Greetings to union members,

Cliff Alexander, Firefighter, Engine 34B, 6 years

The most important thing your union will do for you this year is negotiate your new collective bargaining contract with the City.  The most important influence that you will have on that contract is selection of the bargaining team.  To best represent us, each team member must be up-to-speed concerning issues, analysis, and firefighter needs the moment he or she is elected.  During ten-plus years as a professional firefighter in Lubbock, San Marcos, and Austin, I have always been intensely involved in every aspect of the union.  Growing up, I absorbed much about how a union can best advance firefighter welfare by watching my father guide IAFF Local 972.  An economics and management degree from Rice University has prepared me for detailed analysis of the long and short term effects of contract proposals.  It has been my honor and privilege to serve the firefighters of this department for four terms as a vice-president on your L975 Executive Board.  The firefighters and union leaders that I have met at the many union conferences, conventions, training seminars, and classes I have attended have provided a significant insight into the strategies and tactics that work best in obtaining better pay, benefits, and working conditions.  If you grant me the honor of representing you on the negotiation team, rest assured that I am fully prepared to "hit the ground running".  If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at Cliff.Alexander@Local975.org.  Stay Safe, Cliff

Mike Bewley, Captain, FTO-C, 22 years

I am seeking election to the bargaining team. I anticipate that this will be a difficult, contentious, politicized bargaining process, given the overall economic climate, a city manager with a reputation for dealing firmly with public safety unions, and an openly hostile Austin American Statesman editorial board. These negotiations will be conducted in the public eye. Under these conditions the bargaining team we select must be able to effectively and professionally communicate our interests, work collaboratively as a team and develop innovative solutions to unforeseen problems. I believe I have the skill set to function as an effective team member in this environment.

• I have extensive experience at the Training division with all of the areas of contention between our organization and the city.

• I currently serve on the PAC committee.

• I have a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

• I am on the board of the Hispanic Firefighters Association.

The issues I will seek to address are (in part):

• Increasing the city’s contribution to our pension so that our retirees can receive cost-of –living adjustments. (COLAs)

• Maintaining our position as the highest paid firefighters in the state.

• Increasing our incentive pay (Educational, Bi-Lingual, Assignment) to the levels currently enjoyed by APD

• Contract enforcement mechanisms

• Hiring and Promotional processes which produce effective and capable firefighters, specialists, and officers.

• Fitness requirements that are based on, and evidenced by, performing our actual work tasks, not some treadmill extrapolation.

 

Richard Davis, Lieutenant, Engine 5A, 16 years

My name is Richard L. Davis; I am a Fire Lieutenant currently at Engine 5 on the A-shift. My career in the Austin Fire Department (AFD) began in 1992. Before AFD, I was a floor supervisor for about a year at the Sears Tele-Catalog and Product Service Division in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to Sears, I spent 8 years on active duty with the United States Air Force.

 

My educational background consists of a Masters of Science degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership and a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing and Management. I have been with the Austin Fire Department for over 15 years. Most of my career has been employed on the east side of Austin working on the B-shift. Collectively, I have also spent three years working in recruiting and the Educational Services Division.

 

I have been a member of local 975 since the beginning of my career. My greatest accomplishment with local 975 was being part of the 2005 Collective Bargaining Committee Team, which secured an excellent salary and benefits package for its members. I hope to continue and secure even more benefits for the members of AFD. In addition, my involvement with a number of other AFD projects, tasks and committees over the years has given me a better perspective on organizational improvement. My objective as a member of the Collective Bargaining Team is simple. I want to get the best possible contract that the majority of the Austin Firefighters can support. Thank you.

 

James Fedro, Captain, Quint 40B, 16 years

My main issue is to shore up our pension plan. We currently have an unfunded liability that needs to be addressed. The long term viability of the pension is the most important priority we have. The difference between the City’s contribution for APD and AFD should be examined and we should close that gap.

 

I would also like to address contract issues on grievances, promotions, cadet training, and wellness.

1. The union should not have a contract that makes us bear the cost in filing legitimate grievances. This limits the number of grievance the union can file and prevents the union from protecting member’s rights and benefits.

2. Promotion opening should be from the top down (if a Chief retires the positions chief, captain, lieutenant, Fire specialist should be open from the same date).

3. Cadet/probationary Fire Fighters should pass all validated skills prior to being included in the staffing requirement for operations.

4.      The wellness program needs to be limited to its original intent and scope of giving members health information. That information should not be used to determine assignments or the ability to perform ones job. Members should not be required by contract to have a physical except when required by Civil Service. Incumbent standards physical fitness standards (running, pushups, plank, etc …) should be opposed by the union. If a member’s fitness for duty is challenged he should be required to perform validated skills to the 90% time.

 

John Fenoglio, Lieutenant, Engine 33C, 18 years

I joined AFD in 1990. Fire Dept. life was much different then. There were no contracts or negotiations. Some things were better then, some things are better now. I came out as a rookie @ Station #4. After 5 years I made Driver and went to 19's. Then went back to 4's for a couple years then out to 30's with Captain Becker to start the first Quint Project. I promoted off the first Quint to Lieutenant and went to 5's for about a year and then to 7's for a few months. I then moved to my current assignment @33's. We have had some good contracts and a few bad ones; I want to make sure we have a good one this next time. I'm not so sure there is going to be any big pay raises to negotiate, but there are plenty of other benefits to negotiate such as insurance to talk about. I am not interested in negotiating about work rules or Civil Service rules.

 

David Girouard, Captain, Education Services, 13 years

I am seeking election to the bargaining team fully aware of the commitment required of the position. I like many others expect this bargaining cycle to present new challenges given the city’s current economic status and the city managements’ well publicized opinion of Public Safety’s current impact on the budget. I believe the success of our negotiations hinges on the bargaining teams ability to work together and rally around common goals. I am willing to work with the other members of the bargaining team to address the issues presented by the firefighters.

 

Serving as a Team Leader or Academy Captain for each of the last three cadet classes has provided me with unique insights into an area of our contract that is too important to overlook. As well, having served as a Union VP and member of the current Grievance Committee, I have had numerous dealings with the good and bad of our current contract. I feel these experiences can provide invaluable insights throughout the bargaining process.

 

The issues that I will seek to address are:

General wage increase

Increases in incentive pay (more comparable to APD)

Increase in Kelly Days

Hiring and training of Cadets

Integrity in the Promotional processes

Disciplinary and Administrative Investigation Protections

Provisions addressing Contract compliance

 

Mark Harris, Firefighter, Engine 10A, 13 years

I have lived in Central Austin and I have worked in Battalion 1A ever since I got out of training, for the past thirteen years.  I think we now have a unique opportunity to negotiate another beneficial contract for the Department and the City.  One that benefits firefighters while employed (wages, benefits, matching 401k?) but most importantly protects us into retirement (COLA's, unfunded liability, long term health care).  We are going to negotiate a future contract soon.  What do you want in yours?  Tell me what you want.  And we will address it in this contract.  Thank you, Mark Harris E10A

 

Bobby Johns, Fire Specialist, 22 years

Greetings to union members, I guarantee that my voice on the collective bargaining committee will represent the department as a whole and all its members. I recognize the importance of this position and am prepared to tackle the issues and needs of our fellow union members. It is vital to the overall growth of this department to listen to each union member’s concerns and needs, in order to bring to the table the most pertinent issues.

 

As a member of the Austin Fire Department, and union member, since June 1986, I bring over 18 years of operations experience, as well as 3 years working as a recruiter to help diversify our growing department. In those years we have seen and experienced many changes, and in order to progress as a department we need a representative who understands where we’ve been and to help lead us in the right direction. I have learned to better understand the needs of our department by taking an active role in the community, and through communication with our citizens and neighbors.

 

Through my experience and in discussion with other members the following are some of the issues I feel are of most concern:

Pay raises throughout the department

Increase in education incentive pay

Diversification of the department

Increase in staff incentive pay

Negotiate medical and dental benefits

As a collective bargaining committee member the above are just an example of why I know I can make a difference for the department and its growing, ever changing needs.

 

John Kollman, Firefighter, Dispatch D-shift, 15 years

Fraternal Brothers and Sisters of Local 975, my name is John Kollman.

I am currently working to serve you as a Dispatcher at CTECC. I am proud to say that I have also served in the past as a Vice President on the Union Board. I am now asking for the privilege to serve by being elected as a member of the Bargaining Committee. I will say that I have been to National level Union classes on Bargaining and City budgeting, which I feel will help me in the process. I’m not going to sit here and fill you full of a bunch of fluff. If you know me you know that I will do my best to get the best contract possible for my fellow firefighters. If you don’t know me I urge you to not take my word for it but ask someone you trust who does and ask their opinion. Most of the members of our past few bargaining committees know me well and would be able to say whether or not they feel I would be a good choice to fill their shoes.

Thank for your Support

John

 

Donald McCullough, Firefighter, Engine 43A, 10 years

Pub Ed 7.5 years, Juvenile Fire Setters Program Coordinator, Smoke Alarm Program Coordinator,

Public Speaking, Toastmaster. MSSW from UT

 

 

Les McKay, Captain, Education Services, 12 years

I am seeking election to the bargaining team with the assumption that this will be a very challenging and perhaps contentious bargaining environment. The city is entering into these negotiations with the premise that Public Safety is consuming too large a portion of the General Fund. Given this backdrop and an understanding of the current economic and political landscape, it is my belief that we will need a unified and professional bargaining team that is willing to do extensive research and commit to understanding both the Collective Bargaining process and the real issues that firefighters want addressed. Further, I believe we need a professional negotiator with expertise in both Collective Bargaining and Civil Service Law.

 

If elected, I will work diligently to represent Austin firefighters during this negotiation. Some of the issues that I will seek to have addressed are:

General wage increase

Hiring and Promotion processes

Enforcement mechanism for contract compliance

Benefits enhancement (medical/dental)

Increase City contributions to Pension

Additional pay (Education, Certification, Assignment, Bilingual)

Equity in Added Time distribution

Transfers to Open Assignments

Explore the possibility of a military or public service buyback program

 

Richard Meyers, Lieutenant, Engine 44C, 16 years

Hello, my name is Richard Meyers, I am running for Bargaining Committee and would appreciate your vote. For those of you that do not know me I am a Lieutenant at station 44 on C shift. I have been in the department for almost 17 years. Some of the things I would like to see come out of this contract are; I want none essential items (like t-shirts) to not be contract issues, I would like to attempt to make the language of the contract close any loop holes (like PPF policies [you fail your fired], sick leave [actual policy, not we change it as it suits us]). These are just examples. I do believe in majority rules and if the majority wants something, I am for that. There has been some concern about me living in the Dallas area and not being committed to coming to every meeting. I will make every meeting possible (short of some already scheduled vacation this summer). In an attempt to keep this short I am available by phone any time to discuss anything you have questions about prior to the vote. Thanks for your consideration Richard Meyers 512-913-1830

 

Randy Moreno, Fire Specialist, Engine 10A, 28 years

28 year member of local 975, I recently re-elected to my second term as district one vice president, and vice chair of the AFF Political Action Committee, I have served as a bargaining committee member for the past two contracts negotiated under collective bargaining, I have also had the opportunity to attend numerous IAFF convention workshops and training session focusing on bargaining along with correspondence with other Texas locals that have bargaining agreements. I bring a institutional knowledge or our organization under non-collective bargaining, meet and confer and our current bargaining statute chapter 174.

Randy Moreno
512 844-7360

 

Bob Nicks, Battalion Chief, Battalion 1B,

Please consider me for election to the bargaining team. Civil Service laws are designed to help ensure that improper political influence does not affect the Firefighters job to deliver high quality services to the citizens we serve. This is going to be a tough negotiation and it appears that City management will be trying to “scare” labor into accepting a dismal pay and benefits package. In my opinion, we are going into these negotiations strong and the selected team should not negotiate away our Civil Service protections without due consideration and appropriate compensation.

 

I would like to congratulate the previous Union Bargaining Team. I believe that their hard work produced a very favorable agreement, particularly in regards to pay. They also negotiated creative ways of allowing management more flexibility in hiring while attempting to maintain high Cadet Standards. Although I feel in most cases the Cadets were held to the intent of this standard, management contract interpretation issues did unnecessarily create problems. If we continue to trade hiring flexibility for pay and benefits, we need to ensure this portion of the agreement is improved upon to ensure that only highly skilled, physically capable Cadets ever work beside operations firefighters.

 

My main goal would be to represent the will of the firefighters. I think that the team should survey the membership to determine what issues are important to the membership and then develop a strategy to address these issues. Some of these issues would include:

 

General wage increase

Increases in incentive pay

Increase in Kelly Days

Hiring and training of Cadets

Integrity in the Promotional processes

Disciplinary and Administrative Investigation Protections

Provisions addressing contract compliance

Increasing the city’s contribution to our pension

 

Kregg Phillips, Firefighter, Engine 28C, 6 years

My name is Kregg Phillips. I am the District 6 Vice President and Chair of the Grievance Committee. The voters of the city of Austin have granted firefighters both civil service job protection and the right to collectively bargain as equals with the city for fair salaries, benefits and working conditions. These are separate rights and we should not trade our hard earned protections for dollars we are already entitled to. We must fight for fair health insurance rates, true four person staffing and just compensation without sacrificing our rights to be safe from arbitrary investigation and unpredictable discipline.

 

I have been an attorney for over 14 years. I have negotiated, reviewed and managed many contracts for small business owners and a state agency. I am a trained mediator and have negotiated hundreds of legal cases. I have attended multiple civil service and collective bargaining training seminars over the past three years.

 

As career firefighters we are committed to serving the public. In return, I expect the city we serve to recognize our right to a work environment with safety, opportunity, job and financial security, and integrity. My wish is to exceed the expectations of my fellow firefighters in protecting these rights and negotiating for pay, benefits and working conditions. Every firefighter has individual needs, interests, ideas and priorities. But, when we sit down at the negotiating table we speak with one voice for the good of all firefighters. Please feel free to contact me at Kregg.Phillips@local975.org.

 

Tom Reiner, Captain, Communications, 23 years

I would like the opportunity to serve as a member of the bargaining team for our department. My goals are probably the same as most candidates: to provide the most desirable benefits for our members, while negotiating to limit adverse impacts from requests brought forward from across the table. I have been with the department for 23 years, currently assigned as Captain in the Communications section. I feel that the combination of my time in service, and in various ranks and assignments (including assignments at stations 8, 9, 23, 26, 29, ARFF, and my current staff assignment) have helped prepare me to represent our diverse membership. I do not have any personal agendas, other than getting the best contract for all members. While the concept of ‘do the most good for the greatest number’ has considerable merit, it is also important to consider all groups of the department, including those who sometimes get overlooked because they represent a smaller demographic. Given the current state of the economy, as well as the past history of this process, I expect that negotiating for increased pay will be difficult. This is not to say that financial gains should not be sought, but that we need open-minded ideas that address numerous priorities, and do so at a level that is commensurate to the degree with which they impact our members, while providing a positive working environment for all members of our department.

 

 

 

Rob Vires, Lieutenant, Engine 4C, 13 years

My name is Rob Vires and I am currently assigned to E4 on the C-Shift. In June, I will have been with the department for 13 years. My assignments have been at Station 3, 7, Education Services, Team Leader for Class 108, and my current assignment. Prior to joining AFD I served 1 tour with the Air Force as a Russian Linguist, and I also worked at a bank. I have been married for almost 10 years to my beautiful wife, Monica. We have two beautiful girls aged 4 and 7. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. We enjoy our family time and the social activities that come with having children (soccer, basketball, AWANAS, etc…). My family is very active with our church and we faithfully serve in the youth ministry.

Our faith in Jesus is an important part of our family tapestry. I enjoy working for the fire department and believe that we are a blessed group of people. It has been great to see our department grow and evolve over the past decade. With that growth, there is a need for adjustments and accommodations and the bargaining committee is a vital way to address those needs. I believe it is important for the city to stay competitive with pay and benefits in order to take care of our current employees, as well as to draw the best applicants possible. It is also important to take care of the maintenance and refurbishment of all AFD facilities and resources to meet our current needs, as well as to prepare for the future. It is my wish to be a part of this process to continue to make AFD the great department that it is. Thank you for considering me for the bargaining committee.

 

 

Gary Wilks, Fire Specialist, Communications, 23 years

This contract process will be challenging and require team work. I look forward to representing members of the Fire Department to better our pay, benefits and work conditions in accordance with the collective bargaining guidelines.

 

I have 23 years with AFD and have knowledge in the Municipal Budget Process. I served 4 years on city council in Pflugerville and I have worked with COA budget and purchasing processes weekly during my last 9 years in AFD Communications. Thanks for your consideration!