I want to first start with reminding all of you that your health and safety is the most import concern of ours. Please stay diligent in following safety protocols in your response to Covid-19 patients. That safety should carry with you in your daily lives as well. Please wear a mask for your safety, your family's safety, and for our communities that we protect.
Let me start the discussion with, we know some groups think of breaking up our union, and they are currently attacking our membership with misinformation. These groups are funded by corporate America think tanks to undermine employee rights and working conditions. Their actions might provide you with keeping your dues in your pocket for the short term, but then they will take away everything your collective bargaining has provided. In the end, when you weaken our strength in unity, you have no defense. Say goodbye to the ability to secure better health and safety in working conditions, benefits, and wages, which will be a hell of a lot less in your pocket. By reducing your/our political ability to address membership needs, we all lose. Oh yeah, at the end of your career, there will be no pensions. Individual thinking of self will bring a failure to all of us. The fact is that strength comes in numbers, and the strength of our union depends on your membership and our dues support.
In this and the subsequent electronic editions, I plan to explain in more depth what your monthly dues breakdown consists of. The purpose of this will allow you to better understand how your membership dues promote our strength in unity. Your current dues are $127.75 per month.
First, a portion of our monthly dues breakdown is what we refer to as pass-throughs. We have our affiliates, political contributions, membership life insurance, our funeral fund, our legal reserve fund, dues disbursements to districts and chapters, and the CAL FIRE Museum.
The first of our affiliates is the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). This organization gives us our organizational place in the fire service labor as a Local 2881 and represents us at the Federal level of government in pursuing better public safety working conditions and protections through the Federal legislative process and ensures jurisdictional labor disputes are settled. This accounts for $15.20 of your monthly dues.
California Professional Firefighters (CPF) this organization provides additional labor protections for the firefighter working conditions and protections at the State level of government. When the Corporate world engages in underhanded methods to take away your pensions and working conditions, they lead the fight. This accounts for $14.55 of your monthly dues.
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC). This organization represents mostly law enforcement issues but also working conditions in support of the overall labor pursuit. We work collaboratively on political support to continuing what is fair for public safety working protections. Our PORAC membership also allows for access to a public safety health care plan if you chose it. This accounts for $2.25 of your monthly dues.
Political Action accounts are for both Candidate support and political Issues. We exist within the resource agency but within the state bureaucratic system of government. To say this can be difficult or yet even frustrating to maneuver thru is an understatement. Good sound political involvement for the betterment of your wages, benefits, and working conditions is paramount. I have heard the saying that "money is the mother's milk of politics," which I know is so true. You can't play without it. Corporate America wants you to shut up and put up with their controlling the politics of our society and slapping your hand if you ask for what is fair. This accounts for $16.25 of your monthly dues.
Member Life insurance – This was created by the membership to give immediate financial support to our families if one passes before our career ends and or we retire. It provides money to deal with the immediate moment until any other support or benefit becomes available. This accounts for $.50 of your monthly dues.
Funeral Fund- This was established by the members at a convention. This fund is to cover costs associated with member funerals and memorials. These funds exist in what we call a restricted fund for a specific purpose. The funds are for Honor Guard and family liaison travel for funeral and memorial support. This accounts for $2.00 of your monthly dues.
Legal Reserves - This was established by the members at a convention. This fund is to cover costs associated with Cal Fire Local 2881's legal expenses. These funds exist in what we call a restricted fund for a specific purpose. This can be used when we exceed our annual legal budget and to fend off legal attacks on our union. This accounts for $2.00 of your monthly dues.
Disbursements to the districts and chapters- this allows for the business at the local district or chapter to provide service to the member at the local level. These dues are to provide the monetary means to provide local-level membership support. This supports the business of the union at the local level and provides a first-level representation of contract grievance, complaints, and or disciplinary actions. This accounts for $6.87 of your monthly dues.
CAL FIRE Museum is recognized and supported by Cal Fire local 2881 members through the resolution process at convention. It is our historical place in the fire service and the history of our department's existence. It promotes education as to how it was for the generations that served before us and as to what we have today. Of course, historical capturing of what we have today is for those to compare in the future. Knowing where you came from makes us enlightened to know what or where to pursue for your future benefit. This accounts for $1.00 of your monthly dues.
These pass-throughs total $60.62 of your monthly dues. The balance of $67.13 is what runs the Sacramento operational level of the union. I will report on this portion of the breakdown in the next electronic edition of the Fire front.
The work of this great union cannot happen without funding! It is important that we fund the current and future needs of this great organization.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss or ask any questions of me as it relates to our finances.
Brothers and sisters, I stand strong and united with you. Thank You