Welcome to the home page of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3249, a labor organization representing paid professional firefighters, emergency medical, rescue and other related service members. We encourage you to periodically review this site and its contents in order to remain current on all issues facing Camden County's First Responders, those charged with the duty to protect and serve the citizens of Camden County, New Jersey and beyond whenever fires or other emergencies occur and people need help.
Comments or Suggestions, Please Feel Free to E-Mail the Webmaster at: webmaster@iafflocal3249.org
To: State Presidents McManus, and Marino; all State Representatives and Local Union Leaders:
The application period for this year’s SAFER Grant is quickly approaching. We were very successful with last year’s Grant process, because the IAFF took an active role in providing assistance to our Local Leadership and to their Chiefs and Municipal Leaders to assure that the applications were filled out properly and that each met the necessary criteria to receive the Grant. In all, 20 locals applied for Grants from the 1st District and we were successful in 18 of those cases, due to a cooperative effort between those Locals and our IAFF staff.
I am asking once again, that each Local who will be seeking a grant this year, contact me in advance to notify me that your city/municipality has agreed to pursue this Grant in order to bring back laid off members; or because they are anticipating losing members during this fiscal year; or that they are looking to replace members lost through attrition; and finally, that they are looking to increase their manpower to enhance service to their community.
Remember this process cannot begin without the cooperation and support of your Chief and/or City managers. Also remind them that this is free money for a two year period being offered by this Federal Government Assistance Program through FEMA and will pay for all costs associated with salary and benefits for any members hired through this program.
I am asking each State Representative/Vice President/District Leader, to poll your Local leaders to find out which Locals are looking to participate in this year’s Grant Process and if they have approached their respective City leadership to seek their cooperation. I would also like to know, if they are seeking to replace laid-off members, or are anticipating lay-offs, or are looking to replace members lost through attrition and finally looking to enhance their work force through new hires as well as how many members they will be requesting. I will also need contact information for the person handling this process for each local, including e-mail address and contact numbers.
Once I compile this list, I will forward it to the IAFF Grant Director’s Office, who then will assign some staff member to contact each Local as a follow up. Doing it this way proved very effective last year, but time is running short. Anyone anticipating a need for this Grant should be working on gathering the information needed NOW, and should be reviewing last year’s application in preparation of the new application becoming available shortly. The sooner you have the application in your hands and the sooner you get it in, the better chance you will have to prepare for a successful Grant, with the assistance of our IAFF Staff.
Please do not delay in gathering this information. The Grant Application period is short and many locals will be applying at the same time. I need your cooperation, to assure that our District’s SAFER Grant applications get top priority and the only way to do that is to notify me and be prepared to expedite your application draft to our staff for their review. Your quick response to this request will be greatly appreciated.
Fraternally,
Kevin Gallagher
December 31: The Chicago Fire Department and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation have released a new video to help make sure that “Everyone Goes Home”. Set the tone for 2012 and make this the first drill of the New Year. If not for yourself, do it for those waiting for you to come home safe at the end of every tour. http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/news/2011/chicago.html
ALL MEMBERS ARE URGED TO CALL SENATOR PAUL SARLO
URGENT! YOU MUST ACT NOW!
December 29, 2011
We have received word that Senator Sarlo has been getting a lot of pressure from the Governor and Republicans to amend his sick leave legislation to remove any payment of sick leave and then move the sick leave legislation (S-2220). The republicans and the governor have gone as far as ROBO calls to Senator Sarlo's phones.
He needs to hear from you.
Let him know that you support his statement that:
"any accrued compensation based upon accumulated unused sick leave shall,
upon retirement, be eligible to receive for any unused leave not more than
the amount so accumulated or not more than $15,000, whichever is higher"
He needs to have supporters to stay strong to his legislation.
If all he hears from are those that oppose this, then he will waver!
If you have a phone system to contact your members,USE IT.
IAFF Scores Huge Congressional Victory December 17, 2011 – In one of its final actions in 2011, Congress has passed an Omnibus Appropriations Bill that makes more than $742 million in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants available to struggling communities and extends the “SAFER waivers” for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. The waivers ensure that fire departments can use SAFER grants to rehire and retain fire fighters, in addition to hiring additional personnel.
The Department of Justice announcement the VCF is accepting claims for the First Responder
injuries associated with the attacks or with debris removal.
Individuals who wish to visit the VCF’s site, learn more about the eligibility criteria, or receive future communications regarding the VCF should visit: www.vcf.gov or call: 1-855-885-1555
You Could Be Eligible for Benefits Under the Zadroga Bill IAFF members who responded to the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks on September 11 may be eligible for benefits under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, also known as the Zadroga Bill. The bill, signed into law on January 5, 2011, provides for funding for existing medical monitoring and treatment programs for people at the World Trade Center on 9/11 or involved with the cleanup at Ground Zero who have suffered illnesses from the toxic dust and debris.
Passage of the Zadroga Bill is significant for thousands of first responders, including IAFF members, who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts. IAFF members who participated and live outside the tri-state area are urged to call Logistics Health Inc. (LHI) at (877) 498-2911 or visit this web site to register for the program. The program includes no cost annual monitoring and necessary treatment and medication for the World Trade Center conditions listed.
Congratulations Gloucester Township Fire District 4 Fire Marshal Frank Reiss and Firefighter Pete Urso on the occasion of taking their Oaths of Office on Wednesday, November 16, 2011.
Congratulations Voorhees Fire District Captain James Poland, Captain Cliff Demo and Lieutenant George Devokas on the occasion of taking their Oaths of Office on Thursday, November 17, 2011.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR CHAPTER 330 RETIREES There was no information disseminated from the firefighter’s representative of the state's newly created "State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee", but there are substantial changes made to the State Health Benefits Plan that will be costly to Chapter 330 Retirees. An example is a retiree who in 2011 opted for the Aetna HMO for a family plan, paid $385.66 per month for health insurance. The same plan will cost the retiree $631.92 in 2012.
Below is a link to a printable comparison document, a link to the State Health Benefits Website and a printable change form. We apologize for the late notice, but we just received notice of the hidden charges.
Thank you to all who have supported your emergency services during the November 8, 2011 election.
We have sent our message. We will stand up and fight for public safety.
Protecting collective bargaining
In a year where the labor movement has been under heavy political assault, President Barack Obama said the principle of collective bargaining must be protected.
NJ State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech Issued the Following Statement Regarding Recently Introduced “Right to Work” Legislation
TRENTON – “The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is extremely disappointed with Assembly members Handlin and O’Scanlon for sponsoring and introducing this type of radical legislation. We thank Speaker Oliver for her comments and for recognizing this as simply a way to weaken labor unions and negatively impact New Jersey’s middle class workers,” said Wowkanech.
The “New Jersey Right to Work Act” bill (A-4223) was recently introduced in the State Assembly by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13) and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-12). The bill would establish New Jersey as a “right to work” state and restrict the ability of unions to collect dues or establish conditions of membership. The deceptively named “right to work” policy is currently law in 22 states and is considered one of the most anti-union policies in the nation.
The Associated Press today reported that Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver declared the bill “dead on arrival” and said “this anti-worker bill will never see the light of day.”
A-4223 joins other radical anti-labor bills currently pending in the legislature. Examples include A-3505 (Carroll / O’Scanlon / Bucco / Peterson) / S-2692 (Bucco), which repeals all prevailing wage laws; A-764 (DiMaio) which repeals Project Labor Agreements; A-1382 (Carroll), “paycheck deception” legislation and S-2039 (Bateman / Beck) / A-2954 (Bucco), which allows local governments to abolish civil service.
Working for the Government is No Longer Secure
(CBS News)- July 9, 2011 - A once stable section of the American workforce is now taking a big hit. When the emergency calls come in, it's hard for Matthew Bonnett to sit still. For nearly five years, Bonnett worked as a firefighter in Camden, New Jersey. In January, he was one of 60 to be laid off, which was one-third of the entire department.
NJ Right-To-Work Bill is DOA, Assembly Speaker Says
Labor leaders in blue-leaning New Jersey, still licking their wounds after losing a fight over pension and health benefits in the Democratic Legislature last month, are being told a new anti-union bill doesn’t stand a chance.
NJ Senate President’s Anti-Christie Tirade: Too Little, Too Late
After watching New Jersey Governor Chris Christie shave off $900 million from the Democrats’ proposed budget (a budget that Christie dubbed “unconstitutional”), Senate President Stephen Sweeney expressed his ire in a tirade laced with less than pretty language while speaking to reporters.
Sweeney Says Christie's Budget Cuts Are `Mean-Spirited' New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Democrat, spoke at a recent news conference about the state's budget for fiscal 2012. Governor Chris Christie signed a $29.7 billion budget, cutting almost $1 billion added by Democrats for schools, police and tax credits for the working poor.
Christie Cuts $7.5 Million For Women’s Health and That’s Just the Start
Governor Chris Christie said “no” to quite a few things yesterday:
“No’ to a bill that would impose a “millionaires’ tax on those making more than $1 million and “no” to another bill to fund schools and providing low-wage earners with tax relief. (Isn’t this called robbing the poor to feed the rich?)
The pension and health benefits bill (S-2937) was signed into law on June 28, 2011 and became effective immediately. Click herefor a list of pension and health benefits changes (for Firefighters in PFRS)
N.J. Public Workers Aren't the Enemy - or the Solution - in Budget Battle
Sorry, but there were no "union thugs" on the streets of Trenton last week when the Legislature voted to impose thousands of dollars of new and unexpected costs on a half-million public workers and retirees. And, if the day brought a great political victory by Gov. Chris Christie over big, bad unions, it is likely to come at great cost to just plain people.
The NJ State Assembly just approved the Pension & Healthcare Reform (Theft) Bill 46
to 32.
Remember, we hoped we would not be betrayed but expected that it was possible since
the Assembly Leadership changed position on the issue. Further report will follow
shortly as action is taken in response to this vote. Stay safe as you continue to
serve and protect not only our citizens, but also the very elected officials who
refuse to recognize that you are taxpayers too.
Keith Kemery
President
The Democrats in the Assembly who voted yes are:
Name
District
Burzichelli
3
Conaway
7
Conners
7
Coutinho
29
Fuentes
5
Greenwald
6
Lampitt
6
Milam
1
Moriarty
4
Oliver
34
Riley
3
Ryan
36
Spencer
29
Wilson
5
All the Democratic yes votes came from Essex County and South Jersey.
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger Addresses Convention Attendees During the 2011 PFANJ Convention
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March 3, 2011: More than 15,000 firefighters, police officers and emergency medical
services members responded to the State House today with a common mission. We
delivered a clear message to Governor Christy and our elected officials in state
government.
Don't cut public safety!!!
*Cuts to public safety WILL allow more small fires to grow into killer blazes.
*Cuts to public safety WILL allow violent criminals the opportunity to prey upon
citizens with too few cops on the street to intervene.
*Cuts to public safety WILL make response times longer when emergency medical
services members must arrive in time to save a life.
Help Us To Help You!!!
With the continued help of our families, friends, neighbors and other supporters,
we will prevail in our fight to be able protect and serve our communities.
Call your State Assembly and Senate Representatives.
Tell OUR elected officials to do their jobs and maintain public safety.
Make Your Voice Heard:
Make Sure We're There When You Need Us!
New Jersey Public Servants May Have Law on their Side in Pension Battle The latest bombshells in the battle between Gov. Christie and New Jersey public servants -- just days from a huge rally in Trenton -- come in the form of advisory letters that say state lawmakers can't change a public employee's pension once he or she has put in five years on the job.
Democrats Voice Support for Worker Rights & Collective Bargaining (TRENTON) - 2/25/2011 - Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex, Mercer) and Assembly members Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland), Daniel Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex), Thomas Giblin (D-Essex, Passaic), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), John McKeon (D-Essex), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) released the following statement Friday after attending the organized labor rally at the State House:
"Today's rally was a great display of unity among the many labor organizations that have made New Jersey a great place to live and work.
"It was also a reminder that collective bargaining and worker rights have helped build this state and nation but are now at risk.
"We cannot let the anti-worker sentiment that has pervaded Wisconsin infect New Jersey.
"We attended this rally to show our support for union rights and protect them for generations to come.
"We support union rights, which, after all, are human rights.
"We support collective bargaining and negotiation, not dictation.
"And we call on the governor to immediately begin negotiations with the labor unions and commit to fair discussions."
Firefighters and First Responders Support Rally
Protest Attacks Against Public Employees
February 25, 2011: Approximately 2,500 public employees and supporters, including more than 200 firefighters, assembled on the steps of the State House in Trenton to protest continued legislative attacks on public employees. Public employees from the State of Wisconsin also traveled to New Jersey in order to support this Rally.
Local 3249 President and recently retired Gloucester Township Fire Captain Keith Kemery reminds a local reporter that firefighters and other first responders are not nameless or faceless. We are taxpayers with families to support just like everyone else. "I resent being called a greedy special interest for expecting the right to earn a living that will support our families while we work to protect and serve the citizens of New Jersey".
Jersey City Local 1064 and 1066 members send the message with 9 year old Matthew Kemery, the youngest of Local 3249 President Keith Kemery's five children.
Firefighter Joe Hunter - Pine Hill Fire Department.
11 Years on the Job
Married with a son and a daughter.
Tax Paying Resident of Berlin, NJ.
Getting his head shaved in support of kids with cancer
Pop Quiz
Kids are trapped!!!
Do you want to go in there with him?
Statement Concerning the Concept of Countywide Shared Fire and Emergency Services
The Camden County Uniformed Firefighters Association, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3249, can not comment directly concerning an endeavor for which we have no specific information.
We are willing to listen to presented concepts that will help us provide better Fire/EMS service to the people we protect while also insuring that we the people providing the emergency services, continue to be able to safely earn a living to support our families.
Any newly organized Fire/EMS services system must be carefully and properly organized. Its members would have to be properly prepared for any new emergency services work or response area that they would be responsible for. Such an endeavor would take time. FAILURE is not an acceptable option when lives are at stake.
Any newly created regional Fire/EMS services system must be organized for the right reasons. Undertaking such an endeavor for political purposes is a recipe for DISASTER.
For Additional Commentary Contact President Keith Kemery via 609-820-2675
Breaking News:
N.J. Unions, Public Workers Sue to Stop Pension, Benefits Overhaul
A court battle over benefits began on August 31, 2011, as dozens of the state’s public sector unions, workers and retirees filed a lawsuit in federal court to overturn the newly enacted overhaul of pension and health benefit care benefits.
Trenton’s Un-Truth about Police and Fire Pensions
The State’s pension actuary has exposed this simple truth: the State’s own mismanagement is responsible for the unfunded liability in the pension fund for fire fighters and police.
Governors are Singing the Wrong Tune
An increasing number of governors are joining New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s antiworker chorus. Too bad they’re all off key.
Update on S2220
We have been advised that the Senate Democrat's will not adopt the changes called for in Governor Christie's CV of S-2220 that would limit payouts to local and school district employees for accrued sick and vacation days.
What this means, at this point in time, is that if the changes are not adopted, the current existing law regarding accrued sick leave and vacation days will remain unchanged. So however you are currently being compensated under your existing contract remains in effect.
If anything changes with the legislature, we will notify our members via email and our website.
The Unspoken Truth About Pensions
The efforts to shift blame to public employee unions for any projected shortfalls in the pension system are the equivalent to calling in a fire alarm on a house that you set ablaze.
Support the Program that Supports the Fund of Our Widows and Children
It has been brought to our attention that there may have been some confusion as to the name we (PFANJ) is enrolled in with the Affinity Membership Program. We are enrolled as the NJ Professional Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund Code:P6
When opening an account with TD Bank or enrolling your existing account(s) with the Program, please reference the above enrolled name for the PFANJ.
To reiterate and to ask for your support, open an account with TD Bank and they will make an annual contribution to our Emergency Relief Fund (Widows' and Children's Fund) based on average balances in our members' accounts. (Our Emergency Relief Fund was established to aid the surviving families of our firefighters who make the Supreme Sacrifice in the performance of their duties.)
If you are already a TD Bank Customer, simply ask to have your balances included as part of the NJ Professional Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund (Code:P6) Affinity Membership Program.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Thank you.
The Truth About Arbitration
Many politicians, local and state, want everyone to believe that binding arbitration is the reason local property taxes are high, when this simply is not true.
Video: Smoke Showing
Fire Engineering.com - "Smoke Showing" is a short film that visually demonstrates the dangers and challenges faced by firefighters during a structural fire. This film will serve to educate recruit firefighters, elected officials and the public in fire operations. "Smoke Showing" demonstrates the need for an aggressive interior attack coupled with adequate resources in order to save lives and reduce property loss. The film is opened by the cast of "Rescue Me." It is dedicated to the proud service of Tom F. Brennan.
