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What's New at CPFF

Updated On: Jun 25, 2009 (08:21:00)
Fire fighters joined grocery workers in Washington D.C. to send a message to Governor Ritter today. About 40 workers picketed the governor outside a fundraiser he had planned. That message is that if you make promises you have to keep them. Ritter recently betrayed Colorado's fire fighter by going back on his word to support fire fighter collective bargaining virtually eliminating the voice of the men and women who enter the burning structures and put their lives on the line. Ritter has crushed major labor bills since his election despite making promises to support the working people of Colorado. Governor Ritter allegedy ducked through a parking garage to enter his fundraiser in an effort to avoid being confronted by the workers he crossed. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 9 NEWS STORY CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DENVER POST ARTICLE

New Rules Allow SAFER Grants to Prevent Layoffs, Restore Cuts

Posted On: Jun 24, 2009 (07:54:11)

Congress has voted to allow the use of federal funding to rehire laid off fire fighters and prevent fire department staffing reductions. The new rules for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants make funding available to help keep IAFF members safe and on the job and bring back those who have been laid off as a result of the current financial crisis. The bill is now on its way to the White House.

Senator Puts Taxing Health Benefits On The Table

Updated On: Jun 24, 2009 (07:49:00)

The nation's professional fire fighters could see their federal taxes jump under a health care plan being pushed by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who chairs the Senate committee that oversees tax policy on Capitol Hill. Senator Baucus has stated and is fighting in support of a plan to tax employees on the value of their employer-provided health care to pay for an overhaul of the nation's health care system.

If you have health care insurance provided by your employer, as virtually every single IAFF member does, you will be disproportionately taxed by Senator Baucus's plan.

President Obama campaigned strongly AGAINST such a plan, and has continued to indicate he does NOT support Senator Baucus's proposal to tax healthbenefits.We need your help and action immediately to fight Senator Baucus's plan! If enacted, the health care tax could cost you several thousand dollars a year.

Take action now Click here to send your senator an e-mail.

President Schaitberger in Denver

Posted On: Jun 20, 2009 (16:04:15)
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate will conduct an online roundtable on emergency preparedness on Monday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time. Broadcast live from Fire Station 8 in Denver, Colorado, first responders will participate in the discussion with Schaitberger and Fugate and also help kick off the Obama administration's "United We Serve" campaign to involve members of communities in the government's economic recovery efforts. This is not a public event, but IAFF members can watch the discussion live online.

CPFF Loses Dear Friend Richard Mark

Updated On: Jun 12, 2009 (09:09:00)

Richard Mark

Age 52

Date hired: February 22, 1988

21 years of service

Pueblo Fire Department and IAFF Local #3 lost one of its own. Richard Mark, a Captain and 21 year veteran of the department unexpectedly passed away while doing what he enjoyed, volunteering. He was at a MDA sponsored event in Steamboat Springs, CO. Richard also served as Secretary/Treasurer for IAFF Fire Local #3 for 3 yrs, Past President of Southern Colorado Labor Council, and Past President Pueblo Firefighter Historical Society. He was instrumental in the development of Explorers, Citizen of the Year awards ceremonies, the Fire Fighter Experience Day, and Fire Station Open House.

Richard leaves behind his wife Karen, and four children.

Services will be held on Saturday at 10 AM at Praise Assembly of God in Pueblo. The address is 2000 Troy Ave, Pueblo, CO 81001.

The family respectfully requests the omission of food and flowers. Memorials may be made to Pueblo Firefighters’ Historical Society, MDA or Dream Weavers through the funeral home (719) 544-9486.

GOVERNOR BETRAYS FIRE FIGHTERS

Updated On: Jun 08, 2009 (14:21:00)

Despite making campaign promises to support fire fighters, Governor Bill Ritter has turned his back on us. His promises to the men & women who risk their lives for others have turned out to be no more than empty words designed to deceive us and give fire fighters the illusion that they were voting for a man that truly cared those that perform this dangerous profession. This veto is a rejection of the labor movements core philosophy and robs fire fighters across the state of having a voice in their safety. Collective bargaining has been successful in the largest department in the state, Denver, where the union has twice made sacrifices and concessions to preserve fire safety in tough economic times. Fire fighters in 33 other states enjoy this very basic right, however it is clear that Ritter does not feel that the fire fighters who staff your local fire house and enter into burning builds risking their lives for others deserve such rights. Despite the bill passing through the senate and the house the Governor crushed the bill that he promised fire fighters he would sign during his run for office. Even knowing that this was the number one legislative priority of fire fighters he made only meager attempts to discuss his invalid concerns with the bill. Fire fighters across the state have been shaken and have lost political confidence the Ritter's ability to work on their behalf and his continuing vetoes of bills that preserve the middle class and show any concern for the working people that are the backbone of the state. His actions show his true character.

RALLY AGAINST THE GOVERNORS VETO- FRIDAY 11:30 AT COLORADO AFL-CIO HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT 140 SHERIDAN BLVD.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT FIRE FIGHTERS TAKE A POLITICAL AT THE RALLY!!! FIRE FIGHTERS DESERVE A VOICE BE THERE TO SHOW THE GOVERNOR THAT WE RISK OUR LIVES AND DESERVE A VOICE!!!!!!!

Dealing with Cancer Cases

Posted On: Jun 05, 2009 (06:32:07)

The start up cost of a cancer case is approximately $5000.00 per case to get to court.The executive board discussed the issue of how should this be paid for. The executive board will propose a resolution for $1.00/member/month for two years at the annul meeting. This money will go into a separate fund and will raise approximately $43,000/year to pay for start up costs. Each cancer case will receive $5000.00. It is suggested that if a person wins a case that they will try to repay the $5000.00 to the cancer fund.

PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT (HR 413)

Updated On: May 08, 2009 (14:04:00)

Last year, we all celebrated a great victory when the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives by a margin of 314-97.

Our battle now begins again! The IAFF is targeting the members of the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S House of Representatives to solicit their support and co-sponsorship of this year’s version of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. (HR 413.) CLICK HEADLINE FOR FULL DETAILS