Tag Archives: Firefighters

NH Firefighters (@PFFNH) Pushes For Expanded Gambling

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 20, 2013 - 1:10 pm | , , ,
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Fire PR Small
Rep Kevin St James (Exeter Fire Fighter)

Rep Kevin St James (Exeter Fire Fighter)

The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire Remind Lawmakers that Public Safety Should Not be a Gamble: Support the Passage of Senate Bill 152

CONCORD– Today, members of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire (PFFNH) held a press conference to state the many benefits of passing Senate Bill 152, which would bring a casino to New Hampshire. Along with President Dave Lang were members from Nashua, Berlin, Concord, and Exeter, who also spoke on behalf of the bill.

Rep Andrews (Concord Fire)

Rep Andrews (Concord Fire)

Both Representative Chris Andrews (Concord Fire Fighter) and Representative Kevin St. James (Exeter Fire Fighter) called upon their fellow freshman to do what they were elected to do: make difficult choices, lead, and pass SB 152.

“I know that some freshmen Representatives are concerned about making a decision that could potentially change the fabric of New Hampshire. But making tough decisions is what fire fighters do and exactly what we were elected to do. Therefore I urge them to support SB 152” stated Representative Andrews.

Jim Kirk President of Nashua Local #789

Jim Kirk President of Nashua Local #789

Also speaking was Jim Kirk of Nashua Local #789 who spoke of an increase in people not able to afford mental health preventative care.   “I see a side of New Hampshire in the middle of the night that most of you don’t ever see. I see a side of New Hampshire that desperately needs help. I see mental health issues, domestic abuse, and people in real need of care, night after night. I see that this state needs proper funding to help curb these problems,” stated Kirk.

Passage of Senate Bill 152 would not only provide jobs, but it would also help to effectively and efficiently fund our state budget. The proposed bill would create a revenue source that would help ease the downshifting of costs to our cities and towns. Public safety departments across the state are being forced to make cuts. Passing this bill will make increases to our level of proper funding, staffing, and equipment.

Berlin Local #1088 President Roland Berthiaume

Berlin Local #1088 President Roland Berthiaume

Roland Berthiaume, fire fighter from Berlin Local #1088 described how Berlin is facing layoffs – the on duty fire fighting force could be reduced by 25%.  “The North Country needs economic help.  It needs revenue. We cannot continue to put the safety of our citizens at risk. In emergencies, seconds count, and time is ticking in the North County,” said Berthiaume.

NHLN Exclusive: AFT-NH Takes Pittsfield ‘FREE SPEECH’ Case To The NH PELRB And WINS!

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 26, 2012 - 10:49 pm | , ,
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aft sqaure

 Pittsfield Town Employees’ Statement on PELRB Decision 

Pittsfield, NH- In a statement released today, Richard Walter, President of the Pittsfield Town Employees, AFT-NH, AFT Local #6214 reacted to today’s decision by the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board on Unfair Labor Practice Charges filed against the Town last spring.

Mr. Walter stated, “Our members stood together to stand up for important rights to be heard about their working conditions which affect public services.  We are extremely pleased with the decision of the PELRB. I am proud of the commitment to fairness and public service our members have shown throughout this long, grueling process. Our members care deeply about the services they provide to the residents of Pittsfield and the attempts to prohibit our speech was harmful to the public discourse which must occur in our communities as we determine the quality and level of services we provide.  We look forward to building a positive working relationship with the Board of Selectmen as we move forward and some positive changes have already occurred. ”

The charges alleged that the Board of Selectmen had violated RSA 273-A, the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Act and breached the collective bargaining agreement between the parties when it issued a directive denying overtime and details to full-time bargaining unit members in the first instance.

The charges also alleged an infringement of the employee’s rights to speak to the public about their conditions of employment.  Additional charges were made by the Union that the Selectmen had improperly changed the schedules of the police and ambulance departments. The Union prevailed on the charges regarding free speech of its’ members under the public employee labor relations act, overtime and details. Back pay provisions regarding detail and overtime have been awarded to make the employees whole for the denial of working these details and being denied overtime shifts. The Board ruled with the Town on the issue of the schedules; however, since the original charges were filed, the schedules have reverted to those in place prior to the filing of the charges.

In its’ decision, the NH PELRB upheld the rights of local union members to speak freely in public about matters relating to their terms and conditions of employment and stated that, “the Board committed an unfair labor practice when it issued a policy prohibiting employees from communicating with the public and media without prior approval from the Board of Selectmen.”  The Board of Selectmen had passed a gag order, only to later rescind it.  Union members provided testimony to the Labor Board that they felt intimidated by the actions of the Board of Selectmen.

“AFT-NH is committed to protecting the free speech of our members and we will vigorously defend their rights” stated Attorney Terri Donovan of AFT-NH, who represented the local Union.

She stated further, “The employees in Pittsfield negotiated a contract with a pay freeze and increased contribution to health insurance and the actions by the Board of Selectmen not to honor the provisions of the contract and long standing practices were egregious violations of good faith negotiations.”

Mr. Walter stated, “While I am very pleased with the result it is unfortunate that during the course of this litigation we have lost at least two long term and valuable employees from our bargaining unit. The Town invests in training employees and when you lose veteran employees, the Town loses valuable experience and knowledge for the citizens of Pittsfield.”

“AFT-NH is the State Affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT has over one million members with nearly 4,000 members in New Hampshire. AFT-NH represents the Pittsfield Town Employees, AFT Local #6214.

Read the full NH PLRB decision here.

A Special Message From PFFNH and Upper Valley Firefighters

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 19, 2012 - 11:46 am |
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Upper Valley Firefighters

Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort

Friends of Firefighters is a non-profit established in the days after 9-11-2001 to help our brother and sister firefighters in time of need.  They are located in an old firehouse in Brooklyn, NY and they themselves were affected by this storm as well.  The Hanover and Lebanon Fire Departments are establishing a donation drive in an effort to help out fellow firefighters of FDNY who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Many of these men and women were out helping others as their own homes burned or were washed away by the rising floodwaters.  Clean up efforts are underway and much help is still needed.

A small contingent of firefighters from Hanover and Lebanon will be heading down to Brooklyn, NY on Sunday 25 NOV 2012 to spend a few days volunteering.  We are also hoping to fill a moving truck full of donations to take with us.  I have included a list of items they have specified a need for.   Unfortunately, we will only be able to accept items from this list.  The items are as small as plastic utensils to as large as a boiler to help rebuild Friends of Firefighters business space.  Please look over the included list and consider donating to our help our effort.   The donations can be dropped off at either the Hanover or Lebanon Fire Depts from now until Saturday 24 NOV 2012.

Please feel free to contact us at either of the avenues listed below with any questions or visit their website at www.FriendsofFirefighters.org for more info about their organization.  Thank you for your consideration in donating items and we look forward to sharing how this effort made an impact in helping others’ lives.  Stay safe.

Sincerely,

Eric James                                               TroyLeatherman

Lebanon Fire Dept                                 Hanover Fire Dept

603.727.8552                                          802.683.7324


Taken from PFFNH Web/Facebook Page

Keene Celebrates Collective Bargaining On City Employee Appreciation Day

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 18, 2012 - 8:35 am | , ,
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Sherri Beckta, President of Keene City Employees, AFT-NH and her officers

This past Friday, the dedicated public employees from Keene were honored.  After numerous battles with the state legislature over the collective bargaining rights, the town’s unions were honored in a special ceremony held by Mayor Kendall Lane.

You can watch the entire 10 minute prestention below or via this link

Mayor Kendall Lane presented the towns unions with this proclamation.

The Full Employee Appreciation Proclamation (PDF) can be downloaded here.

Keene Public Employee Unions are honored at City Employee Appreciation Day

In the video you can see that John MacLean, City Manager, reiterated that employees have made sacrifices and a variety of contributions. He feels that these sacrifices and contributions are made because “employees believe in this community, believe in the City as our employer, and believe we are treated fairly.” The City’s relationships with its employees and collective bargaining units “are unique and are to celebrated and appreciated.” Employees have made “big contributions to the Monadnock United Way and are involved with civic organizations, schoolchildren, and the community at large.

“Our employees also represent something important to our society––collective bargaining, which protects our society in many ways. Sometimes the negotiations process can be difficult but, at the end, we come together with an agreement that works, and the City of Keene has been well served through this system.”

Sherri Beckta, President of Keene City Employees, AFT-NH and her officers

Even though the town of Keene has seen some tough financial times, the employee unions helped the town move forward by taking serious concessions.

AFT-NH was especially honored at this event.  AFT-NH represents the Keene City Employees, Keene Police Officers’ Association and Keene Police Supervisors’ Association. During the last few years during these challenging economic circumstances, the three Unions along with other city unions have worked collaboratively with the City in an effort to save jobs. Concessions made by the Unions have been in an effort to help stabilize the budget and recognize economic realities, according to Attorney Terri Donovan, Director of Field Services and Collective Bargaining at AFT-NH. “It was hard work but done in an atmosphere of mutual respect.”

AFT-NH President Laura Hainey attended the ceremony and stated , “It is refreshing to see management work together with our local unions and to acknowledge how valuable collective bargaining can be to all parties involved. Collective bargaining has strengthened our middle class and is a voice for all workers.”

Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire Endorse Maggie Hassan for Governor

  By New Hampshire Labor News | October 11, 2012 - 3:00 pm | , , ,
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101112 PFFNH 3

Praise Hassan for Her Work to Make Communities Better, Safer for All Residents

MANCHESTER – Praising her work to improve the safety of New Hampshire communities, the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire today endorsed Maggie Hassan for Governor.

“Fire fighters and paramedics protect the families and neighborhoods of this state,” said Dave Lang, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. “We know how important it is to have a Governor who is actively working to make New Hampshire a safer place for all of us, and that is why we are supporting Maggie Hassan. Maggie has worked, and will continue to work, with the public safety community to pass laws that make our communities better and safer places.”

Hassan is also offering an Innovation Plan that will help middle-class families succeed, by focusing on freezing college tuition costs; ensuring access to job training; and providing tax credits and technical assistance that will help attract new businesses and jobs. She will veto an income or sales tax.

“Maggie understands the importance of a balanced budget and will continue to ensure fire fighters and paramedics have the necessary resources to successfully do our jobs,” Lang said.  “New Hampshire needs a leader who shares our values, and will look out for all people. That’s Maggie Hassan, and that’s why we are supporting her today.

Hassan said it was an honor to accept the endorsement of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire.

“A governor’s first job is to ensure the safety of the people of New Hampshire, and I am proud to be a strong supporter of public safety.  As governor, I will work hard every day, with all of you, to protect our communities and keep our state moving forward,” Hassan said.

As a leader in the State Senate, Hassan worked with public safety officials on critical priorities, including creating a death benefit for first responders killed in the line of duty, directing the Department of Safety to develop a reverse 911 system so that first responders can reach citizens in an emergency, strengthening domestic violence laws, and working with Governor John Lynch to pass one of the toughest laws in the nation to protect children from sexual predators.

I Call Them Heroes Everyday, Not Just On SEPT 11th

  By Matt Murray | September 11, 2012 - 6:00 am | ,
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911 Firefighters with flag

Today marks the eleventh anniversary one of the most horrific moments in our nationshistory. Many other blogs have been asking “Do you remember where you were on September 11th?”. I am sure we all remember what we were doing.  Those images of the airplanes being flown into the World Trade Center are forever imprinted in our memory. My question to you is “What else do you remember about September 11th?”

I remember the look of fear in my wife’s eyes as we watched in horror at the events of September 11th.  I remember faces of the people at ground zero running for their lives in a cloud of smoke and falling debris as the buildings began to collapse around them.  I remember seeing the police and firefighters rushing into those same collapsing building to search for people lost in the smoke.

Over the next few days we as Americans went through a significant shift. We continued to mourn the loss of those who died, while we rallied behind those brave men and women of the FDNY and NYPD. They continued to search the rubble for missing people. We began to refer to these brave men and women as the Hero’s of 9/11. We vowed never to forget.

Now ten years later the image of those three firefighters raising the American Flag of the remains of the World Trade Center, is one of the most memorable images of September 11th.  But now something else has happened. Those same brave firefighters are still called Heroes on the days surrounding 9/11, and called “Union Thugs” the other 350 days a year. What has happened? What has changed in America that we went from buying FDNY shirts and hats, and donating money to the International Association of Firefighters to making them enemies of the country?  Why is government trying to demonize these brave heroic men and women.

So on this day, remember all of September 11th. Remember over 3000 men and women who died tragically. Remember those 600 first responders who also died as Heroes. The courageous men and women who put lives of others ahead of their own. Remember this when people refer to Firefighters and Police Officers as Union Thugs. They have and always be this countries HEROES. That is something we should never forget.

The Professional Firefighters Of NH and Jackie Cilley To Start A Six City Tour To Meet Voters

  By New Hampshire Labor News | August 20, 2012 - 11:00 am | ,
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From Jackie for NH Flicker Page (all rights reserved) http://www.flickr.com/photos/75823069@N06/7552601376/

From Jackie for NH Flicker Page (all rights reserved) http://www.flickr.com/photos/75823069@N06/7552601376/

Democratic candidate for governor and Firefighters send message stressing the importance of the middle class

Jackie Cilley will be joining the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire on a trip across New Hampshire offering free meals and a message of progress to crowds in Londonderry, Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Keene, and Dover next week.

David Lang, president of the firefighters union, said contrary to the poll results, firefighters are paying attention and are ready to work hard to elect Cilley. Next week, they’ll join her on a two-day, six-town tour.

“Our folks are property taxpayers, they live in the communities they work in … they care about their communities,” he said. “So they are engaged and looking at this governor’s race.” (AP)

Voters across the state are invited to take this opportunity to meet Jackie, hear her vision for New Hampshire and understand the importance of the middle class in building the economy. Bring a friend!

FREE chili, hot dogs, chips, condiments, and drinks at the
Fields Grove at the end for Field St.,
Nashua from 5:00-6:30 on Tuesday, August 21st!

JACKIE CILLEY, Democratic candidate for Governor, thinks you should get something free for a change! Bring a friend for a FREE meal and meet JACKIE CILLEY, Democratic candidate for Governor. Eat for FREE and hear her plan to rebuild the economy and create good jobs for the middle class! Take this opportunity in a town near you to meet Jackie, hear her vision for New Hampshire, and how she wants to strengthen the New Hampshire economy and create good jobs. BRING A FRIEND!

If you can’t make it in Nashua, join us in…

LONDONDERRY
FREE bagels and coffee at the Londonderry Town Commons
from 9:00 to 10:30 on Tuesday morning, August 21st !

MANCHESTER
FREE hot dogs, chips, and drinks at the Cohas Brook Fire
Station (Station 8) 280 East Industrial Park Drive,
Manchester, from noon to 1:30 on Tuesday, August 21st!

CONCORD
FREE bagels and coffee at McKee Sq., on McKee Dr. off Fort
Eddy Rd. from 9:00 to 10:00 on Wednesday, August 22nd!

KEENE
FREE hot dogs, chips, and drinks at the Keene Gazebo,
Central Square, Keene, from noon to 1:30 on Wednesday,
August 22nd!

DOVER
FREE chili, hot dogs, chips, condiments, and drinks at Henry
Law Park from 4:00-5:30 on Wednesday, August 22nd!

What Wisconsin Meant to Romney and What We Need To Do About It

  By The New Hampshire Labor News | June 13, 2012 - 11:22 pm | ,
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Last Friday Romney said that there are too many fireman, policemen, and teachers and that he’d support more layoffs if elected President.

Romney will be speaking at Scamman Farm in Stratham THIS FRIDAY at 10:30 a.m. and it’s up to us to ask him why he wants to cut the New Hampshire advantage, endanger our communities and weaken our schools.

His campaign claimed this week that “taxpayers really do want to hear that there will be fewer teachers”. You and I both know that cutting back on these critical public servants will only mean larger class sizes and unsafe neighborhoods.

It’s up to us to welcome Romney back to New Hampshire with the message that we’re taxpayers, we support our public servants, and we don’t want to see more cuts to our schools or police and fire departments!

We’ll be setting up on Portsmouth Avenue/Route 108 at the entrance to the farm. You can RSVP and get more information here

To tie right into this is a message from Laura Hainey and John Ost from AFT.  

Last week at a campaign rally in Iowa, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said:

“He [Obama] says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did. It’s time for us to cut back on government and help the American people.”

While job security and economic stability remain foremost on the minds of most Americans, Romney showed last week he remains focused on attacking the men and women working to support kids and their communities—teachers, first responders and other public employees.

He’s wrong. Do you think cutting the number of police officers, firefighters and teachers in your community will help or hurt us?

President Obama stands in stark contrast to Romney, both in his record of saving teacher jobs and in his latest call to Congress. In his weekly address, Obama urged Congress to take action to put teachers back to work in their classrooms and stated, “The best predictor of individual and American success in this economy is a good education.“

So, tell us: How would cutting police officers, firefighters and teachers affect your community?

These are two polar-opposite views of what our communities need, and the contrast is further proof that President Obama continues to be the one standing with middle-class and working Americans.

In unity,
Laura Hainey
AFT-NH President

John Ost
AFT Political Director

P.S. Was this the final straw? Can we Count You In this election?

Jackie Cilley to address Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire at their 12th Biennial Convention

  By The New Hampshire Labor News | May 8, 2012 - 1:21 am |
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Jackie Cilley to address Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire at their 12th Biennial Convention

Convention in Concord will include representatives from across the state from 42 locals 

BARRINGTON – Jackie Cilley, Democratic candidate for Governor, is scheduled to address the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire at its 12th Biennial Convention on Tuesday, May 8, at 11:30 a.m.

Considered one of the voices of public safety in Concord, the PFFNH is the state association of the International of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO-CLC, and is comprised of 42 local unions representing firefighters and paramedics from across the state.

“The motto for this year’s convention – In Prosperity, Adversity, and the impossible: Fire Fighters Ready to Lead – really resonates with me, and I am honored to have been invited by the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire to speak to their members,” said Cilley. “I’ve seen these brave men and women place the needs and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire ahead of their own interests and I have great respect for the work they do on our behalf day in and day out.

“When I say defending and promoting workers’ rights is why I am running, these are the people I am thinking about. These are the people who we rely on and who represent what works with government. They deserve our support, and as governor I promise to stand with them to ensure they are provided the protection they provide us.”

Testimony From The House Labor Committee Hearing on HB 1677…

  By The New Hampshire Labor News | February 11, 2012 - 6:23 pm | Uncategorized
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After the House Labor Committee held its public hearing on Collective Bargaining in January, we posted some of the testimony against HB1645 from Laura Hainey (President of AFT-NH).  It was so well received that AFT-NH has provided us with more testimonies.  The first comes from a Lawyer and former teacher, Manny Krasner.  He talks about being a teacher in NH before we had a collective bargaining law and how if HB 1677 is pass it will be again.  I have taken highlights from his testimony however if you wish to read the entire testimony (highly recommend) you can view it here.

Highlighted Testimony from Manny Krasner
to the Labor Committee 2/9/12
First, this bill is an assault on the collective bargaining process and on unions. Second, it will have bad consequences for the people who work and who would otherwise be protected by collective bargaining agreements. It will be bad for the cities and towns who have to deal with public employees and it will be bad for members of the public who will see public services deteriorate.

If there is no union, then if I’m one employee in a group of ten, fifty or one hundred employees, I do not have significant bargaining power with the employer. The proponents of this bill who seek to protect my freedom will say that I am free to negotiate my own deal with the employer and not be bound by the union’s contract. But, in reality, I have no bargaining power. The employer can say what he wants and tell me to take it or leave it. He has no reason to consider my terms.

So, while the sponsors of this bill say “ we’re getting rid of free riders, and and at the same time allowing everybody to choose”, what they are really doing is breaking up collective bargaining, and leaving a sham. We have to face the fact, this is an anti-collective bargaining, anti-union bill.

First, the level of public services will suffer. People who work in a system where they are absolutely powerless and at the mercy of their boss are effectively wage slaves or serfs. They don’t work well. They don’t feel that they have a stake in the process.

You might say that the way in which a workplace is governed is of no concern to others, and that people should be free to participate or not, as they wish. However, in the public sector the quality of services are critically important to all of us. Do you want your children taught by teachers whose longevity and promotion are governed by how well they kiss up to school administrators? If your house catches fire, do you want the firemen on the truck to be people who are skilled firemen who go through as much training as they can and are reimbursed for it under the union contract, do you want them to be properly equipped, or do you want them to be people who are riding that truck, because they get along well with the fire lieutenant and maybe take him out for a beer after work? If you are on the pavement after a motor vehicle collision, do you want the EMT or the first responder from the fire department ambulance to be someone who has his job, because he is the nephew of the fire chief, or one of the selectmen, or do you want him to be somebody who is on the truck, because of his training and skill?

This bill is also not a good thing from the management perspective. You are going to get either one of two scenarios. Either the one I have just described where if the supervisor is playing favorites and retaining those people who they get along with and who make their lives easier, and then the boss playing one person off against the other for the advantage of management, or you’ll get a scenario where the management acts honorably and attempts to negotiate with multiple individuals and reach fair contracts, and winds up consuming all of their time in these negotiations and not being able to do anything else. Neither of those situations are good from the perspective of the municipality.
You can see that the HB 1667 system will not work from our history. The current collective bargaining law was put into effect at the end of 1975. I don’t know how many of you can remember what it was like before the law, but I assure you the Governor Meldrim Thompson and Legislature of that day did not suddenly decide to institute collective bargaining in order to be kind to workers or unions. There were serious problems with the lack of collective bargaining. I remember the first Manchester, New Hampshire Teacher’s strike I was in third or fourth grade in the 1950′s. After that, there were a number of bitter and divisive labor struggles in the public sector. During the second Manchester strike, Mayor John C. Mongon had Frances Abbott, who was later a member of this body, thrown in jail. There was a bitter strike in Nashua and, I believe one in Concord, and then, of course, there was the Timberlane strike, which went on and caused terrible bitterness and disruption in their community. The preamble to RSA 273A says it is designed to foster harmonious and cooperative labor relations and to avoid disruption and interruption of public services. Governor Thompson did not make up that need.

Here in New Hampshire there can be an agency fee if, and only if, the local school district, or local town, or local city, agrees to it, and they don’t have to agree to it. So, it leaves the decision about whether or not there may be agency fee in the hands of the local governing body, which is where it belongs.