5th District Report
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| Mike Massone |
SB 1271 Would Extend Cancer Presumption to Moffatt Field
In 2008, the Governor signed SB 1271, which recognized that California-based firefighters serving and protecting California-based military installations and government facilities do the same job as any other firefighter.
But members of Moffett Field Firefighters Association Local I-79, who were once covered under the state's public safety cancer presumption statute, have since been inadvertently excluded given a recent change in their employer.
Assembly Bill 585 hopes to change that.
Authored by Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Mountain View), the bill aims to even the playing field and ensure that the existing cancer presumption is extended to a handful of California firefighters serving the NASA Ames Research Center on the Moffett Federal Airfield in the Bay Area and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.
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| Local I-79 firefighters Eric Flemming and Carlos Pinedo testify at the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee in support of AB 585. |
In July, members from Local I-79 testified in support of AB 585 during a Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee hearing at the State Capitol and the bill was approved unanimously.
"We do the same job and are exposed to the same kinds of carcinogens as other firefighters in the state," said Local I-79 member Carlos Pinedo, who testified at the Capitol. "I hope we can be covered under the cancer presumption law, which protects all other firefighters in California."
Local F-85 Marks 50 Years
2011 marks the 50th anniversary of union membership for Camp Pendleton's firefighters.
Fire protection duties aboard the massive Marine Corps Base were transitioned from the Marines to civilian firefighters in the late 1950s. In April 1961, a charter was granted to the Federal Firefighters Association, IAFF Local F-85 to represent their labor rights.
Today, Local F-85 does business as Camp Pendleton Professional Firefighters and represents over 140 suppression and fire prevention personnel. Reflecting back on the decades, it's easy to see the many changes in the fire service, but the mission of the local is the same.
2011 will see the ratification of a new labor contract after several years of hard work on a litany of negotiable items, like health and safety, training and promotions, as well as the many small but important quality-of-life issues that members have fought for.
The representational duties of a local, as we all know, are just a small part of what California's union firefighters do. We also give back. To that end, F-85 is very enthusiastic in its annual fundraising efforts in San Diego County. Members also make time for fun, with an annual golf tournament and other social events - a must in building strong bonds.
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| Local F-85 recently commissioned a limited edition "Challenge Coin" to mark the locals' half-century of labor affiliation. |
To commemorate its half-century of labor affiliation, F-85 recently commissioned a limited edition "Challenge Coin." The coin was released in May, and has been an overwhelming success. An anniversary T-shirt will also be produced, and a barbeque will be held this summer for members and their families to celebrate 50 years of fraternal unity and service. Finally, the local is in the process of establishing a relief association, which will provide emergency assistance to members in need for years to come.
Bill Helps Military Veterans Enter Firefighting Career
In California, the Firefighter I certificate is the basic training standard required for firefighting jobs.
Assembly Bill 398, authored by Assemblymember Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga), would give the State Fire Marshal the authority to accept the firefighter certification by the U.S. Department of Defense as an alternative to the Firefighter I certificate.
"With the passage of this bill, military veterans could draw from their existing firefighter training to apply for a career with the fire service," said 5th District Vice President Mike Massone. "This would ease the burden of finding employment that is frequently experienced by military veterans after their return from service.
At the time of this publication, the bill was making its way through the Senate.
El Centro Joins CPF
Lastly, welcome El Centro Federal Firefighters Local #F-156 to CPF's 5th District. This 34-member local joined CPF in April.