UFA / URFA “Resolutions” Meeting
The following is courtesy of the “Retired Member’s Association, Inc.,Fire Department City of New York.

On January 12, 2005, URFA President John Sollazzo met with UFA president Steven Cassidy to discuss the 17 resolutions from the URFA. This meeting produced the following inquires and answers.

John Sollazzo explained to UFA President Steven Cassidy that the URFA wanted to support bills that affect, both active and retired members, but to do so we needed the UFA’s legislative agenda. It’s the URFA’s belief that if they knew the union’s legislative agenda, and received it in a timely manner, input and influence could be given to strengthen a bills success. Since it’s retirees who feel the immediate affects of benefit changes, especially negative ones, we find it very hard to stand by without having some voice to promote or protect what we have. UFA President Steven Cassidy agreed to meet with the URFA, prior to any legislative session and that the legislative agenda will be made available to the URFA, in a timely manner.

The URFA also sought information on a number of bills. We needed to Union’s support for the “Health Protection Bill,” but had heard that the UFA opposed this Bill. The UFA explained that they did not oppose the merit of the bill, but felt this issue was part of collective bargaining. This Bill was vetoed by the governor on 9/21/04, after achieving passage in both the NYS Assembly and Senate.

Another inquirer was into a bill that would allow all widow/widowers to pick-up the City Health Plan, by paying 100% of what it costs the City, plus a 2% administrative fee. The URFA sensed no support from the union and was puzzled because this was a “No Cost “ bill. The UFA does not support the bill. But did not realize it was a “No Cost” bill. Further dialogue is required, so all parties can understand, all, the facts.

As the questions continued, John Sollazzo stated that the URFA looked to Union support for a “COLA OFFSET” bill. This bill was for those retirees who were excluded by the 1988 contract, which prevented them from “double dipping” i.e. COLA & VSF. It will take effect in 2007. The URFA saw no reason for the city to, arbitrarily; take away the offset until it is guaranteed by contract and legislation in 2007. There appears to be an absence of lobbying by the union in support for this bill. The UFA claims that they have lobbied for COLA Offset bill and have done so for the last two years.

Another “Cola” related measure was the “COLA Enhancement” bill, which would raise the $18,000 to $25,000 base salary amount and raise the current formula for CPI from the current high of 3% to 5 or 6 %. The URFA does understand that the “COLA” is a statewide coverage program and involves more than just retired firefighters. The UFA’s response was that they will address this issue, but because the state is claiming financial difficulty, it presents a problem.

John brought forth tat a group of retired firefighters within the URFA were seeking union support for a for all VSF bill, as long as it did not diminish in any way the monies already being received to those who receive it now. The UFA says they will not make a determination now.

The high cost of prescription drugs was presented with the URFA asking our Unions to think about pursuing, through the IAFF, which represents hundreds of thousands of firefighters in the U.S. and Canada, a more cost worthy Drug Prescription Plan. If individual states are pursuing it, and both Houses of Congress are, proposing a “BUY FROM CANADA” bill, then it may have merit for us. The UFA felt that this would affect the domestic productions of drugs. It was not revealed how, but this is the power of the pharmaceutical industry to keep control of their profit factor.

Another URFA thought is for our Unions to combine the Active and Retiree Security Benefit Funds. If our Union’s cannot combine these funds, then is it possible for them to pick-up the first year health insurance that the retirees SBF already pays for. It could be a million or more dollars, as 300+ retirees die each year. Multiply that by whatever the cost is for the City’s health plan and it’s a lot of money. We are very well aware that we could be courting a big problem; since 9/11, over 3,000 firefighters have retired and this has swelled the numbers of those under the retirees Security Benefit Fund. The UFA’s response was that they have been working on this for years. The URFA is endeavoring to find the legalities involved for combining these funds.

The UTFA is also asking, if the Unions will not or cannot combine the Active and Retiree Security Benefit Funds then, at least, they should pick-up the first year health insurance that the retirees SBF pays for. It could be a million or more dollars, as 300+ retirees die each year, times that by whatever the cost is for the City’s health plan and it’s a lot of money. Why should only one fund pick up that cost?

The UFA claims they know of this problem and are seeking answers. The have been informed of certain legal issues that must be confronted first. The UFA presently, does, pick up the cost of the first year.

It was brought forth that a URFA member has sent letters to every New York State representative concerning the position of the federal tax status of a line of Duty (LOD) pension if a “flat tax” or “national sales tax” is ever passed. While some believe it will never happen, there are those asking, “What will happen to ALL tax-free pensions, including those, which are state and city tax-free?” What is the Unions position on this? The UFA”s response was that they would address the issue, when and if, it arises. The URFA’s fear is that, if it should occur, will it be too late, then, for us to fight it.

The URFA asked about a retiree manual or guidebook, which could be kept undated, so that retired firefighters have a ready reference and wouldn’t have to be calling the union for every bit of information. The UFA says that this idea has been addressed and a mailing is going out to every UFA member.

Another pending concern is that contact information for prospective retirees to join a retiree organization is not broad enough. The UTFA is seeking a generic application be put in the retiree folder that can show all the available groups and the one closer to a retirees home. The UFA said that they would accept a generic application from the URFA, one made available to all prospective retirees to choose their preferred retiree organization.

Some retiree groups within the URFA felt that the union should provide them with names and address of the retirees in their zip code area. Or that the unions could do a mailing for a specific retiree group, even if the retiree group has to pay the postage. The UFA stand was that they will not give out any mailing list of its members, this is a privacy issue. But, the UFA will help a retiree organization promote its various issues.

Certain retiree groups, thought the URFA, have asked that the unions consult with them concerning the election of officials in certain retiree group areas. The request is to insure support of legislation that affects FDNY, Unions, NY State and NY City, and federal issues - like, Medicare, prescriptions, Social Security, homeland security funds, etc. The UFA’s response was that they would address that issue with John Sollazzo.

This meeting was not all URFA president John Sollazzo and UFA president Steven Cassidy. Also in residence at this very vital discussion were Paul Cinquemani, Executive Secretary of the URFA, and UFA Vice President James Slevin, James Spollen Executive Assistant to the UFA president and Lou Sforza.

The meeting did not answer all the resolutions. What it did accomplish was in formatting cooperation between the URFA Council of retiree organizations and the UFA. However, the UFA is not the only Union representing retired New York City Firefighters.

There is also the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, the UFOA. While both the UFA and the UFOA covers its members along the same lines, there are some benefit structures with differences. Because of this difference, the URFA will have to meet, at some future time, with the UFOA, to add resolve the points presented in these resolutions. The endeavor continues.