Fla. Firefighter Allegedly Made Up Cheating Claim
But Fire Chief John Miller said an internal investigation found no evidence of firefighters cheating on a lieutenant promotion exam last month, so Renee Bishop was demoted from engineer to permanent firefighter because she reportedly lied when she said she had gotten that text with the answers.
Bishop is appealing the demotion to firefighter, and will be represented by the union. As part of the demotion, her pay is cut by $3,500, which would take her to $67,000 a year.
TEAM: $70,500 for engineer just 90 miles away! Let's see...we're still negotiating with the city but they've removed the driver/engineer offer from the table. To date, they've offered 0%, 0%, & 0% and a non pensionable bonus for driver/engineer. If fire administration had been sincere about the D/E program, the vote by our membership might not have been the lopsided embarrassment that it was for them!
Received vil Email 2-16-11 The new page got me to looking back through the older pages and something I found got me to thinking about the union president that we have that's supposedly pissing away pool time:
Received via email 9-16-05 I want to take a minute to pass along my thanks to the Union president for finally getting rid of the Social Security Offset. All of my career all I've heard was how the offset was illegal, and how someday we would find a way to prevail. Well, as I said before Thank-you President Newton for prevailing for me. I don't know about the rest of you but the paper I get occasionaly from the S/S administration office sez that I will be looking at approx. a $1800.00 monthly check when I get a little wiser. At the time I will be needing it most I can now look forward to keeping the $900.00 from my Pension check that our fine city intended to keep. I'm sorry that others were not so lucky to have the leadership back then that we enjoy now.
TEAM: We think the person who wrote this was already pretty wize! Thanks for sharing.
This email was passed along to us from Madison Wisconsin 2-17-2011 (oldest portion at bottom)
Start:
Here's an update from IAFF District Vice President Joe Conway. The Wisconsin Governor and Legislature think they are going to reduce employee benefits and repeal the collective bargaining law, it appears not!
Fraternally,
This is what a rally looks like. Please tell me what day the teachers intend to walk out statewide in Florida, and on what day will the statewide public employees strike begin. I will leave whatever meeting I am at, to stand with my home local and/or the FPF for the strike, although I do not support that idea as an IAFF officer.
________________________________________
From: Conway Joseph
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 7:12 PM
To: Schaitberger Harold
Cc: Miller Thomas; #District VPs; Executive Group; #All Assistants
Subject: Update in Madison
To all:
30,000 plus showed up to today's rallies and continue to occupy the Capitol and it's grounds this evening.
400 plus firefighters and paramedics marched on the Capitol at noon.
The Teachers have called for a statewide walkout of all teachers tomorrow.
The AFL-CIO executive board is meeting at this time to debate calling for a statewide public employees strike tomorrow. The decisions will get tougher as the ante is upped.
The Legislative Budget Committee is also meeting to put forward a substitute bill this evening to eliminate the changes in the collective bargaining laws and limiting the mandatory contribution to health insurance and pension contributions to two years. The Governor is opposed to this.
Local 311 is starting our radio ad campaign tomorrow.
In addition, I will be appearing on the Ed Schultz show this evening at 9:30 pm central time.
Joe=
Chart from the link above...
Call your Senators this week, vote to be taken on Thursday on the pension bills!
________________________________________
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We had a very good turnout at the public hearing on SB's 1128 and 1130 on Friday. The committee took testimony for about 31/2 hours on the 175 bill (SB 1128) and about 1/2 an hour on FRS (SB 1130) before time ran out. Excellent points were made by all our speakers, but unfortunately about 15 or 20 members who drove up to 500 miles never got a chance to testify. Chairman Ring stated that there will be two more hearings next week on the bills and additional testimony will be taken.
With regard to the FRS bill, Chairman Ring stated publicly that the FRS Trust fund is healthy and in no need of modification, the proposed pension reductions are only being made to address the state's general revenue budget deficit.
The Governor's proposed state income tax on public employees is not in the Senate bill currently, but Chairman Ring nearly promised that it will be put in during the budget process, perhaps at a level lower than 5%.
The committee members questions and comments and our discussion with each of them this past week provide a glimmer of hope that they are reaching the conclusion that the few 175 plans that are in need of help, are the responsibility of the cities and they have all the tools they need to fix them already.
The FRS bill is simply a new tax by Republicans on both public employees and property owners alike. For public employees it's a state income tax and for taxpayers in general the Governor and the Senate bill both call for the closing of the FRS pension plan June 30, 2011. Closing the plan will increase the cost to employers for firefighters and police officers from the current 21% of payroll increasing annually for the next 28 years to over 50% of payroll. These figures are from the Senates current actuarial study by the FRS actuaries.
Your calls to the committee members are having an affect and we are asking you to redouble your efforts this week on the remaining committee members who have not been responsive to any compromises. Although we have been told that they are receiving 80 or 90 calls a day that number should be well over 500 a day to each committee member. So I am asking you to make as many calls as you can to the remaining committee members below, through Thursday when a vote will be taken on the bills. The committee members below need to hear from you every day until the vote is taken on Thursday.
The message is simple;
1. Do not close the pension plans for FRS or Chapter 175, this will cause a huge unfunded liability.
2. Do not vote for a state income tax on public employees by requiring a contribution for FRS
3. Vote NO on SB 1128 and SB 1130 in their current form.
Ring, Jeremy (Chair) (D) (850) 487-5094
Siplin, Gary (Vice Chair) (D) (850) 487-5190
Benacquisto, Lizbeth (R) (850) 487-5356
Bogdanoff, Ellyn Setnor (R) (850) 487-5100
Fasano, Mike (R) (850) 487-5062
Flores, Anitere (R) (850) 487-5130
Garcia (R), Rene (R) (850) 487-5106
Wise, Stephen R. (R) (850) 487-5027
We have discontinued phone calls for the time being to Senators Margolis, Latvala, Montford and Norman who are working with us to find a compromise.
--
Fraternally,
Gary Rainey, President
Florida Professional Firefighters
Received via Email 2-25-11 I stopped by the union hall today to pick up a couple of shirts. Winnie, Rick and Bill were working on the latest proposal language that they got from the city yesterday. I've got to tell you what, I glanced at it and it looked way more complicated than it needed to be. Winnie took a call from the city's attorney and after about 10 minutes of beating his point home Winnie finally got his point across. Nothing good happens until someone takes notice and decides to do something. What I read I could have easily agreed with and just said, sure...... it looks good to me. But that's the problem. I didn't really know what I was looking at and I think the city and the 3 wise men are hoping for the same thing. They want us to sign a contract for 3 years but they've got their fingerprints on every inch of our contract and are trying to steal power away from us. It made me feel good to know that on my days off when I'm taking care of shit that doesn't really matter to anyone but me that there are 3 guys who are taking care of shit that does. Thanks guys.
Received via Email 2-25-11 I agree, with the 2-25-11 poster about what goes on daily in our office, and I would also like to point out that Newton, and Mott have both attended the commission meetings in Tallahassee and have helped to provide information in labor's efforts to save our pensions. My only bitch about this is that they had to do the same for those Rat SCABS that feel they dont need the protection that is provided by our elected officers that we need to have on that wall.
Received via Email 2-25-11 Hey this is to the SCABS and the SCAB lovers, you all need to go back up to the top of this page and read the little message in the photo clip of IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. It says "Fighting for Firefighters pensions" Yup he is willing to do something that for you that you arent even willing to do for yourself. You guys are definitly F**Ked Up.
Received via Email 2-26-11 Hey scabs, why dont you be the first to sign up for the new 401k plan since you already like screwing yourself so much.
Received via Email 2-27-11 Scabs are the lowest form of life in a firehouse.
Received via Email 2-28-11 how about this. take all the SCABS the backstabbers and the same DCs put them all on one shift and let them go after each other. That way the rest of us can do our job and be happy.
Received via Email 3-1-11 I made time in my schedule to actually attend the Memorial Service for Officer Crawford. It was nice to see many of my fellow brothers and sisters there as well and I know we were able to provide strength to one another. During the drive from the church to the Funeral Home I was extremely proud when the 100+ vehicle procession passed by MY Union Office and saw 3 of my Brothers standing Respectfully at curbside. Thank-you Billy Mott, Art Meyer and Jon Pearl. You showed me and the others in the procession that our Brothers in Blue are our Brothers bound by committment, respect, and unity.
Received via Email 3-4-11 ok, things are beginning to look up. the Mayor has just done some housekeeping and I hope he looks into the Secret Castle inside of Fire Headquarters. Hey Jimmie, it appears that you have nothing to do but hang out in fire stations drinking free coffee so hows about I reduce your Division Staff a little. Lets see, your Hurricane dude can be shit canned and replaced be anyone of the street at a starting Salary of $34,000.00. I can see Training and EMS consolidation and losing one of those Chiefs, and I thing our City water department can take care of the water supply problems so lets get rid of that position. Yeah lets start today so the losers can spend their free weekend looking for another gravey boat to sink.
Received via Email 3-5-11 I was watching a news program about pension reform and ended up doing a Google search and of all the places in the world, us vs them was listed...... I haven't visited in a while but I have my own reasons for that..... I'm proud to work for SPF&R (or should I say in the past I've been prouder) but I'm not very proud of the way Jimmy Large has been treating us since Bill Foster got into office..... It's been a long time since I've met anyone who wants to come into the fire service that I would reccomend coming here for a job...... And what's with the scabs? I knew we had a couple of scabs here but from what I've read that's changed too..... Why is it that whe the going gets tough we would lose members? Jim Large isn't going to ever do anything for us again...... As one brother on here said, Jimmy Large has his own pension and doesn't really care about saving ours or what we think about day to day events that don't matter to him..... Mr. webmaster I want to thank you for the videos you've put on the home page....... I'm not big on going to union meetings but after watching the videos I realized that we're all members of a proud profession inspite of the constant fight to even want to come to work anymore to face certain individuals at HQ......
TEAM: Ditto!
Received via Email 3-5-11 “"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike"
-Adolf Hitler-...May 2, 1933”
Received via Email 3-5-11 Yea and outside of the war and the holocost. By doing all othat the country went from one of the poorest to one of the richest. Do your history about economics.
‘Scary’ Political Attacks are Smoke Screen
By Gary Rainey
I’m sure you’ve heard about the boy who cried “wolf.” Well, he’s back, trying the scare Floridians with a radio commercial. Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, is ominously warning Floridians that unions are busing in union “thugs” from out of state to harass lawmakers. Beware “government unions,” he says, or Florida could become the next Wisconsin or Ohio. Never mind that those states are ground zero for protests against heavyhanded political attacks on workers. It’s all about those scary unions representing public employees like… fire fighters and paramedics. Everyone knows that fire fighters and paramedics are not bullies. We put our lives on the line every day to keep Florida safe and secure. Fire fighters will always be ready to serve and protect the people of Florida. But we’re not afraid to stand up to the real political bullies, whether it’s the corporate lobbyists from the Chamber of Commerce or governors who choose to flog public employees instead of talking to them. If Mark Wilson and the Chamber are going to raise the alarm over citizens standing up for their rights, we can imagine the squeal if some rich Wall Street fat cat went to jail for bringing our economy to its knees.
Cities and states are struggling because Wall Street speculators were getting rich on fraudulent investments, not because public employees have the rights to organize and bargain collectively. Florida’s governor is part and parcel of this problem. Rick Scott was forced to resign as CEO of Columbia/HCA in 1997 because doctors in his sprawling hospital corporation were guilty of Medicare fraud. But like the golden boys on Wall Street, Scott was allowed to walk away with $9.8 million and into the Florida Governor’s Mansion. The Chamber and its anti-worker allies want to create a boogeyman to draw attention away from their aggressive and hostile campaign to dismantle essential government services and provide budget-busting tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Fire fighters are proud to stand with teachers and other public employees as they struggle to defend their rights in the workplace. Unfortunately, Florida may be on track to become the next Wisconsin or Ohio, particularly if the Chamber’s toxic partisanship holds sway in Tallahassee.
We’ve already seen a number of nasty bills introduced that are designed to do nothing more than penalize worker organizations, strip them of any ability to grow or participate in the political process in Florida. Proposals that would require unions to recertify every year or deny workers the ability to automatically deduct union dues are targeted political hits on public employees and their representatives. While Gov. Scott has backed away from the abusive stances taken by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, he and his allies in the Legislature still are plotting an anti-union program that ties workers’ hands while giving powerful corporations even greater power over our lives.
The Chamber’s inflammatory rhetoric contributes to the devolution of public discourse, in which sitting down across a table to negotiate is seen as radical and dangerous. It’s democracy, pure and simple, whether it occurs in the workplace or in the Legislature. It’s also democracy when people object to laws that will harm workers. It’s certainly nothing to be afraid of, as the Chamber’s Mark Wilson would have us believe.
We should all raise our voices against partisan political attacks, whether they come from the legislature or the Chamber of Commerce.
Gary Rainey is president of the Florida Professional Firefighters.
Call the Union Hall Hot Line at 323-1786 then hit 9.
Received via Email 3-10-11 Dont expect to see the Punisher putting in for any vacation time this CHRISTMAS Holiday season to spend with his family. Apparently he was so sure that he had the chiefs job in the beach so sewn up that he used up all of his hours. Boy it really sucks to be wrong, especially when you are wrong as many times as he is.
Fallen Officer T-shirts
The Union Office has the new T-shirts for Fallen Officer David Crawford. As before these are moving quickly and have been difficult to get in large quantities.
We have Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 2X-Large, and 3X-Large. Don't be disappointed, get them while the best selection is available.
As before they are $15.00 cash, or Credit Cards; checks made out to Local 747.
Received via Email 3-10-11 A certain somebody at station 10 on the A shift said we were making a profit off the last batch. I throw the bullshit flag.
TEAM: Local 747 purchased $1,800 worth of shirts the first time around at $15.00 a piece. We sold them at $15.00 a piece. We also donated $500.00 to each of the families of the slain officers. Any time you have a question our union president is only a phone call away. His phone number is available on everything this union prints.
Received via Email 3-12-11 Yeah, and we would have broke even cept for a certain chief that earns over $17K a month that stiffed us. I am sure as soon as his money market funds bounce back he will settle up.
Received via Email 3-13-11 For all of you scabs that got out of the union. We no longer want or have to hear your opinions. Keep it to yourself with your little bit of cash you so selfishly hang on to, as you screw the rest of your former brothers and sisters.
Received via Email 3-16-11 Seems some of the scabs are using the excuse, that they do not like the president of the union. Do people leave the country or give up their citizenship because they do not like the president of the US. NO. Then why are you losers getting out of a great union because you have a disagreement with the pres. Very lame, and very selfish, not to mention STUPID.
Received via Email 3-16-11 Ask jeffery Wayne, Randy Tokotch, Ricky Morris, Keith Brahm, or Steve Watkins the last time they held ANY form of leadership within the Union. Be it a Steward, Trustee, Shift VP, Department Rep, Sec/Treasurer, Executive Vice President, President, or even clean up boy. They cant tell what it takes to run this union so all they can do is muddy the water by shittin in it. Ask them when they last attended a union Function, Monthly meeting, MDA or Sickle Cell drive, Annual Holiday Party, Political activities. When did they go to a Convention, training seminar, or even a council meeting. When did they last sit in on a Pension meeting? These are all things that it takes to make this Union go and they no nothing about any of it. While your at it ask the Fire Administrators why they dont support the local that got them to where they are today? That would be the invisible man, the punisher, hurricane boi, and pumpkin head. It was good enough when they needed protection from the idiots they were exposed to but now they make the rules so we are less class citizens.
Received via Email 3-16-11 The four scabs mentioned above are well known throughout the department as being big cry babies and being major slackers when it comes to any real work. Nothing new here, typical that they would get out of the union. No surprise here.
Received via Email 3-16-11 Being a scab is kind of like being a canadian. You get all the benefits of being here but you never have to defend the country where you lay your head down. What pussies.
Received via Email 3-16-11 I just saw Watkins riding around town on his little blue motorcycle with a nice bright red union sticker attached to one of his saddle bags, and who said he's not proud of this union!
SB 1128: Public Retirement Plans
GENERAL BILL by Ring
Public Retirement Plans; Provides that a local governmental entity may not offer a defined benefit retirement plan to a plan member hired on or after a certain date. Provides that local plans must use at least 5 years to determine a plan member's average final compensation for calculating retirement benefits for members hired on or after a certain date. Directs the Department of Financial Services to rate the financial strength of local government defined benefit plans. Creates the Task Force on Public Employee Disability Presumptions, etc.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2011
We're another step closer to losing the COLA that we bargained for as well as a Defined Benefit Plan for new hires:
51 (11) A plan sponsor may not offer or provide membership in
52 a defined benefit retirement system or plan to an employee hired
53 on or after July 1, 2011. For those members whose terms and
54 conditions of employment are collectively bargained, this
55 subsection is effective for the first agreement negotiated on or
56 after July 1, 2011.
163 (1) PREMIUM TAX INCOME.—If a municipality has a pension
164 plan for firefighters, or a pension plan for firefighters and
165 police officers if, where included, which in the opinion of the
166 division meets the minimum benefits and minimum standards set
167 forth in this chapter, the board of trustees of the pension
168 plan, as approved by a majority of firefighters of the
169 municipality, shall use the income from the premium tax to pay
170 down any unfunded actuarial liability in the pension plan. After
171 paying down the unfunded actuarial liability, the board of
172 trustees, as approved by a majority of firefighters of the
173 municipality, may:
The IAFF contributes more to the Republican Party than any other union,
by percentage and total Dollars.
This is how they pay us back!
Received via Email 3-17-11 We are so screwed. And hey we voted not to fight any of this with the legal fund vote. We are our worst enemy. Get with it boys and girls, it may already be to late.
Received via Email 3-17-11 SCABS. Take off your Union Stickers, you are no longer a union member. If a union member sees a non union member displaying a sticker, they should yank it off. You want the benefits but want everyone else to pay. Doesn't work that way pal.
Received via Email 3-17-11 The Bluffs guys had better take their a**f****ng now before someone shows this story to the
govenor. I am sure he can come up with some form of a law that would prohibit them from getting any of their earned pension dollars
Received via Email 3-17-11 You just have to be mistaken, that stuff cant happen to me. I mean I pay homage to my annoited ones daily. They continue to tell me everything is going to be ok. I am being played for a fool? Someone please point me in the right direction. Or should I say position?
Received via Email 3-18-1 $12 million plus to the democrats and $2million plus to the republicans, seems fair to me. I can see why we are upset. Why aren't there more democrats elected to do our bidding? Maybe we are backing the wrong candidates? Maybe if we start to support the winners and not the losers we could get something accomplished. You get what you pay for.
Received via Email 3-18-11 If we are getting what we paid for then, I find it hard to imagine the skullf**kin we would be getting right now if we would have given them $12 million.
Received via Email 3-18-11 You have got to be kiddin me. back winners? WTF! You think for a single nano second that ANY repub could do us, or our families better?! Where the hell have you been? Talk about skull **cking, look at the idiots in Tally? Whos better off now ya jackwagon! FTM
Received via Email 3-18-11 I hear tell that Mike Blank is going to make a run against Winnie because of the crappy contract offer. Nothing against Mike but against him and everyone that thinks like him. Winnie isn't the cause for the economy, the scabs, the shitty contract offer, the fact that the city wanted the pension article left open whether or not the contract passed, this sellout chief, this bag of shit mayor, this bag of shit governor or the people on this job that live to lick the bossman's balls. I dare anyone to give it a shot day in and day out with no days off, facing what we're facing. How many of you are going to continue to write a check to the union for dues, Flame, insurance and prepaid legal once this League of Cities ball sucking city gets their way and telsl you to manage your own dues? Mike, I think you're a good guy to hang with but you'd be out of your league. You'd quit before you ever got started.
Received via Email 3-18-11 So glad we voted in the legal defense fund and just in time. Also, so glad to see that all the new probies voted to protect their future. Now everybody assume your previous position with your head in THE GREAT WHITE HOPE'S lap, James Large. He's sure to have some answers for us.
Received via Email 3-19-11 If Blank runs, don't worry If he wins, (not likely) he would be like sarah palin, and quit before his term was done..Once a quiter, always a quiter. But yes he is fun to hang with when he gets his drink is on.
Received via Email 3-19-11 Mike still can't up his mind if he wants to be a fire inspector, or a fire fighter at station 3 or 7, or MFS, or ......
Received via Email 3-19-11 I'd like to know what the first thing is that Mike would give up? Mike's not a fighter, he's an appeaser. There's a small segment on the job that believes that if you fight the city will bend you over. I've got news for you. This city has always bent us over and it's not due to anything this union does when representing its members it's because they don't give a shit about us. Wrong mayor, wrong fire chief for a wrong mayor. Mike would be giving away shit with the promise of something good in the end. Then when it comes to paybacks the city will find an excuse to do nothing but drag us back to the nego table with they're really good at.
Received via Email 3-21-11 I'm not a big Winnie Newton fan but I'm not willing to slit my throat so that I can say that I got somebody out of office that didn't do it all MY way. Mike Blank is frustrated like a lot of us but his answer is to do what? What's he done for any of us lately? Everybody has their ideas as to how things have to be done but they forget that we're only half of the equation. The city holds the money and even tho they want drug testing and physicals and a bunch of really bad language really badly they aren't willing to offer anything in exchange. What's Mike Blank going to do to change that? Mike if you're reading this I'd like to know just what you think you can do to make this city offer anything it doesn't want to. And like 3-19 #3 said about the time off book language, do you really think you're going to get them to remove any of the bad language they keep trying to slip under the radar? Jimmy Large is obviously trying to manage overtime by using our empty time off slots well in advance of the day we go to use them. They're running out of shit that they can do where they just explain it away. Now they steal from us and tell us to just suck on it. Wimberly sees the writing on the wall. He's in the drop and going nowhere fast. Large is stuck here till his kids are old enough for him to haul ass or become another city administrator. Mr. Pumpkinhead has no skillsthat don't involve the use of a textbook and is now having to call people in from shift work to help him. Boy oh boy it must be a bitch having to admit that you don't know every friggin thing. And we're doing so good that we just told the city and HQ that we've got enough money in the bank to keep union busting till the cows come home.
Received via Email 3-21-11 Who's idea was it to give Mike Blank the inspector on call job while he's on a 52 hour week? When have we ever allowed favoritism on this scale? We've got station people working in HQ on this EMS thing and they cause more manditory OT and now station people working on their days off at 100% time and a half rate. Thanks Colonel Kadaffy Duck Large.
Received via Email 3-21-11
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 12:49 PM
To: EMS_Chiefs
Cc: Freeman, Charles C; Weinreich, Jacqueline L; Doles, Ruthie E
Subject: Busiest Week in Pinellas County EMS History
Hi All,
Last week was the busiest week in the history of Pinellas County EMS!
Here are a few highlights:
- There was a 4 Alarm Vehicle Crash with Extensive Extrication (US19/Citrus Drive) A total of 7 Agencies (Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Sunstar, East Lake, Dunedin, Largo, and Bayflite) handled 5 Trauma Alerts (3 Transported by Bayflite). Impressive teamwork by all and Incident Command by Palm Harbor!
- There was a Multi-Alarm Vehicle Crash with Extensive Extrication and 11 Patients with 2 Trauma (37 ST N and 5 AV N). Again, impressive teamwork by all involved – St. Petersburg and Sunstar.
- The 911 Center dispatched 3,333 Fire/EMS Responses! Way to go!
- Sunstar transported a record 2,907 Patients (Average of 420 per day)! Way to go!
- There were 20 EMS Incidents with Trauma Alerts and 10 incidents with Transports by Bayflite!
Please know that everyone’s efforts are appreciated!
Thanks,
Craig
Craig A. Hare, MBA, Paramedic
EMS Division Manager
Pinellas County Public Safety Services
Emergency Medical Services Division
12490 Ulmerton Road
Largo, Florida 33774
www.pinellascounty.org/ems
And the good news.................They're coming for your job Oh Great Jack O Lantern!
Received via Email 3-21-11 This is the setup by HQ to convince Mikey that they really like him, but in return he must run for Union President and then turn over the reins. So far they havent been able to get Wimmers,Girk, Landes, or Feinberg back in so they are now turning to Mike. I cant wait to see who they will trot out next. They still have a few that held office for a short while under the Feinberg regime. Maybe they can get Sweet to get on the ticket It could be MTB and MS. What a fun time that would be, for at least a few days before they discover its not the game they think.
TEAM: Don't you just love this quote, ""We can't handle that,'' said Devan Suggs, lobbyist for the Florida League of Cities."? The League and all of her member cities got behind the new governor bending us over by violating 'home rule' when it came to gutting our pension's but now they're bitching because the state legislature want to do what? Violate home rule by capping the amount of taxable income they can take in. Tough shit!
Received via Email 3-21-11 GOT A QUESTION. If you're a Lt. and are held in contempt of court and a judgement of deliquency is issued by the court for not paying child shupport what happens. Just curious.
Received via Email 3-23-11 You get promoted into this administration. If you can screw your own children, you would be a major asset to this administrations game plan! Hope that answers your question 3-21-11 #7
Received via Email 3-23-11 So how many people are working this bullshit car race for straight time besides me?
TEAM: Word has it that you are the only one. Nobody's bitching except you. We'd all work the race for free but FLSA won't allow it!
PS: The chief has invited us all to go skinny dipping in his pool when we're done.
Received via Email 3-23-11 The best part about the Grand Prix is seeing that Jon Pearl got hit with mandatory. Thank you Telestaff!
TEAM: Seriously, now. Do you really believe Telestaff has any part to play in the fact that people get manditoried for non-emergent shit? That's like saying Frankenstein got up from the table without anyone's help! Fuck that! Telestaff is a tool like a gun is a tool.
Received via Email 3-23-11 Tellestaff is just another tool of the Boys from Brazil. Wait to see what comes down next year when you go to use the time off book and you find certain days are blacked out! This stuff aint in the contract and Jimmy Large would love nothing better than to show his massa how he saved a buck or two on our backs.
Received via Email 3-24-11 Ditto
Received via Email 3-24-11 Received via Email 3-23-11 The best part about the Grand Prix is seeing that Jon Pearl got hit with mandatory. Thank you Telestaff!
Yeah, I love seeing my Brothers and Sisters a** pumped everytime Admin rents a pair too.. BTW you might want to let Kocer, Fair, Cook, Caldarelli, Gomez, D.Jones, Rosenberger, Mutt Wayne, Schuch, Chipelo, Horsefield, Craig, Sanford, P.Hill, Flarity, Kordecki, D.Thomas, A.Jones, Lewis, Adras, A.Johnson, Hamilton, Baldwin, Boice, Falls, Wren, Schumm, Gardini, McGrew, Pearl, Spinelli, R.Vickers, Morton, Gomez (twice?), K.Hollenback, Stewart, Walker, Bieber, Reeves, Farrell, Westlund, and Schlessing just exactly how you feel. And dont think we are done here, The FINO's still havent staffed the stations for Saturday and Sunday yet. But I am certain these 42 mandatoried folks will be happy to tell you what hydrant you can go sniff ya MUTT.
Received via Email 3-24-11 Did anyone actually look through that City Rules and Regs bullshit that we all had to sign a few weeks ago? There was something in there about stand by pay. What the hell is that? I'm not sure, but I think I want it. I'm tired of changing plans based on the department's five minute notice OT program.
Received via Email 3-24-11 If you dont want to work the race. Check off in telestaff, you know, the same monster that assigned you. And if they have a silly rule that you have to call the DC also, then call him. But by golly, quit bitchin about it. This is not St Petersburg Russia. Well, not yet.
Received via Email 3-24-11 Your right we are all getting screwed BUT they dont care. Where did Kadau get assigned. Maybe kneepad collecter.
Received via Email 3-24-11 Update on clearwater firefighters favorite pal.
TEAM: Ahhh... no. Your first post on the subject got everyone to thinking, 'Who's he talking about?" Can we leave it at that? Thanks.
Received via Email 3-26-11 Another contract offer with no time and a half overtime pay for manditoried hours worked. What a city to be proud of. What a fire chief to stand up for us.
Received via Email 3-26-11 St. Pete city council are you looking at this? This should be happening right here. We have a supposed training division with people who don't actually train us who are sucking the life out of this place. There's an office secretary who's probably making $40K a year. Then there's the two Lt's who are making $71K plus. They earn a high risk pension but risk nothing riding a desk all day long for an additional $3900 a year just to show up at HQ. Then there's the $100K training chief who does what? Watch the secretary and two highly paid trainers of who? Probationary people when we're not laying them off? They all bank twice because they're on a 7 day work cycle that they deny to those of us who risk our lives. PTEC does all the training not SPFR. James Large keeps looking to upgrade the Lt's downtown to captain. Is he crazy? The mayor's talking about spitting people out again and this nutjob of a fire administrator still keeps trying to promote everyone around him like they're All The Presidents Men. We've got plenty of chiefs that don't do anything and can go. Hell, even the district chiefs are now just part timers. What's they're excuse for hanging around? Easy money?
Received via Email 3-27-11 Say a prayer for Rob Neuberger.
TEAM: Reason?
Received via Email 3-28-11 Mr. Editor, Your inclusion of the fine Brothers and Sisters was unwarranted; the shot at the confused Jon Pearl was just that. It wasn't meant for anyone else. However, I love the spin you and the other Liberal/Fascist place on comments.
TEAM: We aim to be your single source of progressivism!
Read the BS that is Scott....
Received via Email 3-29-11 liberal fascist comments?? ! LMFAO,
The Mayor was most concerned about this the other day when I saw him. Let's all be careful.
"Also benefiting will be the Pinellas Park Firefighters Benevolent Fund. The firefighters will sell beer during the fair."
Received via Email 3-31-11 Another great round of officer meetings. All officers to inflict beatings and lower morale. Nothing different, same ole tune. Firefighters and medics will work more hours than their bosses (DCs) and they will work it for less money. No raise in the future, in fact more cuts coming. Not mentioned in the meeting but all know a huge threat to our pension is at hand. Also noted,a huge threat of massive layoffs because of our screwed up EMS Division and the county budget issue. Under 5 years on the job, hang on to your butts. Besides that, another great day in St Pete. Enjoy.
Received via Email 3-31-11 Pinellas Park has the use of the field and the FF's bandshell for making money. We hold a golf tournement but spend all the money for years on axes. Real smart.
Received via Email 3-31-11 Pinellas Park has a chief that has some integrity and cares about his firefighters. Ours on the other hand, well, you all know the story and facts. He does enjoy his coffee and his 17,000 plus dollars per month. What a racket
Received via Email 4-02-11 I am all excited That I didnt have to work the ghetto concert today. I mean come on do we need another venue for people to act crazy and out of control and use culture as an excuse to be stupid. How come they arent holding this in southside. I dont want to see vinoy park destroyed.
Received via Email 4-03-11 04/02, you bigot, I am a native southside resident,and not and black! I can't speak for everyone, but I am glad your not living on my side of town. FTM & FU!
Received via Email 4-03-11 To 4-02 #1 I'm so happy you did not have to spend your weekend at the ghetto concert. Sooo happy that you could go to a park of your choice and be the "American" you want to be. Please as an "Amercan", let other "Americans" enjoy themselves as YOU do. Get stupid like you did in your post. Maybe even get a little "crazy and out of control," like YOU might get. As for culture, they're Americns. Is that the culture your talking about? B.Elliott Smith 11-C
TEAM: We'd like to give a shout-out to our visitors from London England - I.P. 81.148.233.# (British Telecommunications)
Received via Email 4-04-11 Everybody listen up. Tim Hill went down at a drill tonight but he's okay. Earlier in the year he had a physical where it was found out that he had a medical issue. All is good though because Life Scam called The Punisher and spilled their guts with his legally priveleged information allowing The Punisher to then call Tim to tell him shit he already knew about himself. I say again, Tim is all right and is alive right now because he had a physical earlier in the year where a company who is paid by the city of St. Pete was able to violate HIPPA and NFPA rules for Tim's own good. That's the kind of America I'm talking about MoFo......
Received via Email 4-05-11 i say we start a civil suit not only for hippa violations but for discremination as well.
Received via Email 4-05-11 I talked with Timmy today and he is singing praise to the Punisher for trounching on his rights and bringing to lite the condition he already knew about and was taking care of. All Hail to the punisher. HELL HELL HELL oops, I mean Hail.
Received via Email 4-06-11 When you sign the waivers from Life Scan YOU give up your rights under the HIPPA law. YOU can't blame the administration for your failure not to be intimidated.
Received via Email 4-06-11 Talk about a dumb ass. I hope Winnie brings up the fact at impasse that wimberly can't keep his mouth shut and oh yeah, neither can life scan. Oh and Tim if you ever take another physical your a dumbass.
Received via Email 4-06-11 Hey Jimmy Large. If I ever offend you please let me know. I'm trying to measure my performance with people who screw with me.
Okay, you've got out attention.
Received via Email 4-08-11 Jimmy didn't say no. The spineless mayor said "no" and Jimmy just regurgitated the load.
Received via Email 4-08-11 so jimmy. which load tastes better? baker or foster
A CALL TO ACTION
Brothers and Sisters,
Here's some homework for all of you to do this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (4-11, 12 & 13). The homework is exactly the same for all three days and probably some of the most important you'll every perform in your entire adult working life! Many of us have done it before and for the most part you'll simply be talking to an office assistant who will record your concerns and your name and location. If you don't get to talk to someone, leave your personal information and concerns on their messaging system. You may say that you are in opposition to SB 830 and nothing more if you choose!
Here's the background on SB 830 that's referenced in Gary's 'Call to Action':
Labor and Employment; Prohibits a state agency from deducting from employee wages the dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments of an employee organization or contributions made for purposes of political activity. Prohibits a county, municipality, or other local governmental entity from deducting from employee wages the dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments of an employee organization or contributions made for purposes of political activity, etc. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/830
Senate Bill 830 is nothing more than partisan politics and is being trotted-out as a a bill that gives union members some choice in how their dues are used. Florida is a right to work state. If you don't like where some of your dues money goes, you have a choice. You simply don't join. Some of you are opposed to doing anything political. This is politics in your face! Politics is nothing more than your making sure that your Senators (in this case) hear your concerns LOUD AND CLEAR over those of someone else whose concerns will make for bad law that will degrade your quality of life and that of your family. It's your choice. You can either choose to play the game or the game can play you.
You can do this!
Received via Email 4-09-11 I heard around there was another officer pulling a SZ is that true?
Received via Email 4-11-11 Yup
Received via Email 4-11-11 I figured as much that the DC and Chief are covering it up again. I thought there were ethics in chiefville. We all know MZ and Lanning have NO ETHICS.
Received via Email 4-12-11 Folks if you don't sign your name you don't have to be sneaky about who or what you're talking about. See how that works? Please talk in words. It's for the dummies in the group.
Received via Email 4-12-11 please do tell more the people want to know!!!!
Received via Email 4-13-11 The above linked videos hit it right on the head. Politico's think we are too dumb for our own good. Unions are BAD, they are our superiors, and know whats best!? If that doesn't want to make you change your party, drop the GOP/R, I guess we're all doomed, and your an AH.
Received via Email 4-14-11 After yesterdays vote on SB830 we'd be fools to accept any proposal that this city offered before going to impasse. They had their League of City groupies out in force shielding the city from a direct hit. Well you can blame part of SB830 on THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG. They want drug testing and physicals in the worst way so they take them to impasse with them. Physicals are starting again, folks. How come the cops don't have to gake them but you and I do? The last thing I would do is volluntarily pee in a cup or come back to the station telling everyone how proud I was to out jump Jimmy Large at their stupid free physical. Some of us HAVE to work overtime to pay our bills. I see it everyday. How many of us now are not going to pay our dues or pay them late or are going to sign a document that says I DON'T WANT ANY OF MY DUES GOING TO POLITICS? How about a certain B shifter who tells everyone that he can't contribute to the flame account because the people we support (democrats) are FOR abortion and he doesn't support abortion. I haven't seen him on central ave holding a sign in front of the abortion clinic. These are all excuses for being lazy. This is the perfect storm. Some of us are going to say that politics got us into this mess so I'm not going to allow any of my dues money to go to politics. Fine, but it takes more than money to win at the game of politics and some uf us don't get off the couch when political season rolls around. Alex Sink would have vetoed this. Kathleen Ford wouldn't be harassing us.
Received via Email 4-14-11 To 4-12 #3 Thanks for posting the videos. Proof that your Union is working for you and that includes your Union President, too!
In spite of the fact that the City of St. Petersburg is a very rich city, this will never happen here if we don't get involved with electing people who embrace labor.
Received via Email 4-14-11 This has all the fingerprints of being from the same guy who wrote that other great post. And just for a second let me respond to those who will say "politics got us into this mess". Yes, they did. Politics is what drives all public entities large and small. Not always out where you can see it but it's there just the same. When they tell you it's a non-partisan election and you believe it you've just been lied to. Let's look at the mayor's election. Did we work to get that asshole elected? NO. Our candidate lost. Now guess who gets paid back. Did we work to get Sink elected? YES. Yay. But our half assed help allowed others who put their whole effort into their candidate to win the election. Now guess who gets paid back. We're getting the shitty end of the stick from both sides and you damn sure see how politics got us into this mess. And I'm sure our Local isn't the only one to blame. There are those who have preached political activities for many years only to have the members of this Local only pay lip service and half-assed physical help to their chosen candidate. This is not meant to take away the hard work of those who DID actually get off their ass and help. To them we say "Thank You". To those who can only find time to run their mouth against the Local and the involvement of politics I say you will only be getting the dregs and leftovers until you figure out that it takes more than a couple bucks and a vote. You can believe me or not but wake up and look at where you are. Not eating too high on the hog now, are you? You can bad mouth the union and whisper your bullshit reasoning behind closed doors but sooner or later you will have to grow up and do something for yourself and not wait for others to do it for you. Grow a spine and a set and quit whining and work for something better. No one's going to hand it to you. In fact, I don't know if you've noticed or not but it appears all they're doing is taking things away.
Received via Email 4-14-11 I cant contribute to politics because they campaign on Mondays: movie night, Tuesdays: softball league with my buds, Wednesdays: fishing day with my buds, Thursdays: movie night, Fridays: drinking with my buds, Saturdays and Sundays my resting up days. So as you can see their agenda just dont fit with mine.
TEAM: You forgot one. You've got to babysit your 17 YO son...
Received via Email 4-14-11 Florida law currently allows for the recall of local elected officials, but there is no provision to allow for the recall of state officials, unlike 18 other states. Engaged citizens deserve the tools to hold their public servants accountable without having to wait for the next election!
That's why I introduced legislation to create a citizen recall process in Florida. And to show the widespread support our bill has, I created this petition to be delivered to the Florida State House, the Florida State Senate, and Governor Rick Scott. The petitio
simply says:
"Create a citizens' recall process for state elected officials in Florida by passing Rep. Rick Kriseman's House Joint Resolution 785 and House Bill 787."
Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=207728&source=mo&id=26953-6753377-7RlSWix&t=2
Thanks!
–Representative Rick Kriseman
Keep screwing us City Admin. We don't face danger like the cops. Heck, why not even take away our steps because we risk our lives daily for you. UNBELIEVEABLE.
TEAM: This is where Jimmy Large steps up and tells the Mayor and Council, "Stop maligning my Fire Fighters. It's a dangerous job!"
Received via Email 4-14-11 In yet another show of idiocy of firefighters, you wont believe the negative responses from firefighters to President Raineys promises to the Committee during this video ref: to where we should chose to shop, bank, and recreate, and who we will choose to support in the future. Oh my you would think he just told everyone they cant breathe or something. If it is a fact that Publix wishes to fuck us over than I cant imagine why I would want to continue to pay them for that. Disney World, Bank of America, now I understand why the city of st. petersburg does business there, They all have profits on their minds only. We really need to do some soul searching on this one.
Received via Email 4-14-11 I signed the recall and this is what I got.
Thank you for signing my petition, Floridians Deserve The Right To Recall.
To really make a difference, we need a lot more people to join in. Can you share this petition with all your friends?
Click here to share it on Facebook:
Share on Facebook
Then, forward the email below to everyone you know.
Thanks!
—Rick Kriseman
Received via Email 4-16-11 http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/responding-fla-firefighters-shot-during-call We made the big time. You ain't gonna hear nuthin from Jimmy Large about this being a dangerous job because Jimmy is holding the line for his buddy the mayor. We're going to impasse and the mayor and Jimmy want nothing more than to make us look like we're a bunch of uncooperative bunch of greedy firefighters who won't piss or take a physical.
Received via Email 4-16-11 I bet there were a lot of dissapointed people especailly zamp and crew that the william moore that was killed last night wasnt the one that worked for us.
TEAM: Wow... pretty brutal.
Press Release
A Preview of What’s to Come: SB 830 Still Silences the Voices of Teachers, Firefighters, Police Officers and Florida Workers!
Amendment to SB 830 in Senate Rules Committee NOT a compromise Amendment!
A meeting of the Senate Rules Committee today provided an excellent preview of what the Florida Legislature will look like if SB 830, the “worker gag bill” is approved this session. A late-filed, secret amendment was offered just minutes before a vote on the bill. This amendment is designed to confuse, confound and hide the fact that this legislation is nothing but an attempt to shut working Floridians out of the legislative and political process. Furthermore, Senator Don Gaetz shut down discussion on the measure, blocking the ability for workers who traveled from around the state to be heard on the issue.
While the amendment permits limited payroll deduction of union dues to continue, it creates governmental intrusion into a union’s business and prevents unions from “directly or indirectly” engaging in political activities, even if dues are collected without using payroll deduction. While Senator John Thrasher states that he only wants the state to stop collecting political dues for unions, in fact, his amendment seeks to stop political action by unions.
Proponents of this legislation stated their amendment was a way to bolster limited government; nothing could be further from the truth. This, in essence is an increase to the government’s role in policing and enforcing laws targeting the working families of the state. This is a big government take over on the policies and practices of private organization; this is overreach pure and simple!
When labor organizations engage in politics they should be permitted to do so under the exact same laws and rules governing everyone else. This bill as amended will add even more reporting, more forms, more accounting, and dramatically adding more cost and burdens for teachers, law enforcement and firefighters to participate in the very same activities everyone else will engage in without those additional burdens. This bill will put restrictions on labor unions that the other 300 plus organizations that utilize payroll deduction offered by the state will still be exempted from. This is a continued blatant attack on the rights and voice of working families in the state of Florida.
Received via Email 4-16-11 Received via Email 4-16-11 I bet there were a lot of dissapointed people especailly zamp and crew that the william moore that was killed last night wasnt the one that worked for us.
When compared to Jeff Wayne, Rick Morris, Randy Tokotch, Keith Brahm, and Steve Watkins, At least Bill Moore still pays union dues.
Received via Email 4-20-11 What an incredibly stupid thing to say. Way to go.
Received via Email 4-22-11 What was an incredibly stupid thing to say? Are you saying Jeff Wayne, Rick Morris, Randy Tokotch, Keith Brahm, and Steve Watkins are taking part in the fight for our lives? You guys keep welcoming these scabs to work everyday and they have already turned their back on you. Why do you keep talking to people who have essentially told you to FUCK OFF! I asked Bill Mott and he said Bill Moore pays retiree dues. He also told me that he was in Kathleen Ford's political office working for her election everyday. You may not like him for whatever reason but he's doing more as a retiree than any of this crew of union dropouts.
Received via Email 4-22-11 10-4
Received via Email 4-23-11 Jeff Wayne, Rick Morris, Randy Tokotch, Keith Brahm, and Steve Watkins = mutts
Received via Email 4-26-11 I've heard enough. The crybabies that claim Winnie never comes to work, so he must be using our money for (everything but union work) his trips to Tally to Play. More time on Police & Fire Insurance than (everything but union work) things that are more important. These same newborns bawl their lil eyes out, saying he yelled at me, now I hate him and want Big Blank to be my leader. At first I would say what a bunch of thin skinned diaper wearers. After observing, I see un informed members. Easily influenced men and women that want it now, and do not realize that life in a Union is a marathon, and not a sprint to get to our desired objectives. How long would you work to make your future and your families solid? Oh yeah I have heard I'll never have kids, I want to party, play ball, drink with the dudes. Please...Get your heads out of the sand in 5-10 years those young spring breakers won't give a damn you’re a firefighter being over 30-35. You’re going to lose the solid abs, your health may still be good, but no matter how much you work out, the fact is your days are numbered on the job, and the earth. Easy fix. Get informed; read the IAFF site, here’s a new one go to a union meeting! If you can't call your shift rep, or any Union officer to find out what’s going on. Look out for the entire family of brothers & sisters you have here at SPF&R. There is not any reason to not be a member of the local. SHAME on the scabs that seek a free ride for their final union purchased drop plan. Understand your getting all the things that the paying members are getting for you. Get your head out of the sand. We're a brotherhood, MF'ing each other should not be going on. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Heck if you’re not a member you must be part of Administration. Good luck...
Received via Email 4-26-11 I understand that we have another that's just jumped ship. He didn't call the union hall to talk over his problems (seems to be a common theme) and he didn't even have the decency (balls) to submit the paperwork to the union, he called the city. You guys are truly the weakest among us and your pied piper leader is working with some of YOU to take our union over? That would surely be the death of this union.
Received via Email 4-26-11 Excellent post on 4/26/'11 - #1. Who is this brother or sister? They have their head on straight and clearly understand the basis for a union. Talk on the part of shit stirrers is cheap and isn't worth repeating. Because in the end almost every last person will realize in some form that this poster is right in his statements. Wife, kids, who cares. Everyone goes down the same path one way or another and the earlier you understand and accept the process the sooner you begin to do something very important for yourself. You become an adult. Some will realize it sooner than others but all will eventually get there. In a time when all hell is breaking loose and it seems everyone on the planet is blaming unions for their problems should not be when we go "out on our own", so to speak. Breaking away from the union now just makes you one of the fools who can't make up your mind. You have yet to become that adult. There are things in the future that will change the entire makeup of how public employees are imagined, be it real or distorted. You will no longer be the devoted person who is willing to work for less because you have a great desire to help mankind. You will, for a very long time, be that out of control, money grubbing, pension grubbing, union dues paying thug that the media and the right has painted you. Things are not going to get back to "normal". There IS no normal any more. From this day on normal is what the League of Cities and their lobbyists in Tallahassee want normal to be. And you work for a city that will go to any lengths to screw their own employees. All the hard work of those who went before you will be for nothing. You, not them, are starting a square A and you better learn how to fight because you will be doing it for a long time. Your future from this day forward is not like anyone's who went before you. You cannot win as an individual. You will be ignored and swept into the corner with all the other public employees. How long will you take that treatment before you realize that you must organize? I guarantee that those who would spit on the union today will be in the front lines to organize in the future. Being shit on eventually brings everyone to that point.
Received via Email 4-26-11 The Jack o Lantern, Invisible man, and the punisher are all laughing at you guys dropping out of the UNION. They see your weakness and love to prey on it. Well, guess what. The rest of us over 300 strong are not caving in and do you dumb asses at HQ really think you now have the Union by the balls. Don't think so baby. We are stronger and convinced more than ever, that firefighters rights, pay, pension, benefits and safety are to be utmost in the eyes of our citizens. Keep screwing with union members and trying to pick off the weak ones. It only makes the tough ones fight harder against you- for our rights, you ego minded (waste) of tax payers money.
Received via Email 4-27-11 If the scabs dropped out because of the way things are going, and they blame the Union for everything, then I guess they must be the few that have supported each of the Mayors contract proposals. In other words they have told the rest of us they dont care about our futures. I now know whom I will turn to when things get a little tight at home. Since they are obviously so well off financially they must have enough for a few more less fortunate.
Received via Email 4-28-11 Hialeah ordered to rehire laid-off firefighters
Received via Email 4-30-11 We have an overtime crisis yet we have captains and DC's working as part timers now. Doesn't the fact that they're no longer here as much as they used to be cause a crisis? And what about Rob Henderson and Mike Blank? They work shift work AND get an additional 30 guaranteed hours call pay as inspectors. Doesn't this help to create an overtime crisis? What about the entire HQ staff getting an R Day once a week? Jimmy takes the whole gang along with him on Fridays, meaning a day off for them too. They only work 4 out of 5 days a week yet we can't use any of them to keep trucks on the road to protect our citizens. James Large is the weakest fire chief in our department's hx and is derperately looking to leave here a winner. Jim Callahan had his problems but he put the guys first. I hope someone in city hall is watching the holiday thats taking place at SPFR HQ.
Received via Email 5-02-11 Gotta hand it to our buffoon of a president, he manned up by crossing the Pakistan borders. Nice work, Barry Hussein. You're not completely useless after all. Sure, you're the most inept, inexperienced and corrupt POS ever to draw a shadow in the White House, but when you needed to pick up a few percentage points for reelection, you were able to find your mini balls and do the right thing. It had to be tough to take out a fellow Muslim like that, which makes me even more grateful. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we really appreciate you taking the credit for a job that your predecessor did about 85% of. Now see if you can add another trillion or two to the deficit while you're enjoying a little bump in popularity. It won't last long.
Received via Email 5-03-11 Received via Email 5-02-11 #2: AMEN!!
Received via Email 5-04-11 Come on you know the DCs have to have that extra time off to perfect their lies and figure who they are going to backstab next.
Received via Email 5-05-11 5/2/11. This poster is a traitor to the United States of America. You’re a hater, and threat to the American Way of Life. Do you so dislike African Americans that no matter what the President does you have the low ball effort to insult him? You’re a true AH, non-American most likely trailer dwelling FINO. Get a life; seek psychological help as soon as possible. I can imagine you are still crying over FAUX comedy networks sacking that number one idiot Beck. What will you pump your pathetic -eter to now loser? I so feel your pain. Get use to this bigot, 4 more years!
Received via Email 5-05-11 Gotta hand it to Obama; he got done what Bush couldn't.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Well it has started, E1 is officially OOS all shift due to staffing on the next A- shift. Must be a great feeling that this department is officially going backwards. Tampa is opening their process 5/6 for hiring. Bottom sixty should put in an application. It can not hurt.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Gotta hand it to Obama; he campaigned on ANYTHING BUT BUSH and then continued all of his anti-terrorist policies anyways because they were working.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Per the Fire Chief's office at Tampa Fire Rescue we are still on schedule to begin accepting firefighter applications this Friday, 5/6/11. Log on to www.tampagov.net, click on the "select a department" and choose “Fire”, and then click “Employment Opportunities” for details of what is required to apply. You can also click on the "Find it Fast" menu on the upper right hand side of the screen and select "Employment".
Received via Email 5-05-11 5-5-#3 So the union was right. We did pick the guy person for mayor. With all the sucking up that Jimmy's done to the mayor, he still can't keep his entire dept. running. Good job Jimmy. You voted for the right guy. At least your consistent.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Note to James D. Large. You lay down with dogs, you get fleas. Haaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Yeah, did you all see that spew Steve White pasted all over his FaceBook? It too was horrendous and showed nothing but hate. Hey 'Stevie read the papers, people are being held responisible for what they are posting. Jobs, friends, and many of your enemies are connected together on that site. I say we seek the total elimination of FaceBook, it is getting to be as evil as another site we all know of. Do you know that in a recent survey of Ass Clowns, munchers, and wanna be's it was deceided that this very informative and truthful web site was considered to be the most damaging to the moral of our firefighters and to the Department? Not a single vote was given to the Mayor, our lackies in Administration, our working conditions, or overall attitudes to our profession, just this site was responisible for single handedly bringing down the site. Damn if I didnt know better, I would have to say this site must be run be Democrats.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Yes, he did. With the intel gathered under the BUSH admin. The crying libs don't have the balls to do what is necessary to get to intel on their own.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Yeah, what about that Jimmy? Inspite of all your shit talking to council and your mathematician boy wonder, your shits falling apart at the seams. The mayor and council told us to piss up a rope a long time ago. What's your excuse for them dropping you and your wonderful dept. like a hot potato?
Received via Email 5-05-11 5/5 #1 is really angry. Please allow me to elaborate on my comments from 5/2 so that you don't think I am a racist. I think that most of Barack Hussein's screwups came from his white side. The bold move into Pakistan probably came from his black side since it involved an illegal trespass. Those people break into a lot of houses so they are good at stuff like that. There you go. See how equal I am?
Received via Email 5-05-11 Bush even said what a great JOB Pres. Obama did!
Received via Email 5-05-11 Even when the Tampa guys thought they didn't have the support of a mayor they always came out smelling like a rose because their chief had a backbone. There isn't a single chief on this job who is anything more than an administrator.
Received via Email 5-05-11 Just looked at Steve's facebook page...way to go Steve you really know how to piss of the left wing liberals. Seems like the libs can dish it out but can't take it. How long did you left wing liberals bash President Bush, oh wait a minute you still are. If you don't agree with the left wingers they classify you as a hater, what ever that means. Tell me what has your messiah obama done for this country? The economy is still in the crapper, gas is $5.00 a gallon (were is the out cry like there was when it hit $4.00 under President Bush?) housing is the worse that it ever has been, etc. The only thing that obama has done is to be in office when bin laden was killed by using intel from the Bush admin.
Received via Email 5-06-11 If Deomcrats ran this site, it would be fair and balanced! FTM
Received via Email 5-06-11 5-5-11,#5. man your a bigot comedian...
Received via Email 5-06-11 "Yes, he did. With the intel gathered under the BUSH admin" Then why didn't Dubya do something? Osama's wife quoted as saying they havent left the compound for 6 years! Do the math hater...
Received via Email 5-06-11 Congratulations to Winnie Newton for winning Florida Firefighter of the year.
Received via Email 5-06-11 There you go go again with the "hater"...you need to look at yourself.
Received via Email 5-06-11 Jimmy = FAIL You figure out which one.
Received via Email 5-06-11 I don't hate ya, I abhor(to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest utterly; loathe; abominate) your views..
Received via Email 5-06-11 Yes, Congrats to Winnie for winning and for putting up with all our shit, the chief's shit, the mayor's shit and our asshole governor's shit.
Received via Email 5-06-11 Go Winnie! A bright star of SPFR, and the only wedge between the admin's and city hall..
Received via Email 5-06-11 I hear Danny Thomas has jumped ship. He says he can't keep supporting Socialist politics. Yo Danny. Howz the new Governor working out for ya? PS you've always been an odd bird.
Received via Email 5-07-11 Better than than obama wannbe!
Brothers,
I have already expressed my sentiments to the principal officers this morning. I wanted to extend my own congratulations and thanks to the entire FPF Executive Board and Trustees for your outstanding efforts in the most dangerous, threatening time since we obtained collective bargaining. I know that there were Bills and amendments passed which were disappointing and angering to many of our members and leaders. Justifiably so, especially to our FRS members. However, Senate Bill 830 was the most existential threat to us since 1968 or 1969 (Yes, some of us were here then.)
Like the leads on an EKG, many of you approached the threats, problems, and situations from different angles, with different tactics, methods and viewpoints. But all of you mustered and marshaled your district leaders and members to very good advantage. Your testimony at committees was outstanding, as were your efforts at home and with your legislators. You never waivered, lost faith, or appeared weak or beaten. No doubt your own attitudes and strength bolstered the resolve of those legislators of both parties, who stood by us.
It was particularly gratifying to see that the extraordinary efforts by the Chamber of Commerce, League of Cities, National Right To Work Committee, and others was not able to overcome the efforts of the FPF and the labor coalition.
Let us all be perfectly honest with each other as friends; would any of us have bet much money or property on our members not being mandated into 401(k)'s, losing all DROP's, limitations on COLA's, and on SB 830 not passing? I have saved every news report, every communication from our locals, as well as the threats / promises of our adversaries. I don't think many would have taken such a bet.
We will have sufficient time to deal with and discuss future strategies together; I have already done so with General President Schaitberger and senior IAFF staff, and we will do more at the IAFF Executive Board meeting in June. For now though, let me just say that it will be a particular privlege to have all of you with us in Jacksonville next month.
Fraternally,
Larry Osborne, 12th District Vice President
IAFF
Teachers union OKs $54 assessment to aid referendum on collective-bargaining law
The Ohio Education Association will assess active members $54 apiece and support-staff members $25 to generate $5 million as fuel for a referendum to repeal the state's new collective-bargaining law.
The decision was made yesterday by about 1,000 delegates attending the teachers union's Spring Representative Assembly at Veterans Memorial.
Police and firefighters unions also have approved assessments...
Better late than never. I guess Local 747 chose never.
Received via Email 5-08-11 I was jerking off on my fancy new helmet that supposed to make me feel like I am in a real dept. And I had a pic of JL. will I get promoted?
Received via Email 5-09-11 "Do you know that in a recent survey of Ass Clowns, munchers, and wanna be's it was deceided that this very informative and truthful web site was considered to be the most damaging to the moral of our firefighters and to the Department? Not a single vote was given to the Mayor, our lackies in Administration, our working conditions, or overall attitudes to our profession, just this site was responisible for single handedly bringing down the site. Damn if I didnt know better, I would have to say this site must be run be Democrats."
I saw the paperwork and this website was called THE NO.1 INTERNAL THREAT TO ST. PETERSBURG FIRE & RESCUE.
Received via Email 5-09-11 You had better watch out what you put on these new helmets. The warning label inside already speaks for itself. It says you may be killed or injured while wearing this helmet. Lets not abuse them anymore than is necessary.
Received via Email 5-09-11 BTW, in case you missed it, Mike Blank was not collecting for MDA either. Nor was he in Tallahassee at any time during the 6 weeks of session. He was however, going to stations telling them about how he was going to be a puppet for, I mean how he has a strong group of Admenstruators, I mean a group of supporters that are going to be telling him what to do, I mean offering support when he gets elected as the new Puppet, I mean President of the Local. MTB, open your eyes, these same bunch of bimbo's convinced Wimmers, Landes, and a few others that they had the makings of a Yes Man as well. Oh and another thing, now mikey is going around telling everyone that he has been endorsed by Billy Mott and how he will remain in office after he wins the election. Well guess what, Billy Mott tells me that he did indeed tell Mike that he would remain in office to fulfill the remaining 1 year of his 2 year term. Thats it, he will stay in his elected position until the term is up, not because he thinks Mike is or isnt the best for the job. I love being on the road, you hear so much shit talk from otherwise worthless idiots. Hey Mikey have you told everyone about your fun trips you've been on with your good SCAB buddy Jeff Wayne? Maybe he can be your elections manager, Whats your platform? No dues for anybody? Maybe just a beer fund?
Received via Email 5-09-11 Did the invisible man really make a showing at Station 4 this weekend and have a crybaby meltdown? I hear that word has gotten out to the press about fire units being taken out of service due to staffing. Say it aint so. Lets hear it from some of those at #4 that can confirm or deny this story. My question is this, how many dog parks, pools, and or libraries were shut down at the same time the fire units were out of service? Maybe thats the story the press should really hear. Ok, you mindless spineless FINO's run this story back to the Mayor like you do everything else.
Received via Email 5-09-11 I borrowed this piece from the above letter from Larry Osborne, it is strange how he knows what it takes to gain a victory. Even when as he states not many would have bet on the outcome from the legislative opposition we were facing. Its to bad that we have our own members that make up their minds after 2 or 3 years and know so much more than those that have been elected and educated to face these issues. Thank you Larry Osborne from your insite. "Like the leads on an EKG, many of you approached the threats, problems, and situations from different angles, with different tactics, methods and viewpoints. But all of you mustered and marshaled your district leaders and members to very good advantage. Your testimony at committees was outstanding, as were your efforts at home and with your legislators. You never waivered, lost faith, or appeared weak or beaten. No doubt your own attitudes and strength bolstered the resolve of those legislators of both parties, who stood by us." As for our MUTTS and our wannbe's you will never see the light.
Received via Email 5-10-11 I know this much. If Jimmy had ever learned to stand on his own two feet instead of kissing our great mayors ring he wouldn't have firefighters wives calling the newsmedia about stuff he's officially doing wrong. How stupid are you Jimmy to think that everybody must like you because you got the job? Now that you've got it why don't you go out like a real man and earn everyones respect instead of playing to an audience of 10 guys you drink coffee with at the MFS that think your dreamy because you've got a title.
Received via Email 5-10-11 Union elections aren't till the fall and I can see that we're starting this stuff way too soon. I'm going to go way out on a limb here and say that I think history is the best predictor and that these type jobs are won or lost not by what you've SAID but by what you've DONE. So some of you need to sit back down. You feel me?
Received via Email 5-10-11 If I were running union president I would gather as many votes as I could. That's what I would do. PS: I don't know how you do that.
Received via Email 5-10-11 In order to gather votes one must do exactly what MTB is doing now. You go out amongst the troops on a city vehicle on city time and you tell a few jokes and then you venture into how he is going to change the way the union has been not playing fairly with the College educated folks in the city, the 37 attorneys they have on staff or the 3 that hold law degrees in HR. Then you tell folks that the union uses the legal process way too much in order to defend its members and not enough time sucking up to the Chief to be told that the union should stay out of his decisions. All it takes is a lot of promises without telling just how exactly you are going to accomplish it, besides sucking up to the Chief and the Mayor. Oh yes, and after that the rewards will just start falling from the heavens and we will once again be considered the most obedient fire fighters and we will then be the envy of all city managers and the League of Cities throughout the country.
Whooo. Whooo. Whooo. Sounds like a train wreck is coming folks, better get on the right track now and send MTB a message before its too late. By the way, more than a few thousand hours where just spent in Tallahassee and throughout the State of Florida fighting to keep the pensions, health care, rights, and benefits that the same individuals MTB is considering to be his bestest buddies tried to take away from all of us.
P.S. the next Legislative session probably wont START out any better with MTB or Winnie Newton as our President, but I already know who will be the most committed to fight for us here and in Tallahassee and not going on Motorcycle trips with his SCAB buddy. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think differently than most others.
Received via Email 5-11-11 MTB is now promising to do away with this here Union owned and maintained web site. He tells everyone that will listen that he knows and has absolute positive proof that this is run by the Union, and he will put it down when he is king shit. Hell, Hell, to the king.
TEAM: Winning!
Received via Email 5-11-11 And Hitler shut down the unions and the media. You go boy. I can't wait till you hit my station.
Received via Email 5-12-11 Isn't there some order in which to replace a union president when he doesn't want to run again (apparently that's not the case) where the next best prepared person who has the most training in union business takes over? There are unions here in Florida where the president serves unopposed for decades because folks realize that power isn't built over night and when a president steps down his next in command is the best qualified to take on the task. How come on this job we have so many flies buzzing around for the union president's job that don't even have a clue about union business or have the political connections? It would be like starting over again at a really bad time.
Received via Email 5-12-11 Its not about being the president, its all about willing to be a puppet so you will be liked. MTB strives to b
liked and he will achieve that no matter what.
Received via Email 5-12-11 Jim Wimberly, you're looking old in the video. Little Stevie snapping at your heels?
Received via Email 5-13-11 Yeah, Wimberly was looking hagared in this one, but one has to wonder, where was the head leader of bad decisions during this interview? Maybe he was afraid he would blow another gasket like he did at station 4 last weekend. With as many people being charged with acting unprofessional lately how come his little episode hasnt been brought into the lime light? I know that the punisher would love to get his chance to reprimand this one.
Received via Email 5-13-11 My wife just sent out a whopper of an email to someone you all know and dislike and its all true and a matter of public record. Heads up Jimmy. You like playing games and you and the mayor want to take an all or nothing approach to getting a contract? We can play that game too and with facts. You can't hang this one on the mayor.
Received via Email 5-13-11 To bad you dont have a Chief with a spine.
Received via Email 5-13-11 I thought it was pretty courageous of Large to barge into station 4 so that he could throw his weight around then appologise via the phone. A class act to be sure.
Received via Email 5-13-11 Who could have seen this coming Jimmy? Can you imagine this being over? You and your buddy the mayor along with 30 city attorneys pursue us ever day with proposed changes to a contract that will steal more time off slots from us, make us piss in a bottle and allow you to share our entire medical record with anybody you want, split up paramedic crews and still take the county's money like you're riding two on a truck and you wonder why we plot and rebel against you? Have a good life hanging with your regulars, Jimboy. They are all named Judas.
Received via Email 5-14-11 Jimbo is to busy looking into his magic mirror to make sure he looks good in his own eyes of course. How can he see whats staring him in the face when he is so sure of himself? As anyone seen him around much since he went and pissed in the mayors cup?
Received via Email 5-14-11 Jimbo is to busy looking into his magic mirror to make sure he looks good in his own eyes of course. How can he see whats staring him in the face when he is so sure of himself? Has anyone seen him around much since he went and pissed in the mayors cup?
Received via Email 5-14-11 The fire chief isn't above the cities rules and regulations or the fire departments. There is a rule that is in both, that states "conduct unbecoming a city employee" which is a group III. Seems to me that if jimmy large had a fit of anger at #4 and subjected his subordinates to it, that would qualify as "conduct unbecoming a city employee". Now I wonder if anyone that witnessed that fit of anger has the courage to stand up and be willing to file a formal charge against him with the city (it would be nice if ALL that witnessed that would put their name on the charge), that is something that could not be swept under the rug. If you are wondering if that could be done ask Walt Davis he wrote up Chief Jerry Knight for simply not wearing a life vest on the dive boat. If any of #4 have any reservations about writing up jimmy large go and ask President Newton I am sure he will tell you your options.
Received via Email 5-14-11 There's a story going round that Jimmy was asked how he could justify taking trucks off the road and placing our safety concerns and the lives of the citizens at risk. He simply said something about taking 4 or 5 trucks out of service to do training and nobody complains. The guy who he was talking to said that there's a difference between taking trucks out of service with no manpower around at all and taking trucks out of service that are subject to instant recall. Why do we need to take trucks out of service to go to the drillgrounds to do training anyway? Isn't the company officer responsible for making sure his people are trained? There was a time where we could round up another company and go train somewhere together and we got credit for it and we stayed in service and close to home. The only reason that we go downtown is to keep all the PTEC guys busy and gives everyone the false impression that we have a training division. It's all bullshit. We're in jeapardy of losing people but we worry about feeding the PTEC machine? Want to put more people to work? Don't spend your money on the school board, keep it at home and hire more people to train the troops. Last week we had an engine company filled with 3 workover medics. We can't hire back a firefighter but Pinellas County EMS has got tons of money to piss away on our fire suppression overtime and the fox is again watching the hen house. Want to call Mike Deeson with a story? We should be sending him at least 1 a day because they're out there. Todd Livingston had to go somewhere for Todd's sake this morning at 0600. When he left to take care of promoting what's best for Todd, we lost another engine company. Pardon me for noticing but we've got a shitload of captains and chiefs on a 40 hour week that have bunker gear in their trunk's. How can a fire chief place all of his people and the citizens at risk while looking at a surplus of trained individuals that he can easily order to fill the gaps? Jimmy Large has created a giant elitist regime that looks down on the firefighter as someone who complains too much and doesn't cooperate enough. We show up and we go to work. These guys are all accountable to a guy that spend every morning sucking down donuts at the master blaster and on Fridays EVERYONE IN HEADQUARTERS TAKES THE DAY OFF TO GO INTO THOSE ICKY FIRE STATIONS. Oh the thought of it. Fire Chief James Large allows trucks to be out of service and of no use to the public by allowing certain favored people time away when the news media is watching everything we do. I hope we get all that we deserve. Today, we hired back 6 medics to work where? Did we buy an assload of new rescues or something? Nope. Just playing the odds until the county catches on to our fire chief's cheating ways. I heard that during negotiations the other day that Winnie was pitching a 50 hour week again and Wimberly came up with all kinds of lame excuses until he finally got cornered and started spilling his guts with the truth. Funny, I would have never guessed that the truth would run up to him and bite him on the leg. Maybe he didn't know it. You and me ain't gonna get another R day because they simply don't want us to have one. They want to go to impasse thinking they've got a big win coming. Every time the fire chief (cuz it's not the city that's demanding more control of the time off slots or physicals or random drug testing) takes us to impasse he loses credibility because everyone gets to see him for what he really is and that's a guy obsessed with trying to look like a winner.
Received via Email 5-15-11 To think that anyone would even want to replace the Firefighter's Champion, Will Newton (yes even Blank's & the scab's) is just plain stupid..FTM
Received via Email 5-15-11 I guess our $100 thousand dollar a year admenstruation have never worked in the corporate world before. When your business in on the brink of going under all hands are pressed into service to keep it afloat. Lets see, the invisible man tells Crumity he is now DC5 and crumity goes to get his shit and report to station 13 to get that truck back in service. The punisher does the same to DC10 and sends him to eng 1, Pumpkin head tells the LR to go team up with the invisible man. Next Chiefs Bassett, Ballou, and Bruni get calls to go fill in at station 9. This leaves 3 positions that can easily be filled by enslaving a few of us in our rday cycles to ensure the paying of straight time. I will be so happy when this tele-staff program comes to fruition so we can get rid of a few more of these inept a**munchers.
Received via Email 5-15-11 Right. In the real world maybe but here we're going to take an EMS captain and put him on a shift as an LR. How does the chief justify pissing this money away on a captain's salary when this is a Lt's job? These things must be reported to the news media at every turn.
Received via Email 5-16-11 Wouldn't it be great if the news found out that the chief had a RAGE and threatened the ff their jobs... I say if HQ wants to bully us we should bully them!!!!!
Received via Email 5-17-11 How can you control a whole department when you cant even control your own temper. Come on Jimmy. Grow up and get a hold of yourself boy. Station 4 will chew you up and spit you out. The city dont need you but they sure need station 4.
Received via Email 5-19-11 The firefighters union claimed a brownout caused a delayed response last weekend to a fatal heart attack case.
Received via Email 5-19-11 They pushed Bill Ward out. When are they going to push you out, Wimberly? Being a prick for the man 24/7 isn't all that it's cracked up to be when you find out that you're also expendible. Dick!
Received via Email 5-20-11 It's Friday afternoon and we're just a few hours away from the weekend sickfest. How many medics are we going to gig while all you pussies in HQ with your high risk pension's are going to quietly slip across the Skyway bridge with a city car on city gas? Hey chief. Every thought of taking a few of your salaried boys and putting them on the street so we don't have to beat down our medics?
Received via Email 5-20-11 Guess what ole Handy Andy Blank is telling members he'll do when he is elected?? He is going to bring back the sick leave award!?! Pleeze One of you past pres., (not WN) gave that back to the Nazi's. You honestly believe the city is going to give you a dime? None the less the hours/money? Wake up son. Your time isn't now, and wasn’t then. *Note to the B shift. Is xmas really worth voting in a mole?? FTM
Received via Email 5-20-11 Blank is good buddies with Large. There in lye's the problem. We need a president who is not tied to HQ and the Fire Chief. Me thinks Winnie will do just fine, heck he has already got us more stuff than any other past pres. If you want Headquarters in charge of our Union, then vote for M, Blank.
Received via Email 5-20-11 Blank used to be one of the boys way back when. Now, he is one of Their(HQ) boys. Sad but true my friend.
Received via Email 5-20-11 I talked with someone who's been to several nego sessions and he tells me that he's never seen Blank at one of them so he couldn't possibly know that the city doesn't want us to have a sick leave award because Winnie's tried repeatedly to get it back. Besides, how important is a sick leave award right about now? Mike I'd feel better about you if you talked about keeping what we're about to lose instead of shit we've already lost. I mean fu**ing meow.
Received via Email 5-21-11 I was at the session where the city's attorney said to us WE'RE NOT GOING TO REWARD YOU FOR DOING SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE DOING ANYWAY. The sick leave award worked for both sides. The member got some extra time to spend for not calling in sick the entire year and the city didn't have such a problem managing time. They don't need to give us a sick leave award when they already have a plan to steal any slot that we don't use. Everyone needs to stop kidding themselves about what's out there. There's nothing out there but take aways.
Received via Email 5-21-11 I counted 7 mandatory medics today (Telestaff)
Received via Email 5-21-11 Mike, can't you see? Why waste time running for a position you’re not qualified to be in? Why give city hall and FHQ happiness by causing more division in our ranks? Do the right thing; stop acting like a little kid that had his candy taken away(you quit your union position). Become a positive member of the local. Stop hanging with scabs. OR convince them to come back into the fold. Now there’s a way for you to create some credibility!
Received via Email 5-21-11 Hey now. Dont drag the Nazis into this now. We might be better off with them than HQ and the turncoats in the ranks. Now that Lt DK is getting his official knee pads we can be assured 24/7 backstabbing from him.
Received via Email 5-21-11 So its a,"no brainer", Keep Newton in charge. I have issues with someone that -hits where they eat..
Received via Email 5-21-11 "There's nothing out there but take aways" Well said, Unless your a captain or DC, you get an R day every three weeks while the rest of the grunts just keep on giving. Every body else in the city is cutting and no hope for any of the firefighters or medics getting a darn thing, but oh those poor captains and DCs really need that extra R day. GIVE ME A FRICKIN BREAK. We work for the most ass backward fire department in the country.
TEAM: Then there should be no excuse for the medics on this job not to show up to the next negotiations session. If you think that it stinks that management is padding the deck with Kool Aid drinkers who got theirs -- support yourselves and be heard. Three people representing you cannot possibly have the impact of thirty pissed-off medics. The medics on this job are the most influential voting block on this job and in this Local but you don't believe in the power of sheer numbers.
Management wants to transport in their own city but who's going to have to carry out their plan? Do you see a promise of more money or better benefits if you start transporting patients? Has there ever been a discussion about where the fees for transport are going to go? Hell. City Hall can't even give us back our own O/T money from the Honda Grand Prix. What makes anyone think that there's going to be more money for anything other than the General Fund?
Here's the fatal flaw in many people's thinking. We all want to believe that this dept. will be fat and some of that fat will be passed down to some of you medics who will now be doing more of the heavy lifting. Where's that written? And if it's not written, will they say that it's to avoid possible lay-off's? How long do you die on that sword with your transport dollars going to the General Fund?
There's no Batman without a Robin. No Lone Ranger without a Tonto. And there's no union president that can mount an effective campaign to turn things around without you.
Received via Email 5-21-11 To hear Mr. Pumpkinhead tell it at Feinberg's party the other night, the Mayor is now 1000% behind our efforts to take over our own transport. That's awful funny timing considering we just heard that the city's take on this whole thing was WHO CARES because it's not going to be a big money maker, anyway. I guess someone's phone call to Mike Deeson must have impressed the mayor.
Received via Email 5-23-11 Aint it funny how Lead Admenustrater Large keeps giving MTB all of these promises of things he will give him when he gets elected? Sounds like someone is hoping to drag out this contract impasse as long as it takes. Otherwise the contract would be settled and MTB would have to wait 2 more years (if he keeps the job othat long)to be able to go into his first negotiation session with the Mayor.Sounds like lies, empty promises, smoke, and mirrors to me. Oh yeah a MTB is a true believer of anything that comes from the mouths of those lairs. FTM's, FTM's, FTM's, FTM's, FTM's and that FINO MTB too.
Received via Email 5-23-11 Speaking of that party, I wish the Union would throw parties like that more often. Plus I wish we would all get off of our wallets and come up with whatever it takes so we could have our own place to have this type of get togethers. It was real fun walking down the block to find a parking spot. Once again thanks to the union, its leaders, and the members for bringing this all together.
Received via Email 5-23-11 "Mr. Pumpkinhead tell it at Feinberg's party the other night, the Mayor is now 1000% behind our efforts to take over our own transport"..
To believe anything you heard from that pie hole, #1, he was shi-faced, (as at all functions) his fav do-boys were teabaggin him..Imagine that, he was at old man Feinberg's party..Sort of like the lion's den. How many rank and file were slaughtered that night? FTM
Received via Email 5-23-11 In reply to the red ink above: "People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success." Norman Vincent Peale
Received via Email 5-23-11 I am actually begining to believe all I read here on STRAIGHT DOPE! Its a lot closer to the truth than any memo from large, or lies from Blank and the propaganda machine that is HQ..FTM
Received via Email 5-24-11 Maybe thats the real reason MTB is claiming he will take this site down when he's elected.
Received via Email 5-24-11 "claiming he will take this site down when he's elected." You mean this guy doesn't even know the Union does not run this site. Is he really that in the dark. The only thing MTB is going to take down is a bottle Jack and couple of Big Macs. And do it rather quickly. Yeah, that's just what we need running our union.
Received via Email 5-24-11 5/24 #2 Hey, funny you should mention the heat thing. BN9 is reporting that 2 of our brothers went down at a multi alarm fire in 13's territory. I called one of the stations that was there and sure enough, more smoke than fire and way too much small town drama. Some of our chiefs need to grow up and get out of their suburban's sometimes.
Received via Email 5-25-11 Good luck with them getting out of the A/C what a joke they are
Received via Email 5-25-11 Take down this site? MB can't take down his pants without falling on -arge!
Received via Email 5-25-11 Recall Republican Governor Rick Snyder in Michigan.
A campaign to recall Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is underway. If 806,522 valid petition signatures are submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State before August 5, then Snyder will face a recall election in November. With an approval rate hovering around 30%, he'd be in big trouble.
Rick Snyder is cutting education and retirement benefits to pay for corporate tax breaks. In some cities, he's revoked the powers of democratically elected local officials and replaced them with dictatorial "emergency financial managers."Local activists have a campaign structure in place, with captains in every county and over 1,000 volunteers on the ground. Last weekend, 10,000 Michiganders rallied against Rick Snyder in Lansing. The people are there—we just have to sign them up.
Keep fighting,
Chris Bowers
TEAM: Thanks Chris. We have a similar recall campaign going here in Florida. We've almost nearly digressed to a single party system. Good luck.
Received via Email 5-30-11 How about we recall our chief and admin. Or at least take a vote of no confidence. Thats how you get things in the paper and on tv to make them loook bad. then you can move on to certain DCs who target people they dont like. Right Zamp?
Received via Email 5-30-11 The brave crew of Engine 5 catch a bad guy after a purse grab. Recover the goods and hold for PD. Good job! BUT, be ready to sign your paper work for doing something outside of your job duties.. Ya did good bubby, but I gotta write ya up! FTM..
Received via Email 5-30-11 Congrats to some real firfighters who helped stop they robbery suspect. No I am sure the DC will write you up for something I am sure. Give him time to look for something. Oh yea. I am sure training will have a SOP on chasing suspects and the correct attire and shoes to have on or you will be wriiten up. Oh yea dont forget to be nice nice to the suspect. Dont want to offend that communist R. Blumner.
Received via Email 5-31-11 Good thing it was firefighters that saw what was going down, otherwise they might still be waiting for PD backup. Maybe the Mayor will now get confused and share a little of his love with us by mistake
Received via Email 5-31-11 While commendable for the act, it was stupid for it to be done. Firemen playing cops is bad news and could have eneded so unpredictably. Cops chase bad guys, firmen fight fires, or EMS, but they are not inter-operable for a reason. The correct thing to have been done was to follow behind the suspect and report it, but not get involved. They should be written up, it was wrong to do!
Received via Email 5-31-11 I heard that FIRE CHIEF JAMES LARGE got his pee pee slapped by all of city council last week. Seems they don't like it when they give you enough money to make your overtime budget make it thru to the end of the year and you piss it away by always getting caught with your pants down. Jimmy you've got to learn to keep hiring people. If you don't hire people you're always going to spend too much too fast and you'll always find yourself in trouble with the troops because you're always stealing our vacation time slots to cover people you never hired. Shame shame on you Jimmy. It's probably going to be OK though, the guys at the master station will still have you over for donuts 5 days a week cuz they have yet to take notice of a guy who pretends to be their friend but constantly works at stealing their benefits. FTM
Received via Email 6-01-11 RE: Author/Writer of Ignorant Assumption on 5-31-11 Number 5
Obviously the writer has never heard of the days when fire fighters and police officers were cross trained in St. Petersburg. Nor has he heard of the time when the city thought it would be nice to have fire fighters patrol store parking lots at night at Christmas time to prevent car break-ins. The cops used to carry bunker gear in the trunk of the cruiser in case they were needed to fight fire. The plan was a total disaster in all he cities it was tried in prior to implementing it in St. Petersburg. But just as they often do, the city chose to ignore the prior failures and take the attitude of "it'll work here". Well, it didn't. Another failure. But documented. look it up.
When a police officer is alone and sees a fire where-in people's lives are at stake he reacts. It would not be odd for that to happen and there's a paper somewhere every day that trumpets the heroism of the lone police officer that saved the family single handedly. Why is it that this writer who slams fire fighter's who gut reacted to help someone can't see the similarity in the two situations? I'll offer a theory; he wanted to be a fire fighter but couldn't measure up to the standards. So now he slams the profession every chance he gets. If I didn't know better I'd think it was his lordship, the mayor. I mean HE doesn't like fire fighters and he fits that description to a "T". Failure after failure and takes out his frustration and hate on those that don't think he's deserving of his position. But I digress.
It would be a hint to all of the people from the outside who post on this site to do some research before you go shooting off your mouth. Truth be told if the mayor could find a way to force the Fire Department members to shovel garbage (read "shit"), he would do it. The fire fighters are at the mercy of every self-centered, egomaniacal, self-loathing dolt that sits in the mayor's chair. And the future doesn't look like that's going to change. So whoever you are sir I would hope that you never have a fire or a medical problem and are in need of help. If you MUST call 911, tell them you're the asshole that writes all those scathing remarks about the fire service and ask that the operator send the mayor and four cops in uniform to help you.
Received via Email 6-01-11 Great job chasing down those bad guys! Not only is it the right thing to do for a firefighter, it's the right thing for a citizen.
Because too many limp wrists on our department have turned into the kind of pussies that will wet themselves with glee while trying to figure out what rules these guys violated... that is why criminals feel confident enough to run freely through the streets carrying someone else's purse. Good people get involved when help is needed, that's what being a firefighter is all about.
We all like to brag about how brave we are and how dangerous it is to be a firefighter... what kind of a turd burglar whines about risks taken by someone else on this job?
To our heroes: I'm proud of you guys. To their detractors: Quit the job, you fucking butt pirates. Move back to your shit stenched caves on faggot island.
Thank you,
The Very Reverend Elmer Gantry
Received via Email 6-01-11 5-31 yada yada same ole Jimmy. This is the way this department runs. We get way behind on hiring and they jam up our people with manditory overtime when the only emergency is the one between the weekday warrior's ears. They don't care. They go back across the bridge to Manatee county. Rather than rushing and employeeing a bunch of dipshits like we've done in the past why don't we interview people all throughout the year? If some of them get hired by someone else then so be it. The chief and the mayor back us into a corner and when we get ready to hire people we're always a day late and a dollar short.
Received via Email 6-01-11 "Workers have no bargaining power at all when unemployment is this high," said former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, now a professor at University of California-Berkeley.
Mike Blank says otherwise. Winnie watch out.
Received via Email 6-03-11 Blank doesn't say anything new.. Newton is safe.. MB is like Sarah Palin..Exciting at first, but same ole -hit afterwards..FTM
Received via Email 6-03-11 The Magnificent Carnac makes a prediction. He says that Wimberly is thrown out on his ass by October 1st just like Bill Ward. Both given their walking papers because of one piece of work.
Received via Email 6-03-11 6-03 #3 I have to totally disagree with you. He's not a piece of work he's a piece of shit.
Received via Email 6-04-11 #4 he is not a piece of shit, he is a turd that came out of the chief's ass. Created by the chief and soon to be flushed down the toilet. No, not flushed by large but someone behind the scenes working his mo jo against him. Yeah, our beloved pumpkin head, soon to be number 2. Or in layman's terms, the new piece of shit. Can't we ever promote a real leader that someone respects to these high positions. Say like, Bernie Williams. Oh yeah, forgot he is not part of the good ole boy club. Yehaww cowboys. Keep the backward, backwoods tradition going. General Joseph E. Johnston
Received via Email 6-05-11 Oh please. You know nothing will happen to them. Our cheating mayor will bail themout with secret promises. I mean he and his bff Large cant look bad in the news.
Received via Email 6-05-11 If Ford would have been electd HQ knew their jobs wereon the line and she was going to clean house. Thats why the admin worked against the FFs.
Received via Email 6-05-11 Here's one for you. I hear E1 was out of service on Friday. R4 and E4 out on calls. Cops and a individual with a baby in their hands in respiratory distress pounding on station doors wondering why there are units in the bay and no one home.
Received via Email 6-05-11 This is not good. Obviously SOMEONE ran on this baby. They need to email everyone who's listed on one of the other pages here. I'm sure the newspaper and Mike Deeson can use this story. Post the info here and I'm sure SOMEONE will post it. I'll bet HQ was fully staffed that day too. Assholes.
Received via Email 6-05-11 That's a crying shame that someone goes to a station, sees a truck inside that should be in service but is not, and they are in desperate need for help. If I were a tax payer I would be livid to say the least. We are an embarrassment to the community and our own organization when we run our department this way. What a joke of a department we have become in the past few years. We can pay many divsion chiefs a 6 figure income and give all of our DCs more money and R days to boot, but can't keep trucks in service. UNBELIEVABLE.
Received via Email 6-06-11 Whoever knows something let's get it out to the media. If you don't want to do it yourself, put your wife or husband on this.
Received via Email 6-06-11 I have family living in Station 4's territory, Jimmy. If you're late to a call there you can be sure I'll put a boot in your ass and so will my lawyer!
Received via Email 6-06-11 RE: 6/5/11 - #5
This is a tragic incident and the public who need help are accustomed to calling 911 or doing what this lady did and go to a fire station for help. It's hard to describe the feelings one has if you're involved or was once involved in the providing of emergency assistance no matter what the situation. The urgency one feels when there is little time and a person's life is at stake is sometimes overwhelming. I can truly feel for this poor woman with a baby, for God's sake, in her arms and no one to help her. Had the engine room been empty . . . that was one thing. But there sat the truck and she could see it and there was no one around. That has got to be the most terrible feeling one could have.
Yet it's not the fault of the rank and file of the department for this to happen. The decision to sideline the rescue truck was made by someone well above the rank of Lieutenant or Captain. It fell on the person who determines what trucks stay in service and what trucks don't. I would think that decision is based on how many men are available to man said vehicles. With the two choices of call in someone because we don't have enough men on duty. . . or . . . take a rescue truck out of service because we can't man it, he has a decision to make. He chose to take the rescue truck out of service. This cannot be construed to be the fault of the men below him. And his decision was not one without consequence. However, there was no way to know that a situation such as this would happen. He's working within the parameters of how he's told to do things.
So who's to blame? It can be surmised with relative assurance that there are no slots for overtime employees. That means he has to work with what he has at hand. Since no one else is showing up he must make the decision based on how many men and how many trucks he has to work with. He made the choice and now there's a problem. But it's not a common problem and was totally unforseeable. So it's really hard to point a finger at the decision maker in this case.
Ultimately, the Fire Chief is liable for all that happens in his department. He also has control over the budget, the manpower, and the equipment. But he can't just run all willy-nilly with this responsibility. He has a boss too. And when this boss talks, the Fire Chief listens. And when the boss is the Mayor he listens intently. The Mayor has given the go-ahead to strip the fire service down to bare bones. No new hires. No additional overtime money for anyone. No nothing. He has nutted the fire service in a poorly concealed pay back for not backing him in his bid for becoming Mayor. Consequently the Fire Chief is hamstrung and it flows downhill. The blame for this whole thing can be placed squarely at the feet of the mayor (urp!). He made the situation what it is and blamed it on the economy. An easy ploy even for him. His vindictiveness for the fire service is abnormally high and the public will, at times, pay for it. There's no reason to feel as if the fire
service is at fault. We do the best with what we have. That's the bottom line. Dangerous situations such as this woman and her baby were in will only breed more people who believe that firefighters and policemen are uncaring and hateful when in actuality it is the mayor (urp!) who is to blame. This writer certainly wishes this woman and her baby well and hopes that everything turned out fine.
VCF
Received via Email 6-06-11 893-7111 This number works well. You call and complain and you leave no name or phone number. When you email council you tell them that you (or your wife) called to complain and you want to know if the mayor has informed council about the dangerous hazard. Two can play this effing game Jimmy. FTM
Received via Email 6-07-11 If we could only do a better job of trying to embrace the chief's concepts I think we could all get along a lot better.
Received via Email 6-07-11 I just recently had my annual body fondling and was talking to the nurse while she was holding onto my twig and berries and she mentioned that they are finding quite a bit of testicular cancer among firefighters. I ask how that was and she answered that deisel soot gets trapped in our bunker pants and next thing we do is cover up our sacks with this and there ya have it. So if this is so, and this screening is fully backed by the scrambled egg heads in HQ, how is it that a certain station Captain at #10 is allowed to put our brothers and sisters directly in harms way by hanging their gear inside of the engine room right next to the rescue wagons exhaust pipe? Either you follow their findings and advice or you prove to eveyone that this aint about our well being at all, but just a power grab. Of course we already know the answer here, dont we.
Received via Email 6-11-11 "We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers' salaries and take away their right to strike."
- Adolph Hitler, May 2, 1933
Received via Email 6-11-11 "has anyone seen or heard about the new jersey supreme court ruling on...?"
TEAM: Hey! Are you the same person who sent this shit to us last week asking us to read but not post your remarks? Now you want to post this shit? Are you running for union president or something? Get your own website if you want to start shit or better yet, if you've got the sack send your name along with your message and we'll post it for all to see. Then again, you can always let the fire chief in on your idea. That doesn't cost a dime and you'll look like a hero worthy of a field promotion.
Received via Email 6-12-11 6/11 #3-> Way To Go web master! I'd comment but I pulling a blank.
Received via Email 6-12-11 I wasnt trying to start trouble, but, just to let members know about what happened and that it could happen here or anywhere next. And dont worry I do not want to get promoted. I value my friends and do not want to have to stab them in the back like an officer would have to do.
TEAM: Understood. No harm, no foul. You can imagine that with not knowing who you are. Not having talked to you, directly. Not having seen your face when you said what you said and not knowing what your motives are -- one could misinterpret those motives. We appreciate the heads-up but prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, in this case. See you at the Kool-Aid fountain. Ours, not theirs! FTM
Received via Email 6-16-11 Republican Gov. Scott Walker has struck a blow to all Union members, dare I say, world wide? These bigoted a-h's will cut and tear until we are no more. SO bottom line here sports fan, is if your a card carrying Republican, your on the wrong team. Its never to late to fix yourself. Stand with your brothers and sister, if you must stay a GOP'er, speak out against people like Walker, and Rick Sccott. Our lifes depend on our actions.. FTM
Received via Email 6-16-11 Have you ever thought that if the unions had supported the Republicans maybe, just maybe that things wouldn't be so bad for them? Look what the democrats have done to the American people as a whole...taken our freedom of choice away, never in over 235 years has that been done.
Received via Email 6-16-11 6/16 #2, If the gop had their way, there would be no freedom of choice for women, minorities, and us, yes us the union members, so a BIG NO to your fantasy world.
Received via Email 6-16-11 Hey pal, the repub's never supported public servants! Your a real FINO,(or one of those non union scabs) or just a plain moron..Freedom of choice is a true Democratic gift, a real American gift. Go and retake American History.
Received via Email 6-17-11 Hey pal, did you forget that the time that the Florida Professional Firefighters backed Republican Jeb Bush, he signed into law, pension benefits which included the 3% multiplier among other benefits. It was the same law that your liberal Lawton Chiles refused to sign. So why don't you go and retake a history class yourself before you go and start spouting off things that YOU evidently know nothing about. You need to learn that if you want something you need to back the ones that WILL win and not the LOSERS, like yourself.
Received via Email 6-17-11 Pal, I feel your pain, like the greatest President of recent history tells us all. Yeah the FPF did a good thing, and I believe they also supported Obama! Your the loser ya FINO!
TEAM: We think the folks are going to get some mileage out of that one!
Received via Email 6-18-11 Here Here to the boot licking staff. Why is our department going backward, non progressive, and now following the lead of smaller local departments. Because we have non boot licking thinkers in HQ. They just brown nose to get to their position and now we have a bunch of YES to Jimmy men in charge. They have no original thoughts or ideas on how to better the department or move forward, just YES JIMMIE you look great. YES JIMMIE you are the smartest of all. YES JIMMIE we all like you, a lot. YES JIMMIE you are very athletic. YES JIMMIE I will always be loyal to telling you everything YOU want to hear even when your wrong. YES JIMMIE the UNION needs to be divided and we will help you do it. Lets forget about about working together as a department and union to be more a more progressive, safer, and community based department. Lets just all bow to the JIMMIE and his division chief puppets who also do not inspire unity and remain the good ole boy club we all so do not admire. Its funny watching all the Division chiefs kiss the ring of JIMMIE but behind his back they all want him replaced. WOW what a progressive department.
Received via Email 6-20-11 Good Stuff !!!
Received via Email 6-22-11 I sit here in total disbelief at the attitudes displayed by our elected leaders. 2 men were killed giving their all to protect the property of florida taxpayers. They haven't had a pay raise in 4 years, lost 3% of their wages to the new bail out the florida taxpayer relief system, they now pay more for their health insurance, and they were expected to do more with less. Well, now they wont be doing nothing. Two men were lost, 2 other injured because of its all your fault mentality. God Bless the famlies of these firefighters and to hell with the rat bastards that have no idea. Watch the backs of your brothers and sisters. You are the only ones that can.
Received via Email 6-22-11 The punisher is calling it quits? I keep hearing that J.O. has lost all confidence in the departments leadership and most importantly he is tired of having sand kicked in his face by pumpkin head. Now the invisible man is out n about telling his suckups that J.O. is leaving so he can pursue his new calling. Wait a minute...hold the presses. How can you take a shot at stepping on the throats of your employees one day and while your at it say its his will? Oh well I am sure we will all miss you for a couple of hours until they name the other a**hole to your position. How can I say it? Easy, WE ARE F**KED....
Received via Email 6-22-11 But, do not worry we have fearless leaders and new helments. I was thinking. Maybe if we paint the top of our engines black we can be like Chicago and fight real fires.
Received via Email 6-22-11 It has been well known for a while that carrot top was secretly hammering JO behind his back. Well now it has happened and he will be the new ass chief. Large be prepared, you are next. The great pumpkin will be coming for you next. You will never know or expect it until it is to late. Large was a master at kissing up until he got to the top and pumpkin head is a master at screwing people behind their back and spreading lies about them and then Waa Laa he has your job. What fine leaders we work for. In the private sector they would call them Traitors, but here in St Pete Land we call them chiefs. Watch and see, you heard it from here first.
Received via Email 6-22-11 I love how you used the words hammering behind his back and then ass chief in the next sentence. Just what exactly are you trying to say? FTM oops I just added to it, didnt I? This is some funny shit.
Received via Email 6-23-11 Sad sad that you would even joke about the dry as- -ucking we are getting..
Received via Email 6-23-11 I heard there are some new requirements to be promoted. You have to be an alcholoic, an adulterer or have slept with at least one ffs wife. You have to not be able to distinquish between right and wrong and be able to back stab people while you are smiling and telling them you are their friend? Is this true?
Received via Email 6-24-11 Damn, the secret to the beans has been disclosed. Don't forget this new set of rules replaces the old requirement of being totally inept at anything you do. This was proven yesterday live and in color on the city channel during the Counties dressing down of our entire upper butt crust leaders during the EMS debacle.
Received via Email 6-24-11 Well if you watched the City's TV channel yesterday the big event was when the County came courting the City. Funny how the city feels like they're being treated badly when politicians and movers and shakers at the County don't see things there way. Wanna know why? The real 800 pound gorilla in the room is the old pension plan that's hung around our necks for the past 40 years. The city won't separate old money from new because it was always convienient to club us over the head with that shit everytime we tried to get another benefit for our members. Now it's turn about time and the city's asking for bennies and the County's saying WAIT! YOUR PEOPLE CANT COMPETE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTY'S PARAMEDICS BECAUSE THEY ALL MAKE MORE THAN $100,000 A YEAR! Too bad, so sad. You reap what you sow. Everyone of you lying bastards in HQ should be fired. There's not a firefighter in the bunch. FTM
Received via Email 6-24-11 I wish the cheif would have let Knight talk. He's like knock out drops to listen to. We could have picked everyones pockets.
Received via Email 6-25-11 The city has admitted that they can pay off the underfunded portion of our pension for less than $35 million and be done with it. But of course they choose to stay on the annual payment plan and ride it out for another 12 years. They dont care, they dont care, and they are all MUTTS.
TEAM: Why pay off a long standing debt even if that debt continues to place your FD's EMS system in jeopardy? Next year's another year and the good Governor could outlaw unions so why pay? St. Petersburg is the biggest League of Cities, city in existense. How else could successive city leaders all know to treat us bad as they do except for the fact that they all get brilliant indoc on how to fuck union members? Remember, (and it's contained on this site) the IAFF is the League's biggest enemy. We're the most powerful and best connected union in labor, associating with both Republicans and Democrats. That fact alone scares the hell our of them. FTM EGH PTB&S
Received via Email 6-25-11 Which "old pension" are you talking about, probie? I call you probie because you must be one to make assumptions without comparisons. The pension you refer to, if I'm not mistaken, is the one with the escalator clause and the twenty and out opportunity, etc. If I'm wrong please don't hesitate to correct me. However I feel I'm on the right page. Your assessment of the so called "prior" pension is wrong as it's always been. But let me remind you of something you obviously don't know and also have wrong. The pension you could have worked under provided you with something those on the "prior" pension never heard of or could take advantage of. It's called the DROP plan. And it's true that some members of the "prior" pension thought, after counting the beans and doing their homework, that your so called "supplemental" pension with the DROP plan supplement was far and away better than the "prior" pension and they were willing to pay to change over. Of course the city said no, that the pension is the pension. No one on this job has ever gotten a pension that paid them the kind of money you have access to, probie. And don't give me the crap about how much you contribute and how hard it is to make ends meet. I don't give a shit. As far as the workings and non-workings of the "prior" pension. . .you may want to go back in time and read a few of the posts that were made in regard to how that pension was handled by the city. If you think you have had a 40 year millstone around your skinny neck since you've been employed and want to blame it on the department or the men you are just plain uneducated. Wake up probie and smell the fact that there's nothing that will change what has gone down so far. Those who are on pension will remain on pension. Those who are on the job. . .well, they'll still cry the blues about a 40 year old pension that is meaningless in todays situation. Get over it probie. It's here and it's not going away just because you whine about it. Worry about YOUR ass and quit blaming everyone else. And never forget the three most important words in a fire fighter's vocabulary. . . "I GOT MINE"
VCF
Received via Email 6-26-11 You are wrong. The city had to dump the old pension because it was to expensive to maintain. The city wouldn't fund it after it was shut down and mixed the debt with the new pension. Everytime we deal with the county they take notice of the cost of a single St. Pete firefighter vs. any other firefighter in the county. The city does the same thing when they try costing what we cost them in benefits. They KNOW there's a difference in the two plans but everytime we get a new benefit it's balanced against the overall cost of a firefighter and that includes pay, benefits, pension and unfunded liability. Everytime it's mentioned in the paper how much our benefits package costs, people get the mistaken idea that we get the whole package. We don't because some of it is old debt.
Received via Email 6-26-11 To Mr. VCF, I don't know if I'm the one your spewing about or not, as there are 2 different posts that mention the old pension, but if I am let me readdress my statement for you have obviously taken your same one line stance that you love to rant about. My reference that the City can take care of the unfunded portion of the pension is yes the prior plan. I in no way was making any statement about it being good or bad, and yes I am certainly happy about what I have today vs what I faced when I was first hired. Yes I know that the 20 and out 50-60% with the escalator was the better deal compared to what we were originally handed, and I know that the many improvements that have been bargained for in the past 20 years have left many people in many different levels of the supplemental plan. I know that the elimination of the S/S offset has 3 different levels, first you had it, then you could work 30 years or reduce you pension by a few years and get rid of it, then it was bargained away totally. Then we bargained for a larger multiplier (2 more levels), first it was for only the years of service after a certain date, then it was for all years of service. Then we got rid of the maximum percentage allowed (another level), and then the DROP came along, then the 2% COLA once you reach the age of 60, and now a select group is looking at the idea of increasing the maximum 5 years in DROP to 7 years. However lets not forget that each of these advancements have been actuarly vetted and are sound to the supplemental plan, and yes some of these advancements are paid for with bargained for increases to our pension payments now at 7% ( a couple more levels)and the 175 plan dollars that came about in the 80's and yes were given to us by our fore-fathers (union bargaining), so if you were counting there are a lot of betterments to my plan that you and many others like yourself will never have or see since the city refuses to give any improvements to you once you have retired or even once you have entered into the DROP.
Now, just in case you have been missing out, for more than a few years, the county EMS authority has openly stated time and time again that they are no longer willing to pay the $130+K COSTS of the medics from SPFR. Yes I know we make no where near that, but when 80+% of the salary package is added to the basic salary then yes it does appear that we cost a lot more than our Brothers and Sisters from any other department and far far more than the $60K average of a SunStar employee. Now you and I both know that it is partly because of the unfunded portion of the prior pension plan that is still hanging around the necks of every supplemental plan member since they were hired in 1972. When this unfunded cost goes away, then and only then will the county and the rest of the world see that SPFR medics COST closer to the normal average as the rest of the medics throughout the county. The city bean counters have admitted that when the unfunded portion is removed from our overall costs we will be able to shop ourselves at a more agreeable sum. As you know, this city has no intention of doing what is good for the county ems system or for their firefighters, so they are standing firmly on the long term repayment plan.
It was never this "PROBIES" intention, nor do I believe it was that of the other poster either, to lay blame or make snide remarks to the members of the prior plan or to anyone in the many lower levels of the supplemental plans they are in. Yes I have mine and in a few more years I will be complaining that the COLA is bigger or available at and earlier age, but I will also be content that I was there fighting during the times that changed my retirement years.
