Dues Increase…Why?The Oakland Fire Department has twenty-four engine companies staffed with four fire suppression personnel. We have seven trucks, three of which are staffed with five personnel and four staffed with four personnel. We have three battalion chiefs on duty running three battalions consisting of twenty-five fire stations. We have ARFF rigs fully staffed and protecting the airport. We have an arson investigator on duty every day of the year around the clock. We don’t have these numbers because city administration believes that this is what we need. We have these numbers because of hard-fought negotiations that have enabled all of us to remain safe and effective in our emergency responses. More stations open means less Code 3 travel and more personnel on scene quicker to mitigate emergencies. This is not only good for the citizens of Oakland, it also benefits us as firefighters. Our current agreement with the city says that this will remain the case through July 1, 2017. After that date there is absolutely no guarantee that the city will keep these numbers the same. On the contrary, in the past we have seen station brownouts, flexible deployments, and even closures in order for the city to cut funds to the fire department.

• The dues increase will enable us to do many things. It will enable us to keep pace with the monetary needs of the California Professional Firefighters and the International Association of Firefighters. It will bring us closer to the funding levels of the cities in our universe and California. But, most importantly it will greatly aid us in our battle to keep our stations open and keep minimum staffing intact. We have filed a ballot initiative that lets the citizens decide the future of public safety in Oakland. This initiative will require a lot hard work and a lot of money to be successful. This is an investment in the future of public safety in Oakland and an investment in our safety as firefighters. The executive board strongly urges all members to vote yes on the dues increase vote taking place at the end of January.

• Thank you,

• Jim Whitty• Secretary/Treasurer Local 55

Dues Increase DiscussionAnnual Costs for affiliation memberships to Local 55 –

fiscal year 2012-13California Professional Firefighters

$105,846.12International Association of Firefighters

$119,423.64

Additional Costs to pay for political activity in statewide elections

• 2011 - CPF received an additional $31,000 from Local 55 to beat Meg Whitman.

• Local 55 absorbed this cost without a pass-through or an assessment to members.

• 2012 - CPF passed an additional assessment of $90 to all its members to fight “Paycheck Deception” legislation.

• Total cost to Local 55 was $72,630• Again this was absorbed without a pass-through.

IAFF and CPF per capita increases

• In 2004 our monthly payment to IAFF was $6,446

• We now pay $8,984 per month.• In 2004 our monthly payment to CPF was

$5,868• CPF now costs us $8,497 per month

Our Issues• Maintaining minimum staffing past 2017• Maintaining our 52 work week• Maintaining benefits levels• Funding possible future arbitration issues

concerning pay and benefits

All of these issues cost money. The main fight is to maintain minimum staffing levels past 2017

Fire and Emergency Medical Protection Initiative

• November 2014 Oakland Ballot Initiative• Maintenance of minimum number of engines

companies, minimum number of truck companies, battalion chief coverage, arson investigators and ARFF rigs

• Maintenance of minimum personnel to staff those rigs.

• Neither a tax nor assessment! Requires no extra money from taxpayers

Cost of ballot initiative

• Extra money to political advisor• Extra money to legal counsel • Extra money for media expenditures• Extra money for signature gathering

Estimated costs are $200,000

Dues Increase• Our current union dues are the average of 1% of a

top step firefighter for all local 55 jurisdictions, i.e. Alameda County and Oakland.

• This equals $86.97.• We also currently pay $10/month for political action.

This reverts to $5/month when the political fund reaches $150,000.

• Grand total for Oakland dues is $96.97 per month.

Dues Comparison

Berkeley Fire Local 1227

Dues: $84.43PAC: $15.00Legal: $10.00Arbitration: $10.00Total $119.43

Dues Comparison

Fremont Firefighters Local 1689

Dues: $143.42 per month

$25 is for their political action fund

Dues Comparison

San Jose Firefighters Local 230Dues: 1.466 of top step firefighter

$200.37/monthIncludes: Political Fund

Arbitration FundLegal FundNegotiations Fund

Dues Comparison

San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

Dues: 1.15% of Top step Firefighter$121.61/month

Dues Comparison

Vallejo Firefighters Local 1186

Dues: $234.00/month*

*Includes political action.

Dues Comparison

Contra Costa Firefighters Local 1230

Dues: Between 1.1 and 1.5% of Topstep firefighter.Currently

$123.90/month

Dues Comparison

Alameda City Firefighters Local 689

Dues: 1.25% of Top step firefighter

Currently $117.90/month

Bigger jurisdictions not in our universe

• Los Angeles County – 1.33% of top-step firefighter

• San Diego City – 1.5% of top step firefighter PLUS $86.67 per month for one year to defeat mayoral candidate Mike Aguirre

• Long Beach – 1.25% of top step firefighter PLUS automatic IAFF and CPF pass throughs

Dues Comparison

• Berkeley $119.43• Alameda City $117.90• San Francisco $121.61• San Jose $200.37• Fremont $173.42• Contra Costa $123.90• Vallejo $234.00• Current Local 55$96.97

Dues Comparison

• Berkeley $119.43• Alameda City $117.90• San Francisco $121.61• San Jose $200.37• Fremont $173.42• Contra Costa $123.90• Vallejo $234.00• Local 55 @ 1.25% $118.71