the notices on the union board. I give great rim jobs to anyone above the rank of Shift Lt, get all my info from HQ, and am firmly behind everything the Mayor says that is good for me. I have begun to think that no one likes me. Would I be better off to leave SPFR and seek employment else where? I have been thinking about moving to Pennsy or maybe Russia. Does anyone have a number for Yakov? This is really beginning to concern me. Can anyone offer some advice?

Received via email: 09.04.09  Hey, lets all give Mike Wimmers a big hand of applause. He has made the last 3 consecutive Union events. Lets see... over the last 3 years that makes it about 6 out of 148 possibilities. Maybe if he is unsuccessful in his run for president he will look at keeping his involvement streak alive by becoming a steward at his own station where there hasn't been one since Rob Neuberger went into the paramedic program and transferred to the B-shift.

Received via email: 09.04.09  I have yet to find anyone that can tell me what it is that Mike's going to do for us and I've heard him. He's making the rounds and having trouble with simple questions and telling people that he's going to rely on them to get him up to speed. I don't know about you all but I'm having a real hard time wondering why it is that we're even having this discussion. Anywhere else, people seeing Mike showing up at union functions for the first time in years would be saying "you've got to be shitting me".

Received via email: 09.06.09  The propaganda machine is running for MW. One of his "crew" made the statement; "at least he'll get us a raise" Wake up buddy. We got a raise that a mayor tried to stop, which with WN's help, and the public's outcry, we will get a raise. It may not be 5%, but it's a start. We are politically shaping St. Petersburg's future with the drive for Ford.
A word to the young wimmer's supporter, there's more to a contract than a raise. Read some articles at IAFF.ORG

Received via email: 09.06.09  OK, let me ask this question that keeps coming up in the stations that no one seems to be able to answer including Mike Wimmers. What is his plan for the future? What is he going to do different from Winnie Newton? Also, why is it that he started his run for the presidency AFTER the memo hit the union boards telling us all that there was even a race? The whole thing seems to be built on a last minute bet.

Received via email: 09.06.09  Careful what you ask for. One of you spoke of "term limits." I don't know of a Local that exists anywhere that includes term limits and the accompanying baggage that goes with it. "No re-entry" often times accompanies term limits. If we were to take your lead on term limits should we then also adopt a no re-entry rule? If that were the case, then Mike Wimmers would automatically be shut out of the running and that's pure bullshit. What a weak argument for getting a guy into office who has no game left.

Received via email: 09.06.09  Sometime before this election you should all be asking yourselves a couple of questions. 

1.) How active are each of the members of this local who are driving the Mike Wimmers for President Campaign?
2.) In Mike Wimmers campaign letter, what problems with the current union leadership's and direction did he clearly delineate?

Received via email: 09.06.09  That's pretty funny stuff. There's a station stewards job right under his nose that's been open for months and it didn't even occur to him to take a shot at that. What's that tell you? No participation = No care.

Received via email: 09.06.09  I don't think anyone suggested term limits.  But taking a change in course after two terms is a good idea, assuming there is a viable alternative.  If Wimmers wasn't running I would be pleased that Winnie would be willing to go a third round. But since Wimmers is willing to let Winnie sit one out, I think voting for Wimmers is probably the right thing to do. 

I agree that term limits would be a bad idea since we often can't find anyone new to take the reins.  But since we have an excellent option right now, I say take it.  Two consecutive terms should require a break.  Not forever, just a break. 
An R day is a break... you come back after that's over, don't you?  

Speaking of R days, who was president when we got those things?

Received via email: 09.06.09  I've got something to get off of my chest.  After reading some of the comments on this page and another about Mike Wimmers vs. Winnie Newton it popped into my head that what Mike Wimmers wanted to say on paper he never said.  He's sent his army of anti-Winnie friends out into the companies.  One of them recently visited my station and when it was all said and done I thought to myself that it was too bad that Winnie hadn't made an appearence. Then it dawned on me, Mike didn't either. One of his buddy's who is on the Lt's list and doing a lot of sucking around the chief lately is talking for Mike. Then I got to asking some of the guys I could trust keep keep the conversation on the down low about this fellow and why he's out talking for Mike and I was shocked at how much dirt I really didn't know about some people.  All I can say is that if the mark of a man can be measured by the company he keeps then one of the two people running is in real trouble and he knows it.

Received via email: 09.06.09  We got R-Days during Rick Feinberg's rule. I'm starting a letter writing campaign to get him on the ballot too. You know, because Winnie badly needs a break.

Received via email: 09.06.09  R-days, one asks who was in charge when we got those things? Now lets ask this who was the first president since that happened that actually placed articles on the table to get even more of them?
Also a post poses the question of who is driving the Wimmers bus? I have not heard a single member with much more than 5 years on the job that is pushing this agenda. It is also regretful that these same youngsters are in Mikes own station and he cant answer their questions. Is this because he does not know or because he selectively forgets? Mike should know full well of at least the pension improvements that have enabled him to double his pension when he leave in a couple more years. Speaking of that, less than 1 month ago he was overheard in conversation that now that he is in the DROP he might stay 2 more years but wasn't to sure. Just as being in the DROP or retired eliminates you from holding a position on the Pension Board, I don't see someone seeking the seat of president that is in the drop working real hard for my future improvements. Mike has no platform and every station he has visited he has left them with innuendo and no less than $32.86 in dishonest references.

Received via email: 09.06.09  R/D's were graciously given by the city when the federal government mandated lower weekly work hours for firefighters on a national level. Any work hours over an average of 53 per week the city would have to pay overtime, which they did not want to do. So the city decided to give a R/D and reduce staffing by 7!

Received via email: 09.06.09  Speaking of term limits, when people enter the DROP they stop contributing to their pension and the city stops contributing to the pension fund. And if some are so concerned about these new guys being thrown to the wolves why don't some of you in the DROP look at term limits of your own and leave now. We can use the new guys and they'll thank you.

Received via email: 09.06.09  "Mike has no platform and every station he has visited he has left them with innuendo and no less than $32.86 in dishonest references."

This is one of my favorites and I'm glad you brought it up. Let me paint the picture for you all. There's a group sitting around the dining table at the MFS on the C shift when someone with no ability to read or think for themselves ask's Mike Wimmers what the this $32.86 figure is on the PROPOSED UNION BUDGET that's posted on the union board. Mike looks it over (you know, he used to be a union president and this form of proposed budget hasn't changed since Christ was a child) and says "I don't know but I'll get to the bottom of it." One of the bright boys asks Mike if it true that we only have $32.00 in the bank. "Dunno but I'll get to the bottom of it."  

If some of you giant supporters of your own future ever got off of your asses and went to a single union meeting instead of sucking off the chief when he makes his morning rounds you'd know that there's a difference between a PROPOSED UNION BUDGET and the MONTHLY TREASURERS REPORT.

We used to have no money in the bank. We now have millions (because I say so) and you are in better shape now than you've ever been. Don't take my word for it. Call Billy Mott and ask to see the books. Even the laziest of us is a part owner even if you don't deserve to be.

Received via email: 09.06.09  So, am I reading these posts correctly? Mike Wimmers is in the DROP? WOW.

Received via email: 09.06.09  Mr. Webmaster, if you're holding Mike Wimmers email to make him look bad, we're going to do some scrapin'.  It's 9:30 pm and again -- I ask -- what is it that Mike Wimmers is going to change that needs changing and howz he going to get us there when he's been totally disconnected from the Local, the FPF and the IAFF for nearly 30 years.
TEAM: We've posted all.

Received via email: 09.06.09  People, there are Locals in this state that have union president's that have been in that position for 20, 25 and 30 years. Why do you think that is? It's not like a game of musical chairs where everyone takes a turn. Clearwater's union president retired and claimed that he would continue to run the Local. He was great for them for a lot of years and then the day came where he no longer had to get up to go to the station anymore. He's now out. St. Pete Beach is in the same position. Their president has retired from the job and now he's running on empty.

Received via email: 09.06.09  You see it and you hear it every day. Guys who enter the DROP have a whole different take on things and many aren't affraid to tell you about it. Can you imagine working for this union with the same vigor for a single day after you retire, especially if you're not up to speed?  Winnie's gay for this shit and I'm not sure 'he'd' have the same gusto for it. Mike Wimmers? I don't think so. He's too busy chasing the nursing staff's skirt's, now as it is.

Received via email: 09.06.09  $32.00 in the bank. You're killing me. On a rare ocassion even Ray shows up to union meetings to spy and even he didn't tell Mike what he was reading? What a waste of an education. But then again we both shovel shit out of peoples windows at 4am and I'm a dumbass fireman.

Received via email: 09.06.09  How many of our Paramedics have entered the drop and immediatly dropped their patchs as well? I am not dening that they dont deserve a break, just pointing out that they have lost their desires to run call after call in the heat, rain, and cold. Lets not even mention the many ups and downs they encounter after midnight. I guess they figure why do they when they dont have too. You can also see and marked change in many of our firefighters as well after they start the countdown clock. Fact, city wide the average time in the drop is only 3 years.
One other thing, I hope no one including Wimmers Ever thinks that Landes will share his limited knowledge with anyone, for fear of being discovered as a fraud as well.

Received via email: 09.06.09  This term limits thing is intrigeuing (sp). Are there any term limits on fire chief? What about HR? Seems like some of the most likely to want to limit the amount of time a hugely successful union president is in office are the fire chief, HR and anyone he ever told was not living up to the standards of a good union member. One of the guys that is making the rounds preaching for Mike ought not talk too long or too loud about union business or the character of those running against Mike. He's from station 3 and due to religeous beliefs doesn't vote or attend meetings. That's okay but how come he's an instant wizard on what's best for the union? As to his judgment of good character, as a married man I've never entertained a woman over a period of months in the station after hours when the Lt. was asleep.  Politics is a dirty game, especially when you bring your own dirt. I'll bet Mike's glad to have another big union guy out there swinging for him.

Received via email: 09.06.09  As George Pappard said in the A team, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Received via email: 09.07.09  To the poster asking about term limits on the chiefs position. To date in the 100 year history chief large is like the 10th or 11th chief. So I guess if 10 years is good enough for that tuff job, then it must be ok.  As for you other question, don't you know that what happens in the de-con room, stays in the de-con room? No one ever knocks on that door, even on Saturdays.

Received via email: 09.07.09  $32 in the bank. Is this the best some of you dumbasses can come up with? I can't believe we're not talking about Rick Feinberg's days in the saddle. The only difference with that would be the fact that there wouldn't even be that much money in the bank.

Received via email: 09.07.09  I understand Mike Wimmers is against owning the property nextdoor or building a new union hall. How come all these guys who get to retirement age want to build new houses of their own in the mountains and never look back but can't bring themselves to ever seeing this union do better than a shitty old house that they'd be too emrarrassed to live in? We've got money in the bank and a great future but with the wrong person at the helm you're going to see us going back in time where the office is open part time, deals being struck with the chief and membership dropping off again. With Winnie in office we've been at 100% membership with the exception of a couple of recent assholes in the DROP. I said all that to say this: Winnie will be re elected to office and I have no doubts about that. I'm more troubled with the fact that there are members of this organization that can't see past getting their FD buddy from 30 years ago into office to square a debt or just gig Winnie. If some of you don't like him because you feel like he doesn't treat you like one of his best friends or he doesn't take you seriously, there's a reason for it. You probably don't deserve to be treated as a friend or taken seriously. There are way too many turn coats on this job that say one thing to him and then say another when he's not in the room. The only trouble with that comes when you go blabbing in public and his real friends drop a dime on you. I just love it when some of you say "I think Winnie's doing a great job, but..." or "I just love Winnie, but..." Some of you should look at the man in the mirror.

Received via email: 09.08.09  Why does it surprise you that Wimmers is against a new building. He was in the mix when the too small building we presently call a hall was purchased. If he thought it was ok back then, then it must still be ok now. Plus back in the 80's this local was benefitting greatly from solicitation dollars from the PCCFF. It was these dollars that allowed the local to buy it without it costing anyone a penny. You see they lacked the leadership to ask the membership to bring about changes that would impact their wallets for something sorely needed. Your current President has shown what has been needed and why. Just remember.

Received via email: 09.09.09  We need a Union President willing to fight for each member for injustice.  Not a union president who pals around with administration and will not fight their hardest for each member.  Think hard about it.  You know who will fight hard for you and you know who will pal around with the Top Brass.  Enough said....

All that's important but you've just got to check this out, http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/taste-test-ice-cream-sandwich-507442/

Received via email: 09.14.09  Wimmers stated in his visits to the stations that the UNION needs to stop fighting every frickin discipline that comes out of HQ. Here is a qoute from MW "When I was president I never fought with HQ and the city over such bullshit". He feels that whatever discipline comes out of the palace is just and should not be fought.

I hope I never get in trouble if Wimmers gets president because i'll be f***ed.

Received via email: 09.14.09  Ask Wimmers if he would have fought for Lt. Martin over the "B***S*** physical waivers that we now know that they NEVER had the right to "order" us to sign. If WE listen to the administration THEY will ALWAYS tell us they are right and WE are wrong!

Received via email: 09.15.09  Wimmers does not see the necessesity of fighting for your contractual rights or those covered by your fire fighter bill of rights either. Mike does not know this now and he and many of his predecessors did not know it back then, but the PRIMARY responsibility of this and every union and its leader is to PROTECT (fight for) your wage, hours, terms and conditions of employement. This means exactly what it says. It does not mean to strike a deal over a fatburger and 12 beers at the local bar. Lets pray that this type of sidestepping leadership never finds its way back into your union hall ever again. You see, money spent to save one, actually saves all of us from ever having to go through the same lame bullshit at a later date. On the other hand money spent defending a member leaves less for beer parties. I myself will sacrifice the ole Devils juice in order to know that my union dollars are being spent to defend my rights from the "Lets screw um" mentality of the last decade of fire administrators. Mike just dont seem willing to do this. Tell me again why we should vote him back into office. I dont see the big picture some are trying to paint on the invisible canvas.

Received via email: 09.15.09  Has anyone been keeping track of all the things that the union leaders have been doing sucessfully, Mike Wimmers is against? I cant even begin to remember them all, but it looks like he is going to start anew. In other words it appears that we are going to be sooo lucky when he and fire admin regain control of the union things are really going to change for the better. God help us all.

Received via email: 09.16.09  Ok think about this one real hard.  Who would fight for your rights the hardest.  You know the right answer. 

Received via email: 09.20.09  Is someone that is in the DROP going to bargain in good faith for benefits that he will not benefit from as hard as someone who will benefit from them? Just a thought.

Received via email: 09.20.09  9.20 #1, What does being in the DROP have to do with anything?  The union president bargains for lieutenants, captains and DC's, but does not benefit from those benefit packages. Based on your logic, that is unfair to officers. What about bargaining for paramedic pay? 

If your goal is to bash Wimmers, you will have to do better than that.

Received via email: 09.20.09  I called the union hall today to listen to the info line and b4 I could hit the button Billy Mott picked up the phone. It's SUNDAYand you're sick. Billy GO HOME!

Received via email: 09.21.09  9.20 #2 You can tell Wimmers that he is wrong again. No matter what Rank the Union President holds, he benefits from bargaining for better Wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment. That is the whole story in a nut shell. To make it 101 simple, the higher the president can increase any rank above his, it automaticly makes it a higher probability that his bene's will be increasing shortly. That will still happen for someone in the drop until it comes to post employment health care and pension improvements. You youngsters will someday understand the importance of these 2 items, and by then you will be so entrenched in the "union dont do anything for me" mindset that it will be too late.

Received via email: 09.24.09  I see Mike Blank's going into prevention with Fraser.  Good going guys.

Received via email: 09.28.09  Congratulations on the new staffing moves announced today. Once again the troops on the street lose out while the HQ group gets bigger. Just another example of the good ole boy club takin care of their hand rubbed folks. When does it ever stop?

Received via email: 09.30.09  Speaking of MTB, seems that now that he is back in the know, he is telling everyone that Only Bobbie Bassett has the oversized ball sack and the knowledge of how to handle the citizens and employees of this city. Seems that according to him Duh-monte' and Rosetti just dont have the 941 that it takes to step up.

Received via email: 09.30.09  Surely you cant be suprised by the knowledge of MTB...Why do you think he has has so much trouble fitting in at any one station during his career? He is so full of it, nobody could stand him for any lenght of time. As for Bassett, dont be surprised there either. When the Admin F**ked over Odonnell and put Bassett at 11 he was told he was being suckled and groomed then. FTM and the Punisher, and his side kick JDL.
TEAM:  Thanks for utilizing the stars.

Received via email: 09.30.09  Here's a great story that the chief's trying to kill. Before Lanning left he offered to come back after the drop and work for $70K. Then Jolley announced that he'd come back for the same thing. See what happened? We're making blue shirt inspectors, captains and chiefs and turning down job offers from chiefs in amounts that would save jobs. Someone slap me if I ever call Budtallion 1 the worst chief ever.

Received via email: 09.30.09  Heres a good question for ya.  What current div. chief hung out at strip bars and would visit a certain station drunk to sleep it off, with glitter all over him ?  Hmmmmmmm  wonder who that could have been.  Surely a family man.  No less, good enough to be one of our leaders. 
And who is the other div. chief that many have pictures of at a strip bar years ago.  Wow, the citizens of our great city would love to see that, not to mention his wife.  Another family man and great leader.

Received via email: 10.02.09  Use your head.  Nobody gives a shit that either of these Division Chief's were in a strip bar.  And the sky isn't going to come crashing down with your revealing of it.  Are you saying it's only scandalous when a Division Chief goes to a strip bar?  Are you trying to make it look like only Division Chief's go to strip bars? 

Received via email: 10.02.09  Maybe you or none of the other members of the fire service have ever attended the fun that can be had in a strip bar.  It wasn't the Division Chief that was stripping.  And just being there doesn't mean he was doing something wrong.  Not everyone is sneaking around acting suspicious.  Maybe you should stop pointing the finger at people's actions that only YOU THINK are bad.  Maybe you always wanted to go to a strip bar but never had the balls for it.  Maybe you'd find it more comfortable in a gay bar, eh?  Yes, I do believe that to be true.

Received via email: 10.05.09  Your right, I guess their wives and families feel the same way you do.  Pathetic !!

Received via email: 10.05.09  Pathetic, maybe.  But it's not fair to make accusations or even inuendos about folks who are only having a good time.  Maybe it's not in a manner you approve of but it doesn't mean they're doing something wrong.  Granted, strip clubs and bars don't get frequented by saints but all of us like to kinda blow the stink off once in a while.  Not all of us do it the same way.  Sorry about the gay jab.  You didn't deserve it.  Don't forget to vote for Kathleen and have a great day.

Received via email: 10.05.09  Of course the department condones and makes gods of those that can drink and fight their way all over the state. Those that master this lofty goal are held to a much higher plateau. Does "Bus Trip" ring a bell. With a tradition like that who needs excuses (or Rehab). Or wait, am I just talking about the secret lives PTEC teachers.

Received via email: 10.06.09  Hey you know that being a drunk and or slime ball will just get you promoted faster.  Hurry up Mayor Ford and change this screwed up place.

Received via email: 10.07.09  You should talk to Lt's Hay and Kidwell. They blew so hard for Knight to get the FOOY award. Its rumored that they had borrowed the spirometer from the phys peeps so they could practice, practice, practice. I guess it worked, the 941 click as yet again infiltrated another platoon of the unwary. This is so sad a day for SPFR.

Received via email: 10.08.09  So it looks like kitty got classified as a medic before everyone else even though she's not senior to anyone who went to medic school and EMS denies it!!!!!!!!! You guys might want to look at the poster on the wall in HQ that says "integrity"

Received via email: 10.13.09  you never know how could you had it till its to late as you call him bud 1 is now the chief   and sk is a chief so i guess if you want to be a chief quit your belly ackin  have a beer and yes you too can be cheif  you see how the game is played   what don't you get ?

Received via email: 10.13.09  How did anyone get classified? Was there an opening? When did this happen? I am not suprised tho, this is the way the 941 club is going to steamroll over all of us.

Received via email: 10.15.09  I don't think anyone from south of the bridge is going to steamroll over anyone. Word has it that management's not sharing info with the DC's now, further insulating themselves from the real world. Except for the few like CL who just can't keep out of HQ on duty or off, there's very few that even go near that place anymore. FTM

Received via email: 10.16.09  Every entry here should end with FTM. Everything about HQ is rotten to the core and has nothing to do with us.

Received via email: 10.16.09  Are you trying to tell us that Clay-lo is a tube cleaner? Tell us something we dont know.

Received via email: 10.16.09  "Tube cleaner" I like that LMAO. I hear that all of the other "knob polishers at the master station cant even stand CL anymore.

Received via email: 10.17.09  SPF&R has transformed ass kissing from a sport to a requirement for promotion. When the chief asks some of you bright boys who want to get promoted at all costs what LOYALTY means to you, just tell him that you'll be loyal to him and him alone. He'll love you, the rest of us will despise you and all will be SPF&R normal. FUBAR! Large is surrounding himself with scoundrels who have had their lips on his ass for so long they've become appendages. He worries about this site being an embarrassment to him, well it is. Ever hear the phrase don't feed the animals? Large is so anti union that he can't see straight. I've never seen this fire chief do anything for anybody that didn't have their hand out. You all get just what you deserve.    FTM

Received via email: 10.17.09  Ass kissing from a sport to a requirement, eh?  Too funny.  What's not funny is how you, who have never taken a test for promotion, know more about getting promoted than any one else.  But you're willing to share your lack of knowledge with the rest of us because it seems such a shame for you to just shut up and do your job.  You don't like the promotion process used to determine which members of the department get promoted to positions of responsibility. 

Let's look at that just for a second.  It seems that in your mind all the members who take the tests for officer positions are assholes who don't deserve, for whatever reason, the promotion they've worked and studied for over a period of time.  Sometimes years.  Why do you think that?  And why would you resort to belittle their efforts in such a crude and tasteless manner?  My guess is that you have always wanted to be an officer but just never had the time to study, the drive to succeed, or the intelligence to learn. 

Being promoted today isn't just a matter of being on the Chief's ass with your lips as you describe.  You, I'm sure, think that part of being promoted is based on who your family may be.  You obviously think that the "bright boys" are the ones who get promoted but you 're upset that you aren't one of them.  What makes them "brighter" than you?  No doubt those three things I mentioned in paragraph two.  Today's officer in the fire service is smarter, more committed, highly motivated and totally dedicated to providing the best leadership possible.  And it can be seen clearly if you take the time to look. 

Today, to be an officer, whether a lieutenant or a chief takes more education than ever before in the history of the fire service.  It takes more intensity from the man or woman who wants to be a leader than it did in years past.  Today you can't get promoted without an education.  That's what levels the playing field to some extent.  Those who are willing to educate themselves and move upward will always have malcontents like you dangling from their feet trying to pull them down.  Even a driver is now an "engineer".  And even THAT position takes some education and desire. 

You can't get promoted by showing the other morons that you can shoot your mouth off on this site without any justification and get away with it.  Won't happen.  And just to be fair I will admit that not all members, once they get promoted, don't sometimes take that opportunity to show their true colors.  Ordinarily a crew can be creative when it comes to working with someone like that.  Not every promotion is a winner.  But those who do get promoted and those who want to get promoted all know that it's not going to happen without sacrifice, dedication, and education. 

These are facts that have always been in place.  These are the things that have driven some members to become leaders and others to be followers.  These are the things that over the years have determined who will be the leaders.  The only difference is the level of intensity that must be met to qualify.  Not everyone is qualified.  You are not qualified.
You could be, I suppose.  If you'd lose the attitude.  But that won't happen.  And that means that you will always be working for someone else who "wanted to get promoted at all costs" 

Received via email: 10.17.09  Do you even work here? All that applies to guys who are leaveing the job not the guys who are coming on the job. Sheesh.

Received via email: 10.17.09  Is it just me or are officers patting themselves on the back more than ever?  I just dont see what the big deal is about reading a plug book.  This job is 85% EMS now, but officers on fire trucks that never go to fires still want to think it's about them. 
You want to brag about your education and work ethic?  Try going to paramedic school and ride the little truck for a few years.
Really the only reason to get promoted is to get a break from being a paramedic without a cut in pay.  Why cant most firefighters understand this?  Maybe Tampa has it right. If you havent been a paramedic, you have no business being an officer on this job. It should at least be a pay cut to go from paramedic to Lt.  Thats for sure.

Received via email: 10.18.09  Whats really pathetic is that some of you folks believe the fire service is made up of a bunch of supermen. We're no more immune to the suckass than Kmart or Publix, the difference is we expect more of people wh may one day lead us and it's getting worse all the time.

Received via email: 10.18.09  10-17 #2  You'd be on the money if you were'nt WRONG!  If I WERE sitting for exams you'd say that I can't hack it because I keep coming in at the back of the pack. If I told you I DON'T sit for exams you'd say I wasn't up to the task. I don't sit for the Lt's test because it doesn't interest me and that's that. What you fail to realize is that it isn't about me. I pointed out a trend that many recognize and you attack me. Good. Hope it works for you. The point is there are too many weak minded people on this job who see only one way to the top and that's through a weak fire chief that rewards ass sucking. If you want to blame one person I've made your job a little bit easier now because you've got two to choose from.

Received via email: 10.18.09  Hmmmm.....It seems to me that in order to get promoted you need to meet a complicated list of criteria.  When Chief Large has to make a determination who is the next Lieutenant or Captain or Chief of Rescue he only has those who have accomplished those things I pointed out in my other post.  By your standards it's not just the one's getting the appointments that are scum but anyone who even takes the test is an ass kissing dirt bag.  I base this on the fact that one must have all the credentials required for the position before being eligible to take the test.  I only use you as an example of resistance because you are the one shouting the loudest.  You're not alone.  Nearly every person who posts derogatory crap on here is just like you basically.  I can understand where you come from when you say you are not interested in being an officer.  I think there are those who agree with you and feel the same way.  However, that doesn't automatically give you the right to bad mouth those who think differently from you.  They're doing what they have interest in.  Becoming an officer.  That doesn't make them grotesque or misshapen any more than it does you for not having the same desires.  And to the guy who thinks officers are "patting themselves on the back more than ever" these days ... please try to recognize that medics are not gods.  Never have been, never will be.  Stop patting YOURSELFthink the back for doing your job and shut up.  If Tampa is right then go get a job in Tampa so that we can make room for a firefighter.  Honestly, you guys who howl about how magnificent you are because you're a medic plainly don't have the balls to be a firefighter.  Most of the women who come on the job want to ride the "little truck".  Hell, they don't want to be anywhere near a fire.  And I know there are exception who will fight you for the nozzle so don't even bother bringing it up. 

"The point is there are too many weak minded people on this job who see only one way to the top and that's through a weak fire chief that rewards ass sucking."

Your point is well taken that there are those who even though they have all the qualifications needed to take the test won't make good officers.  That's a given.  You're right to think what another poster said that "we expect more of people who may one day lead us".  It seems strange that one would want to invest the amount of time and effort needed just to qualify for a promotion when according to most of you all he needs to do is suck around the Chief's office.  Surely it can't be that simple.  Putting all qualifiers in the same stripe is wrong.  And in a perfect world all the appointments would be to your satisfaction.  The bottom line is that each person makes his or her mind up when they come on this job as to how far they want to progress.  Some will stop at top firefighter.  Some will be pseudo-gods.  Some will be officers who will be responsible.  Not all will want the exact same thing.  But all, individually or in a group, have the right to choose.  And by doing so should not bring down the wrath of those who don't have the same aspirations.  Turn it around and think how much fun it would be to bad mouth those who don't want to be an officer.  There must be a whole category of names for those folks.  Not everyone who gets promoted is your enemy.  Not everyone who gets promoted is your friend.  But be sure that every one who gets promoted met the qualification and the criteria to do so.  I can't help thinking to do so was a little more difficult than kissing the Chief's ass on a regular basis.

Received via email: 10.18.09  No one ever says "Its only a game" when their team is winning.

Received via email: 10.19.09  If lovin everyone is wrong, Then I don't wanna be right. CL

Received via email: 10.20.09  When you get where you're goin', there you are.
However, if you've been there before you won't give a shit.

Received via email: 10.21.09  "Billy don't be a hero"

Received via email: 10.21.09  Ya gotta get up to get down..

Received via email: 10.21.09  36 24 36, ouuu thats a winning hand..Ok had enough hits from the past?

Received via email: 10.21.09   I lost my poor meatball, it rolled out the door...

Received via email: 10.21.09  Honey (touch me with my clothes on...)  RIP Gilda Radner

Received via email: 10.21.09  They say that Shaft is a bad mutha... SHUT CHO MOWF!

Received via email: 10.24.09  "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY makes Sheriff Buford T. Justice look like a possum's pecker."

Received via email: 11.01.09
Well the picture is changing
Now you're part of a crowd
They're laughing at something
And the music's loud
A girl comes towards you
You once used to know
You reach out your hand
But you're all alone, in these
Time passages

Received via email: 11.02.09  Okay, I've got a line from a song for you all. "They serve at the pleasure of the fire chief."

Who sings it?

Received via email: 11.02.09  The smashing pumpkins.  Pumpkin, hey that is funny.  

Received via email: 11.02.09  Mr. Pumpkinhead and the Boys From Brazil?

Received via email: 11.02.09   Hows about the group, I can suck anything you can suck better.

Received via email: 11.05.09   well we are screwed.  The 2 Jimmies will run wild in the dept now.  everyone better have their attorneys ready to sue.

Received via email: 11.14.09  We're all lining up behind Dianne's attorney.

Received via email: 11.16.09  How is Diane's legal action a good thing, besides pissing off people that you don't like?  Don't put it past the mayor to take her lawsuit costs out of OUR budget.  Are you so proud of her that  you are willing to give up your next couple of raises?

Received via email: 11.16.09  If I were Dianne I guess I'd think that legal action was a great thing. And why should we suffer no pay raise because of this department's sins of the past? That's bullshit and won't even come up in discussion but if it does you can be Winnie's gonna make a lot of people look like even bigger assholes. Maybe you and the guy banging the drum to give all our holiday time away to fix the problems that the city makes for itself should get together. You can find a whole bunch of shit that the city does wrong and then get out the tin cup and start another collection drive.  Hey I understand Dianne's attorney had a picture of the chief in her hand waiting to see if he was going to get onboard for the bus trip.

Received via email: 11.17.09  Admin, chooses to go the legal route everytime. They think it will bankrupt us and then they will have free reign.

Received via email: 11.17.09   It won't bankrupt us as long as we keep WINNING. It just shows what an inept fire administration that we have! It has cost the city more then it has cost us.

Received via email: 11.19.09  For the believers that are still saying that we should have given up our $$'s for the probies, listen up. YOUR city ended the fiscal year with OVER A 6 MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS. What are they ready to do with it? Put it into the rainy day fund with the other $286 MILLION DOLLARS of course. Now the newly re-elected asshole council members are making provisions to find a way to squirrl the money away from us by raising the required fund reserve balances to 20% in every fund. This is the newest way to f*ck over everyone. The old requirements were 5-10% and that was always considered ample. Now the new Mayor can say f*ck off, my hands are tied and I have no money for you pe-ons.
I am certain this still will not change your trusting, do whats right, they know what they are doing, minds, but I had to try. FTM. Only you can prevent the stupidity from spreading

Received via email: 11.19.09  Sorry, but we still should have ponied up holiday for the guys that got let go.  We do it for guys who run out of sick leave, and that's just to save them from going a few weeks without a check.  We chose to f*ck the new guys out of their jobs.  You can blame the city if you want, but stop ignoring the fact that we COULD have kept then here, but the disloyal f*cks who now make up this fire department chose NOT to.  Blame the city if you want, but you are still a brother f*cker.   They aren't city hall's brothers.  They are (were) ours.  Stop being so proud of f*cking them.

Received via email: 11.19.09  If you felt so strongly about saving one these guys job.  Why didn't you just retire early?  I bet you have over 25 yrs on the job.  Your no different than any of the people who didn't want to give up their holiday time. Your still crying like a bitch about something that is over and done with. GET THE F*CK OVER IT! 

Received via email: 11.19.09  Again, how much of YOUR pay did you give them?

Received via email: 11.19.09  How is it over if the brother f*ckers are still on the job?  In regards to how much pay I gave them, the answer is none because your brother f*cking happened faster than other people's efforts to pool together holiday pay. 

If we had acted like the brothers that some of us are (and others pretend to be) I would have been completely supportive of throwing  in  holiday pay. I would have given twice as much if only half of the department had been loyal enough to participate.  Thats what REAL brothers do, brother f*cker.

Received via email: 11.20.09  I didn't hear any of this at the union meeting last night. I didn't hear one person stand up and tell us that they support the mayor or Large. It's funny how this city administration can keep stuffing tax payer money into its pockets, raise reserve fund balances to unbeleiveable percentages (20%) to hide its wealth from the unions, ride 2 people on million dollar ladder trucks, scramble every morning at 7:59 to find people to work F*CKING MANDITORY OVERTIME, promote total assholes to high ranking positions in EMS in an attempt to drive off some of our current medics so that they can hire more people that we can do what to? FIRE? Some people around here need to quit stepping on Superman's cape.
TEAM: Eh... there's little more that we can add on that subject.  We were there at the meeting too.  Oh and thanks for greeting us with the secret handshake and please, please don't have a TIA over this.  All is well in hand.

Received via email: 11.21.09  If YOU constitute someone that does not want to give up time that they earned when the city has hundreds of millions as being a brother f@#ker then you need to look at yourself also.  See that you haven't retired your position for one of the laid off firefighter to come back.  You still have a chance to save one of these guys......Just what I thought.  A f@#king hypocrite.  YOU talk as if your way of thinking is the right way of thinking.

Received via email: 11.22.09  If caring about the brotherhood as if they were actually brothers is the RIGHT way of thinking, than I probably am guilty of the right way of thinking.  

When a brother runs out of sick leave, do you donate some vacation time to him (or her), or do you tell them to call payroll?  If you  give them some of your time then you became a hypocrite when you refused to help the probies.  If you tell them to call payroll, you are a brother f*cker. 

Which one are you?

It doesn't matter that the city is sitting on hundreds of millions because the city never claimed that this was a brotherhood.  That's OUR line. At least, it used to be before the brother f*ckers got here.

Received via email: 11.22.09  You just don't get it do you. A one time donation of vacation or holiday time to help someone that is out of sick leave is not the same thing as totally giving up holiday time to the city and this IS what we would be doing, giving it back to the CITY, not to the firefighters. Once we give up the holiday pay to keep the 5 firefighters on duty we will NEVER get it back. If we gave up 60 hours of holiday pay this year, next year we would only accrue 60 hours not 120 hours. The following years will be the same. So in other words we all would be REDUCING our salary by 60 hours of pay a year and giving it back to the CITY. WE WILL NEVER GET THIS BACK!

Received via email: 11.22.09  No, YOU are mistaken, I do get it.  Whenever you give up ANYTHING you should not expect to ever get it back.  That's what "giving it up" means.  When your brother can't feed his family and you give him food, money, shelter or anything else, you shouldn't expect to get anything back. He is your brother.  THAT is brotherhood.  Don't you see that?   Do you not understand the concept? 

Whether it is a firefighter who has run out of sick leave, or a probie being laid off,  if  you help him feed his family you should NOT expect repayment.  That's how families function.  Where were YOU raised? 

I understand your math:  if you give up 36 hours of holiday time, you have 36 hours less time.  And you don't get it back.  I understand it, why can't you?  But if we had done that, we would have kept our brothers families fed, and from the payroll of OUR fire department, not someone elses. 

What about this is complicated to you?

Received via email: 11.22.09  I understand that paying the payroll for the city has longterm implications for this union. I understand that they were hired under less than normal circumstanses. I understand that none of them have lost a single paycheck. I understand that we are supposedly over on manning so they ALL could have been kept instead of the smaller number that we're over. I understand that Large did nothing to keep them because he has never had a backbone. I understand that Large is building a house of cards at HQ. I understand that the 3 medics that are no longer employed here don't work for the Invisible Man, the Punisher or Mr. Pumpkinhead anymore. I understand that there are chiefs in the DROP that are hanging on to the very last paycheck that could have left a few months early and looked like hereos for a lifetime. I also understand that there are no heroes at HQ only those who won't be getting an axe.

Received via email: 11.23.09  Give it up, some of the ones layed off are gone and not coming back.  Its to late for any of that now. The city screwed them by laying them off and it is over. Our city cares nothing about its employees or many wrongs would have already been fixed.  New folks still have a chance to have a better career elsewhere. Any one with under 5 years should take a hard look at other opportunities, before you get screwed like the rest of us. 

Received via email: 11.23.09  I understand that I was willing to dig into my pocket to keep my brothers on our department.  I understand that you weren't.

Received via email: 11.23.09   Well then dig in your pocket and start fixing all the wrong the city is doing.  You should be broke about yesterday.  Nuf said.

Received via email: 11.23.09  But did you? Did you give YOUR job up to save one of the laid off firefighters? It doesn't need to be a firefighter in the DROP to save a job. YOU could have given up YOUR job, but YOU DID NOT! So quit telling everybody what poor brothers they are when you are just the same!

Received via email: 11.23.09  Let's think about this. If some of those "probies" now have jobs with departments that Local 747 represents, his is still my Brother/Sister. Right? And if some don't come back, is it my fault? No. Why would they? Should I take something that was paid with the blood and sweat of the many for the few? No. The "probies" that now have SPFR on their resume, looked pretty good to ANYBODY hiring.
Maybe some Union meeting might enlighten you. Love your spirit Bro! B.Elliott Smith

Received via email: 11.24.09  Why would any one who worked for this city and was layed off that went to a better place come back.  It is obvious our city treats its employees like crap. Look at tonight's vote.  2 million in cash reserves.  This could have easily saved the probies and the city knows it.  Screw this city! Those probies are smart not coming back.  They see Lealman treats them with much more respect and pays them for their hard work. Again, who would come back after the crap they went through. Not to mention our own internal assholes they would have to work for their entire career. Many of us are jealous we are not working somewhere else in this county.  

Received via email: 11.30.09  St Pete will be a great department again someday when we get some div chiefs like Bruni who knows and understands what the firefighters do daily.  It may take some time, and unfortunately, joe cant do it alone. He is the only chief that was and is still a great firefighter. The other ones are more or less about as useful as a glorified explorer. PERIOD.

Received via email: 12.04.09  The admin will never let chiefs like Bruni run the place.  They cant have a place where Chiefs are respected.  Which brings me to this.  How come Sweet is not a chief.  no one respects him.

Received via email: 12.04.09  Ok lets make a list of all our Division Chiefs that are really respected by the firefighters.  Ok were finished. one - Chief J. Bruni. Sad thing is, everyone knows this.  Even city admin. but they can't do anything about it. Nor do they want to .

Received via email: 12.04.09  What's really messed up is they give a guy like Bruni a really important job with no staff. It's all shit out to PTEC so the city doesn't have to pay for benefits. Then we find that Mr. Pumpkinhead is thought to be all that and a bag of chips by Large's standards but no one in council is impressed so far with his efforts to massage the law with the wrong politicians from the wrong house seat. Maybe if he'd spent more time working with the union and less sucking off the chief he'd know what he wouldn't have embarrased us in front of the county and our own city hall. Guys like Bruni get by on technical knowledge (hooda thunk) while guys like the invisible man, the punisher and mr. pumpkinhead are pure bullshitters with college degrees in business. All bullshit all the time.

Received via email: 12.05.09  Pumpkin head dont want to work with or be a part of our Union. Within days of being promoted he has already chosen to become a dues paying retiree to the IAFF only. Thats right out of his new $90K+ annual salary, he sends his $5.50 a month to Washington DC and none to his own local.

Received via email: 12.07.09  Pumpkin head is no different from the rest. Large, Wimberly, Lanning, Ward just to name a few did the exact same thing as soon as they were promoted. And you would be surprised at how many of your beloved union brothers and sisters dropped out after receiving their $400 axe.

Received via email: 12.09.09  Hey, that's Division Chief of EMS, Pumpkin Head to you all. Dont you forget it.

Received via email: 12.14.09  The most highly respected Dr. Pumkinhead.

Received via email: 12.16.09  Why is everyone so mad at Steve.  Large created this monster.  Did you know Large still often calls steves daddy for daily advice on how to do the fire chiefs job.  Think about it.  Large couldnt do the OPS job years ago.  How could he do the top job without a little help.  The help part is not the problem.  The problem is giving SK undeserved benefits because of owing favors to daddy.  Look at the move to training chief for a few weeks before Bruni when every person on the job knew Bruni was better all the way around for that position.  Now SK demands respect.  Now thats funny !!!

Received via email: 12.16.09  12-16 I think you're on to something. Large is the chief and all this shit rests squarly on his shoulders. People like to point the finger at stevie and prince but they're fall guys for Large and play their part well. The shit's about to start hitting the fan around here and you guys need to know who your enemies are. If you're on a list to be promoted ask yourselves what the few remain good guy officers on this job did to get where they are. Don't go kissing the chief's ring and then come back sucking around us trying to fit yourselves back into our lives like you're one of us cuz we all know you're full of shit. There IS another way to being promoted and that's by being respected by the people that work with you not being the chief shoe shine boy slave. The trouble with this boat load of slaves is they're all more than willing to sell themselve off the the highest bidder. Most of the shit that starts between firefighters on this job starts in the front office and that's the way they like it. FTM

Received via email: 12.18.09  Isnt it ironic that a Chief named Large has made our department very Small. 

Received via email: 01.01.10  Yeah and now a chief named Knight, where we will never see DAY.  What a place our department has become. Is Gulfport hiring ?

Received via email: 01.01.10  Lately we have been seeing a lot of new names pop up for our beloved Div chiefs. The punisher, pumpkin head, the invisible man and such.  Lets just name the group what they really are:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/4-villain.jpg

Received via email: 01.09.10  Most chiefs except for Bruni and Bassett are more or less glorified secretaries.  Bruni and Bassett have proven themselves in countless fire scenes and have the respect of the firefighters.  The others: Not so much.

Received via email: 01.09.10  With few exceptions they'll all go to their graves known as sniveling dogs and egg suckers.

Received via email: 01.09.10  You got that right.

TEAM:  Rephrase that one and we'll post it.  Dance around it a little bit like management would.

Received via email: 01.10.10  With most of the new people being "a** kissers", and "company men", I'm more scared then ever of where this fire dept is heading!

Received via email: 01.12.10  how do you dance around the truth or facts.  I dont understand

Received via email: 01.12.10  I agree, most of the new promotions are future nazi's, some already. I do think Bruni is a stand up guy, he's by far the best pick for that position.

Received via email: 01.14.10  Bruni is the only brother we have at HQ.  The rest of the div. chiefs are all out for themselves.

Received via email: 01.16.10  Chief Bruni truly cares about public safety and firefighter safety.  The rest of them care about themselves and thats it !!!

Received via email: 01.20.10  If he cares soo much (Bruni), when is he gonna throw the bullshit flag like Chief Johnson did for us? Those put into position are not and I repeat, are not to disrupt the nucleus, can't you see by his Staff promotions, wake up.

Received via email: 01.20.10  Chief Bruni is far too smart to make the same play that Richie did.  Richie was even told not to do what he did, but he did it anyway.  It was a suicide mission designed to do nothing but get his own foot shot.  It provided some entertainment, but he forgot how important it was to pick your battles and methods carefully.  He did neither.

Received via email: 01.22.10  The same chiefs told me not to do it (refuse to sign medical waivers). If I had listened to them you would still be REQUIRED to give all of your personal medical history to the city and anyone else that they wanted to give it to. The chiefs DO NOT know all. They just think they do. Chief Johnson had the guts to stand up for his principles and for YOU! Would YOU stand up for your principles and for your brother firefighters? Or you just coward down and let the administration walk all over you. Think about.
TEAM:  So you're saying that you turned down a free physical?  How ever do you live with yourself?

Received via email: 01.22.10  I forgot to sign my name to the above post #1 1.21.10.
Fraternally,
Bob Martin

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!


--Rudyard Kipling

Received via email: 01.23.10   Its ironic that Chief Johnson is called heroic in the same paragraph that discusses physicals.  Didnt he once ORDER someone to sign the form and get a physical?

Received via email: 01.23.10  Thanks for chiming in.  What did you say your name was again?  Chief ___________?

Received via email: 01.24.10  1.23.10 #1: I don't know did he? Do you know for SURE? Do you know who he made to sign the form? And by the way I am not a great fan of Chief Johnson, but he did stand up for the firefighters and his principles. Can you say the same about yourself?

Fraternally,
Bob Martin

Received via email: 01.24.10  Lt Bob maybe right, minus Chiefs, Capts. and Lts, there are 80 FF's on each shift that scratch their heads on how stupid 2 man ladder trucks are.  Chief Johnson in my 10+ years, is the only one with multiple bugles to acknowledge and bring to light on how effective a 2 man ladder truck is not.  Lets say he did order someone to sign phyical paperwork, and you did not utilize your UNION and BILL OF RIGHTS then you need to go to Eckard College, get your degree and get promoted, but I doubt it talking with a average Joe firefighter.

Received via email: 01.24.10  For SURE?  Wasn't it Neuberger at #12 where Richie stepped on his dick about physicals?

Received via email: 01.24.10  Dick Johnson.  Two words that both mean "penis." 
IAFF_Contract__2008.pdf