December 16, 2022
Bulletin 64 – 22

UFLAC General Membership Meeting
December 28th at 0800 hours
UFLAC Offices
being held at 1571 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90026
JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

 

0730                Stewards Meeting

0800                General Membership Meeting

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence for our past fallen UFLAC Firefighters
Invocation
Roll Call of Officers
Adoption of the Minutes
Committee Reports

GUESTS:        LA City Councilmember Traci Park, 11th District

Traci Park was elected to the LA City Council on November 8, 2022 and officially took office on December 12th. Her election was one of the most contested races in the City of LA and ultimately, with the strong support of UFLAC, Councilmember Park defeated her far left opponent by 4,000 votes. Councilmember Park is committed to making public safety and our firefighters a top priority and cleaning up our homeless problem. She will be a true partner with UFLAC and bring desperately needed common sense back to the city council. CD 11 includes the communities of Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Sawtelle, Venice, Mar Vista, Playa Del Rey, Plays Vista, and Westchester. All members are invited to hear from our newest councilmember.

  1. Swearing in of 2023-2024 Executive Board Members
  2. Final expenditures for Election Cycle
  3. Unfinished Business
  4. New Business

Adjournment

Executive Board – United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local #112


December 7, 2022
Bulletin 63 – 22

MEMBER BULLETIN

 

This bulletin provides an update regarding UFLAC’s efforts to remedy the Department’s failure to correctly pay bargaining unit members.

Many bargaining unit members are still waiting for the Department to increase their salaries based on promotions, 6th Step, wellness, education bonus, RIP, special duty/platoon duty, longevity, etc.  Or, where the Department has finally corrected the payment amount, it still has not paid unit members retroactively for all of the missed payments.  The Department has admitted that it owes these payments and it continues to blame backlog, staffing issues and payroll system problems.  UFLAC rejects all of these excuses: there is NO excuse to underpay unit members.  UFLAC lawyers and IAFF lawyers are currently working on a lawsuit.  Unfortunately, these types lawsuit take time to process through the legal system.  UFLAC shares your frustration and is trying to push this forward as fast as possible.  If you have not already done so, and if you believe you are underpaid, please notify UFLAC Director Richard Ramirez at [email protected] as soon as possible so we can include your claim.

UFLAC is also pushing the Department to immediately fix the issues they are having with implementing the new payroll system Workday.  These issues have caused the Department to freeze transfers and promotions or have led to underpayments to those who have transferred or promoted.  This is unacceptable.  There should have been a better plan to ensure a smooth transition to Workday without harm to the members.  UFLAC has been demanding accountability from both the Department and Workday – with both playing a blame game.  There is no time to deal with pointing the finger, so UFLAC arranged an emergency meeting with the Department, the City and Workday.  During that meeting, UFLAC was able to get all parties to admit to the problem and agree to expedite fixing it.  UFLAC has been informed that the Department has corrected Workday related issues for about 400 unit members, and has about 600 more.  UFLAC is pushing the Department to provide a specific time line for completion.  At UFLAC’s insistence, all parties agreed to have a follow-up meeting within 30 days.

We will continue to keep you up to date.

UFLAC Executive Board

December 6, 2022
Bulletin 62 – 22

UFLAC RUNOFF ELECTION BALLOTS

 

To all UFLAC Local 112 members,

By now you should have received a ballot for the runoff election. If you have not received a new ballot, please email election committee member Shane Hirsch at [email protected].

Please make sure your home address is updated with the UFLAC benefits office. To verify, stop by in person at 1571 Beverly Bl. Los Angeles, CA 90026 or contact the union office at 800-252-8352 or 213-977-9001.

Ballots will be verified and counted on Monday, December 19, 2022.

It is important that you return your ballot to the P.O. Box in its new color envelope. Mailing ballots back in a previously unused envelope will not be counted.

UFLAC Election Committee

UFLAC Election Committee members:

Martin Gutierrez (co-chair)
Frank Lima (co-chair)
Larry Lee
Ian Soriano
Dwight Sankey
Miguel Guerrero
Shane Hirsch

 

December 2, 2022
Bulletin 61 – 22

LABOR LAW & LABOR ARBITRATION CONFERENCE

 

On Thursday, January 19th, 2023, the Labor Arbitration Institute will be hosting a 1-day conference titled “Labor Law and Labor Arbitration”.  This informative conference will provide attendees with important information with up-to-date coverage on discipline/discharge and contract interpretation issues and all new case studies to discuss and review.

The cost to attend the conference is $450.00, which will cover the attendance to all sessions, the workbook and all breaks.  UFLAC will pay for the registration fee for a limited number of attendees, which will be done on a first come, first serve basis.

In addition, UFLAC will host a follow-up training in February which will be facilitated by UFLAC’s Lead Counsel, Dana Martinez, which will provide more information and useful resources that will further strengthen the knowledge gained from the January 19th conference.

Our goal is to create a list of stewards from those who participate in these seminars so that we can further strengthen our pool of candidates as needed to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters at Local 112.
For more information on the “Labor Law and Labor Arbitration” Conference hosted by the Labor Arbitration Institute, visit:

https://laborarb.com/event/los-angeles-labor-law-labor-arbitration-conference/

If you are interested in representing members on PSD and grievance cases and are interested in attending the conference and the follow-up training, contact Christine Piper via email at [email protected].

 

December 1, 2022
Bulletin 60 – 22

WINTER 2022 UFLAC FF SCHOLARSHIP AWARD DELAYED

 

We would like to thank all the individuals who applied for the 2022 Fall/Winter UFLAC Fire Foundation Scholarship!  Your determination and commitment to your personal and professional goals is inspiring and we thank you for taking the time to express your interests in one of our bi-annual scholarships.

With the large number of applicants who submitted complete applications, we are in need of additional time to properly review and score every applicant.  To ensure fairness in the process, we will be announcing this round of scholarship awardees in January 2023.  All steps are being taken to ensure that every applicant’s package gets the review that it properly deserves.  Committee members will be receiving hard copies of all applications submitted for their review within the next week so that you may properly review.

UFLAC Fire Foundation Scholarship Committee

November 23, 2022
Bulletin 59 – 22

UNION RUNOFF ELECTION

To all UFLAC Local 112 members,

Now that the results of the initial UFLAC 2022 election have been announced, the UFLAC Election Committee has encountered a historical situation in our union’s history. The Election Committee members have reconvened to resolve this situation.

Article V (OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS) Section 8 of the UFLAC Constitution and By-Laws require the President to be elected by a 50% plus 1. This requirement was not met, therefore there will be a runoff for UFLAC President between the two top candidates Incumbent Freddy Escobar and Anthony Ferro.

The details for the runoff election are as follows:

Thursday, December 1, 2022 – Ballots will be mailed
Monday, December 19, 2022 – Ballots will be verified and counted 

Note; the new ballot will be required to be returned to the P.O. Box in its new color envelope. Mailing ballots back in a previously unused envelope will not be counted.

Please make sure your home address is updated with the UFLAC benefits office. To verify, feel free to stop by in person at 1571 Beverly Bl. Los Angeles, CA 90026 or contact the union office at 800-252-8352 or 213-977-9001.

If a ballot has not been received after a few days, please email election committee member Shane Hirsch at [email protected].

UFLAC Election Committee

UFLAC Election Committee members:

Martin Gutierrez (co-chair)
Frank Lima (co-chair)
Larry Lee
Ian Soriano
Dwight Sankey
Miguel Guerrero
Shane Hirsch

November 21, 2022
Bulletin 58 – 22

 

General Membership Meeting
November 30 at 0800
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112
being held at 1571 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90026

 

0730   Stewards Meeting

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence for our past fallen UFLAC Firefighters
Invocation
Roll Call of Officers
Adoption of the Minutes
Committee Reports

  1. Vote on Motion from Brother Carranza to override UFLAC Executive Board decision regarding his grievance on 12/12/21.
  2. Report on UFLAC Executive Board and Negotiating Team Election results for 2022-24 and Runoff Election.
  3. Update on LA City Council District and citywide races.
  4. Unfinished Business
  5. New Business

Adjournment

Executive Board – United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local #112

 

November 18, 2022
Bulletin 57 – 22

UNION ELECTION RESULTS

The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Elections Committee met on November 18, 2022 at the union hall to complete the process for the Executive Board election. The Election Committee began meeting and preparing for the election on August 23rd.

The goal of the Election Committee was to be compliant with the Constitution and By-Laws of UFLAC Local 112, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) voting provisions. The Election Committee worked independently from the Executive Board ensuring full transparency to the Membership.

The UFLAC Election Committee worked with the California Elections Committee (as has been the UFLAC past practice), a professional election company, that directed and oversaw all actions of the UFLAC Elections Committee, counted all votes in a voting machine, with professional witnesses, and candidates on the ballot observing.

The Election Committee wants to thank the Membership for allowing them to oversee the election process. The Election Committee provided integrity to the election process and a proud democracy for our labor organization.

TOTAL VOTE COUNT: 1,364
Name – Vote Count – Percentage

President (Need 50% plus 1)

Freddy Escobar –  630 – 47.0%
Anthony Ferro – 604 – 45.1%
Paul Gilbrook – 105 – 7.8%

1st Vice President

Chuong Ho – 775 – 57.5%
Jonathan Fowler – 571 – 42.4%

2nd Vice President

Doug Coates – 635 – 47.6%
Adam Van Gerpen –  494 – 37.0%
Kevin KJ Johnson – 205 – 15.3%

Secretary

Adam Walker – 966 – 72.9%
Armando Carranza – 359 – 27.0%

Treasurer

Jason Powell –  779 – 58.1%
Domingo Albarran – 560 – 41.8%

Directors (Top 5)

Kent Koffler – 795 – 12.9%
Shawn Connolly – 788 – 12.8%
Ryan Quigley – 770 – 12.5%
Richard Ramirez – 744 – 12.1%
David Riles – 704 – 11.5%

Christopher Beaty – 657 – 10.7%
Dave Brien – 624 – 10.1%
Steven Addleman – 577 – 9.4%
Dreon Brown – 463 – 7.5%

Negotiating Team (Top 4)

Adam Walker – 875 – 17.3%
Chuong Ho – 710 – 14.0%
Scott Lazar – 667 – 13.2%
John Frye – 554 – 10.9%

Freddy Escobar – 506 – 10.0%
Kent Koffler – 443 – 8.7%
Domingo Albarran – 427 – 8.4%
Brian Buehler – 416 – 8.2%
David Riles – 275 – 5.4%
Steven Addleman – 176 – 3.4%

 

Note: Article V (OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS) Section 8 of the UFLAC Constitution and By-Laws require the President to be elected by a 50% plus 1. This requirement was not met, therefore there will be a runoff for UFLAC President. The details of a runoff election will commence shortly with details to follow.

Humbled to serve the Membership. The UFLAC Election Committee:

  • Martin Gutierrez and Frank Lima (Co-Chairs of the Election Committee)
  • Ian Soriano
  • Larry Lee
  • Dwight Sankey
  • Shane Hirsch
  • Miguel Guerrero

November 8, 2022
Bulletin 56 – 22

MEMBER ALERT

 

UFLAC has been informed by Martin Gutierrez, the Chairman of the independent UFLAC Elections Committee, that some members have reported that they did not receive their UFLAC Ballot in the mail. Per Chairman Gutierrez, the ballots were mailed out on October 28 and they should have been received at all members’ designated home addresses by now.

If you did NOT receive a UFLAC ballot, please reach out directly to Martin at:

[email protected]

Let him know your name and mailing address and a replacement ballot will be sent to you. All replacement ballots will be tracked against the original ballots that were sent out and received, so nobody will have the ability to “vote twice” and have their ballots counted.

California Elections, the independent election monitoring firm working on this process, has also been notified.

Again – anybody with questions should reach out to Elections Committee Chairman Martin Gutierrez or any other member of the Elections Committee.

In solidarity,
UFLAC Election Committee

In solidarity,
UFLAC Election Committee

November 1, 2022

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED
UNTIL NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022

UNITED FIREFIGHTERS OF LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE FOUNDATION GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

 

The application deadline for the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Fire Foundation (UFLACFF) Grant and Scholarship Program Fall 2022 distribution has been extended until November 15th, 2022.  Please don’t miss out on this opportunity as the grant is available to all active firefighters or a dependent of an active firefighter who is wishing to further their education.

This Fall, UFLACFF will be awarding the following grants and scholarships:

Two – $2,000 grants/scholarship

Four – $1,000 grants/scholarships

Four – $500 grants/scholarships

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Applicant must be an active firefighter, or a dependent of an active firefighter, wishing to further their education, or in need of assistance with tuition, books, materials, trade specific tools or equipment, internet access etc.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants seeking a Scholarship or Grant Award must complete the application packet and forward it to UFLACFF by the application closing date. Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] or mailed to:

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local #112
c/o UFLACFF Scholarship/Grant Program
1571 W Beverly Blvd, Suite 201
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Application closing date is November 15, 2022
for the December 2022 Awards

Application Packets include:

  • Completed Application
  • Jpeg photo for our files and to use in Foundation related material.
  • A brief essay (500 word maximum, typed or written and clearly legible) prepared by the applicant or the parent/guardian. The essay should include how the award will benefit his or her life and serve others in the future, listing their area of study, last grade completed and the school of their choice for their higher education purposes.
  • A short Bio (2 page maximum).

Please CLICK HERE to fill out the online application.
Please CLICK HERE to download a PDF application.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MAIN EDUCATION GRANT SPONSORS & OUR SUPPORTERS!