96 replies to this topic

[Redone]

And for the record.... The crash tax is ludicrous... Go the the second reading at city council meeting to voice your concerns.

Folsom guys probably can't go, but it'd be nice to see other Firefighters who live in Folsom speak out.

[Redone]

Concessions? Okay.....The City of Folsom was the first to eliminate retiree health care for all new hires. The City of Folsom was the first to revert back to 2% at 50 for all new hires. The City of Folsom was the first to implement that all employees pay the employee portion of their PERS 9%. We switched medical plans and now pay 3% of our salary towards monthly premiums. Our co-pays doubled. New hires no longer get longevity. All longevity increases and educational incentives have been frozen. And that's just within the last year. How's that for starters? It's easy to rant and rave, but c'mon.....there's always two sides to the story.

This is important because it points out that not all City employees are sharing the burden equally.

Word is that one dept lost no one, all got promoted to management so they wouldn't get cut, and then got a raise in pay/benefits as a result of the promotion. Why are the other employees not P.O. about this ?

[camay2327]

(I am putting this article here too)


I sent the following to the Mayor and city council members on 23 May 2012.


Subject: Emergency Transportation Service Charges


City Council Members did this item pass last night?
What was the vote?

I wanted to get there but didn't make it.


8. New Business:

a. Ordinance No. 1164 - An Ordinance of the City of Folsom Amending Chapter 3.25 (Emergency Transportation Service Charges) of Title 3 (Revenue and Finance) of the Folsom Municipal Code to Include a First Responder Paramedic Service Fee (Introduction and First Reading )


-------

Today I received the following reply from Lydia Konopka, Assistant City Clerk.


Hi Calvin,

First reading and introduction of Ordinance 1164 was moved by Vice Mayor Miklos and seconded
by Council Member Morin. Council Member Starsky was absent.

Second reading and adoption is scheduled for the June 12 City Council meeting.

Have a great day, Lydia

---

I will need to read it again. I is coming back for a vote on 12 June 2012.

I will be going to that meeting.

[firemedic238]

I was wondering how long it would take before our pensions would be blamed for all the ills of the world! Again I don’t work in Folsom but some of the facts are the same.

The guys that make the HUGE retirements are the Guys in the white shirts, Chiefs.
Most Chiefs and most Depts. have more then one Cheif, are “at will” employees and have negotiated their own contracts. Chiefs get lots of perks. As a firefighter I can’t “spike” my salary.

The Firefighters, fighting fire and on the Rigs are Union employees making hourly wages and receiving benefits like most city employees.

The City, County or District negotiated with the union and both agreed to a wage and benefit package. I most cases the Chief is part of the Cities negotiating team.

Where I work and in Many Depts. Firefighter and Cops have NOT ASKED FOR raises (my Dept 7 years) and we are lucky many have taken PAY CUTS or laid people off (Stockton).

We lost heath plans and had co-pays increased.

We work 10-24 hour shifts a month. Do to not hiring we are being forced to work more days. Last month I was gone 15 days. Yes I get paid for hours worked but it hard on the family and the events you miss because you can’t come home as planned. If you recall, We never close we are a 24-7 service.

As far as retirement, yes I get the 3% at 50 retirement. Will I get to retire at 50? No way
I have to pay over 1000.00 plus a month toward retirement. I can’t change that. Our fund is very well funded and is doing OK. Now as far as not having assists to cover all retirements at once? no and that will never happen there are always employees paying into the system.

Even tho I will be entitled to receive Social Security, I will never get the full benefits I paid for do to my Public employee retirement.

This is a young person’s job. Many ff/cops can’t stay on the job past 50 do to injuries. I don’t know a FF out there who has not been hurt at least once. Who wants to have a 60 year old firefighter trying to carry you out of your burning house or a cop chasing a crook at 60.


In closing, In most cases it the politicians who have put us in the mess!! Why would we not ask for working wage and benefits for ourselves and families? Again we all pay for their messes! Employees are being demoted, stations are being closed. Police and Fire services are being cut to a all time low. Wait until this wildland season blows up! Cal Fire has been slashed to very low staffing levels. Again the high speed train to nowhere is more important the public safety.


Cheers
THe Firemedic

[dlarouche]

Robert G-

(A) It sounds like both of the young people transported may have been minors, and thus unable to "AMA," and decline treatment/transport in the absence of an adult representative.

(B) I'm not sure why you even made an issue of it but, actually, all 9-1-1 responding ambulances are staffed by at least one paramedic--regardless of whether they are from the fire department or a private provider like AMR.

© Just about every fire department in this state that does ambulance transports charges for that service (and all related costs) in addition to your normal taxes. If you are an adult of sound mind, and sign a "decline transport/treatment" form, you will not be billed.

Edited by dlarouche, 24 May 2012 - 10:20 PM.

[Robert Gary]

To Robert G....

I wish you would pick your enemy Robert. You remind me of Don Quixote....

I think you responded to the wrong person as your reply doesn't seem to apply to anything I've said.

-Robert

[giacomo]

I think you responded to the wrong person as your reply doesn't seem to apply to anything I've said.

-Robert

Bombero was replying to Robet Giacometti