BULLETIN 35-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 30, 2023
Bulletin 35 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

Ballots sent for Board of Deferred Compensation Administration Special Election

Ballots are being sent to the homes of all UFLAC members who are active participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan and active members of the LAFPP in order to elect the next Representative to the vacant Board position.

UFLAC is proud to endorse our brother Tony Gamboa for this critical seat and we strongly encourage all members to return their ballots in support of Tony as soon as it is received.

As the former President of UFLAC, brother Gamboa put in the time to understand the complex issues related to the Deferred Compensation Plan and fought to protect our medical subsidies, defined benefit pension plans, and so much more. He was there for our members and our families and now we need to elect him to serve on the Board of Deferred Compensation where he will protect our members’ interests.

Please look out for your ballots and support 35-year UFLAC member Tony Gamboa for this important election.

 

 

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 34-23 JUNE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

June 30, 2023
Bulletin 34 – 23

 

JUNE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

We hosted our June General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, June 28th and covered a few important items.

Click here to view the brief video message from UFLAC President Freddy Escobar with a recap of the GM meeting.

We encourage all members who have questions or comments about anything related to UFLAC or the LAFD to send them to [email protected]

 

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 33-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 29, 2023
Bulletin 33 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

The UFLAC offices will be closed on Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day.

Our offices will reopen at 0630 on Wednesday, July 5th.

 

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 32-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 27, 2023
Bulletin 32 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

The physical and mental health and wellbeing of our members is our top priority. That’s why we wanted to share information about an important podcast that is hosted by two of our own LAFD Firefighter/Paramedics – Jonathan Vargas and Trevor Stepan from Fire Station 52.

Their podcast Grablives is designed to bring a greater awareness to first responders struggling with injury, depression, suicidal thoughts, burn out, and more.

Recently, they had Hugo Catalan Jr. from the UFLAC Center for Health and Wellness team on the show. Hugo is the chemical and behavioral addictions manager at the Center. Trevor and Hugo discuss how firefighters can get help and a whole new approach towards the epidemic of behavioral health.

Listen to the podcast with FF/PM Trevor Stepan and Hugo Catalan Jr here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grablives/id1671088910?i=1000617638562

In the next episode, they had another member of the UFLAC Center for Health and Wellness team.

Alejandro Zavala is the Director of UFLAC Behavioral Health team. In this episode, Jonathan and Alejandro talk about “familia” and bringing unity to the members of the LAFD

Listen to the podcast with FF/PM Jonathan Vargas and Alejandro Zavala here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grablives/id1671088910?i=1000618132408

Please take the time to listen to these podcasts and share with others. If you have any questions, reach out to the UFLAC Behavioral Health clinicians or a Peer Support Team member.

To learn more about the UFLAC Center for Health and Wellness visit: UFLACHEALTHANDWELLNESS.ORG

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 31-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 20, 2023
Bulletin 31 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

FINAL WEEK TO SIGN UP FOR LAWSUIT REGARDING INCORRECT PAY

REMINDER – All UFLAC bargaining unit members who feel that they have not been paid correctly and/or in a timely manner by the City must opt in to the UFLAC lawsuit by THIS FRIDAY, June 23, 2023. This includes failure by the City to pay amounts owed retroactively and currently.

The IAFF has joined UFLAC to file and pursue a lawsuit in an attempt to make our bargaining unit members whole for unpaid and owed payments.  If the City owes you compensation and if you would like to be included in the lawsuit, you must affirmatively opt in.

Members must opt in to this lawsuit by this Friday, June 23, 2023. You will not automatically be in the lawsuit without taking the steps necessary to opt in.

There will be no upfront cost to any member who joins the lawsuit.  All you will need to do is come to UFLAC office (1571 Beverly Blvd) and sign a retainer and fill out a brief questionnaire Monday through Friday 0800-1400.

Please reach out to UFLAC Director Richard Ramirez at rramirez@uflac.org or 213-442-9771 if you have any questions about this matter.

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 29-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 16, 2023
Bulletin 29 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SEMINAR:
A PRESENTATION BY ONE OF YOUR OWN

In an effort to continue the growth of UFLAC’s Center for Behavioral Health and the Peer Support Teams, the Executive Board would like to recognize one of our own, Firefighter/Paramedic Beau Porter at Fire Station 33, who has stepped up to the challenge of bringing awareness amongst his peers.

Beau Porter has spent the majority of his career at one of the busiest stations in the city. Beau’s dedication to the citizens and his fellow co-workers is well known despite his humble demeanor.

Emphasized during COVID, Beau began to recognize how the demands of our profession began to affect his own mental health in which his family also recognized. In response, Beau researched and studied the stresses put upon us on a daily basis that are largely unrecognized. Beau has since taken this to the next level and created a “rookie drill” about these stresses, how to recognize, and how to maintain a sound mental state even during the horrific scenes that we encounter daily.

Your Executive Board would like to honor Beau’s hard work to selflessly bring this to you, our membership, and invite everyone of you to the Union Hall to be a part of our peer support efforts and understand each element that Beau has experienced and taken head on. Please join us at one of the two Behavioral Health Seminars that will be led by FF/PM Beau Porter and your brothers and sisters in the LAFD.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SEMINAR BY FF/PM BEAU PORTER

JULY 27TH 0900-1030, OR
JULY 28TH 0900-1030

UFLAC Office
1571 Beverly Blvd.

*Food and drinks will be provided.

We hope that all of our members make the effort to attend one of these sessions in order to learn and pass off the knowledge that has been gained from our peer support programs over the years. We have seen too much tragedy in our profession, and we need to individually take the necessary steps to make a difference instead of relying on others to do the work that is needed.

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 28-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 12, 2023
Bulletin 28 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

UFLAC LAWSUIT REGARDING INCORRECT PAY

REMINDER – All UFLAC bargaining unit members who feel that they have not been paid correctly and/or in a timely manner by the City must opt in to the UFLAC lawsuit by June 23, 2023. This includes failure by the City to pay amounts owed retroactively and currently.  These payments may include the following:

•    Step Increases
•    Longevity
•    Promotions
•    Wellness
•    RIP
•    Special Duty/Platoon Duty
•    Education Bonus
•    Driver bonus
•    FF II advancement to FF III
•    Paramedic bonus
•    Driver bonus
•    Bilingual bonus
•    EMT bonus
•    Transfers (special duty to platoon duty) vice versa
•    USAR bonus
•    Hazmat bonus
•    Fire Prevention bonus

The IAFF has joined UFLAC to file and pursue a lawsuit in an attempt to make our bargaining unit members whole for unpaid and owed payments.  If the City owes you compensation in the categories listed above and if you would like to be included in the lawsuit, you must affirmatively opt in.

Members must opt in to this lawsuit by June 23, 2023. You will not automatically be in the lawsuit without taking the steps necessary to opt in.

There will be no upfront cost to any member who joins the lawsuit.  All you will need to do is come to UFLAC office (1571 Beverly Blvd) and sign a retainer and fill out a brief questionnaire Monday through Friday 0800-1400.

Please reach out to UFLAC Director Richard Ramirez at [email protected] or 213-442-9771 if you have any questions about this matter.

 

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 27-23 MEMBER UPDATE

June 9, 2023
Bulletin 27 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

 

The Department has sent out a message stating their intention to implement the Coded Assign Hire program effective August 1, 2023.

UFLAC has consistently been pushing the department to provide advance notice so that members can plan for holidays and summer vacation with your families. For this reason, the agreement was made with that intent and ensures members will have notice 30 days in advance. It is now the department’s responsibility to have the program working and in effect by this date.
As a reminder, until the Department’s implementation date, Limited Recall procedures will be used for routine staffing. We understand the impact that this has on the membership and your families. We will continue to collaborate with the Department in ways to ensure that a fair and balanced process is in place to make it work.
We will continue to push for more resources and return to normal staffing levels and more importantly, sustain them to avoid this situation in the future.

 

 

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 26-23: VIDEO RECAP – MAY 2023 UFLAC GM MEETING

June 1, 2023
Bulletin 26 – 23

MAY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

We hosted our May General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, May 31st, and covered a few important items.

Click here to view the brief video message from UFLAC President Freddy Escobar with a recap of the GM meeting and to hear answers to some of the questions that were submitted.

We encourage all members who have questions or comments about anything related to UFLAC or the LAFD to continue to send them to [email protected] and we will answer as many questions as possible in next month’s video.

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City

BULLETIN 24-23 MEMBER UPDATE

May 22, 2023
Bulletin 24 – 23

 

MEMBER UPDATE

 

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. The clinicians at UFLAC Center for Health and Wellness and the peer support program are aware that mental wellness is a top concern for you and your families. In these trying times we want to assure you that we are here and ready to provide support. You do not need to face this issue alone.

We ask that all stations take a moment of silence during line ups between May 22nd to May 26th. We encourage you to have conversations amongst yourselves about mental health and ways we can support our brothers and sisters on a daily basis.

This conversation may need additional support. Just know that the clinicians at UFLAC Center for Health and Wellness and Peer Support are available to help. Please feel free to reach out to our treatment team or Peer Support. We can walk this road together.
To view the Peer Support Team Roster, click here

To view the UFLAC Health & Wellness Center Staff Roster, click here

 

In Solidarity,

Executive Board
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City