2013 COLA Increase
As per convention action the per-capita for the PPFFA will experience a COLA increase. The increase is controlled by the Consumer Price Index for the northeast region.
The Consumer Price Index for the northeast region as published by the U.S. Department of Labor for the preceding year ending October 31, 2012 was 2.15%. The by/laws cap the C.O.L.A at 4.
As per convention action the per-capita for the PPFFA will experience a COLA increase. The increase is controlled by the Consumer Price Index for the northeast region.
The Consumer Price Index for the northeast region as published by the U.S. Department of Labor for the preceding year ending October 31, 2011 was 2.8%. The by/laws cap the C.O.L.A at 4.5%, thereby raising the per-capita by twenty-four cents ($.24).
The current per-capita being $10.93 is now increased to $11.17 beginning January 1, 2012.
As you all know by now we have a Cancer Presumptive Bill enacted.I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone involved both past and present who’ve helped get this bill passed.This bill has been a collaboration of over twenty years to accomplish.
Our bill has sat in the legislators hands most of those twenty years.It hasn’t been until recently when we ramped up our presents at the Capitol and became politically active.This shows how getting involved can accomplish what had seemed to be the impossible.Looking to the future we can’t sit back and take for granted the work accomplished thus far.We need to continue to support those you’ve supported us during this endeavor.
I attribute much of this to us financially supporting legislators and our legislative conferences by bringing our members to the capitol and move through the halls talking to your legislators, and also the work back home in the districts our members continued to perform.
I know I sound like a broken record, however, this should indicate the need to continue to build the PPFFA Pac-Fund.I urge all locals to start a PPFFA Pac-Fund check off and give the association the resources to continue to have a seat at the table with our legislators.
Again thank you to all our members, the 195th Session of the General Assembly, the Governor, and our legislative team.
I apologize for not getting this article to Secretary Chiaramonte prior to him finishing the latest edition of Harrisburg Happenings.However, by the time the addition of Harrisburg Happenings reaches you the holidays will be over.I hope everyone had a safe and joyful holiday season.
Last year, again, for the third year we ended our fiscal year with a small surplus.Keep in mind if we didn’t have resources from fund-raising this could not have happened.As we speak of fund-raising our income from this source once again is down from previous years.There seems to be a continued downturn of revenue from fund-raising.This Executive Board came to convention asking the membership for a substantial increase in per-capita in hopes of getting away from a reliance on fund raising.YOU, the members came through and gave us the resources needed to get on tract to getting our fiscal house in order.We, as a Board, decided to step up to the plate and do our part. Through aggressive fiscal management and keeping spending down we did.I am happy to say for the first time since becoming treasurer I was able to present a balanced budget to the Executive Board for fiscal year 2010/2011, all the while maintaining and improving services.Although, this upcoming legislative session may prove to be quite challenging fiscally, the league of cities has drawn their line in the sand.They are going to attack Act III, come after our pensions (that we worked hard to negotiate and maintain), and they want changes to our heart and lung benefits.
As we reflect on the past two years the PPFFA has dealt with many challenges some more successful than others.Fact is the PPFFA, YOUR, organization fared well in dealing with these challenges, from pension reform, entire departments being laid off, organizing efforts, to legislative issues.This organization will continue to stay the course and remain on the front lines to protect our membership now and well into the future.
Now, I don’t know about you but I am tired of listening to Mayor’s tell the public that all their fiscal woes are the fault of the firefighters and police contracts, pensions, benefits, etc.Seems they never tell the public how for years they failed to contribute their share into the pension funds, (every two weeks we made our contribution).They fail to admit when it comes to arbitration the continually present a weak case to say the least, and they fail to admit their own fiscal mismanagement.It is much easier to point fingers and blame the working man.
Lastly I’d like to say if we are going to beat these bastards in a fight this upcoming legislative session we are going to need all the help we can get.That help has to come in the form of money.If your local doesn’t already have a Pac Fund, I implore you to start one, if we could get just one dollar a pay from each of our members think what that can do.We need to keep our friends who’ve stood with us in Harrisburg and we need to foster new friends if we are going to succeed.Remember it is our (your) future we need to protect and preserve.
As per convention action the per-capita for the PPFFA will experience a COLA increase. The increase is controlled by the Consumer Price Index for the northeast region.
The Consumer Price Index for the northeast region as published by the U.S. Department of Labor for the preceding year ending October 31, 2010 was 2.1%, the by/laws cap the C.O.L.A at 4.5%, thereby raising the per-capita by eighteen cents ($.18). The current per-capita being $8.75 is now increased to $8.93 beginning January 1, 2011.
12-Month Percent Change
Series Id: CUUR0100SA0,CUUS0100SA0 Not Seasonally Adjusted Area: Northeast urban Item: All items Base Period: 1982-84=100
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the delegates attending the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association’s 42nd biennial convention in Pittsburgh who’ve supported, and reaffirmed my position as Secretary/Treasurer.
It is with a great sense of pride I continue to serve you and the entire organization.In my position as Secretary/Treasurer, I will continue representing our organization, the individual locals, and members of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.I will work closely with you, President Martynuska, and members of the executive board in caring out the agenda you have set for us at convention, and, I will insure your concerns as you relate them to me are heard and if necessary acted upon at board meetings.I only hope you can see my commitment to our organization and my desire to see it continue to grow.
I would be remiss for not congratulating the members of Local 1, Pittsburgh for hosting a fine convention.There is a lot of work and time consuming effort that goes into running a convention, things the delegates don't see, again thank you Local 1.
Lastly, I hope everyone had a great time and a safe trip home.If there is anything I can do for you or your local call upon me anytime.
As you all know by now last week we had our annual Legislative Conference held in Harrisburg. I believe this conference was a resounding success. Our reception resulted in an overwhelming amount of legislators attending and mingling with our affiliate members.
During the conference we had some very impressive speakers attending from the Speaker of the House Representative Dennis O’Brien, to the Senate Republican Caucus Secretary to Seamus McCaffery a candidate for Supreme Court.
I would like to think this conference has come a long way since its inception just four short years ago. Who of you could have possibly thought we could have the Speaker of the House come speak at our conference? This shows the commitment and dedication this Executive Board under the leadership of President Eckman has taken. There is a newfound relationship between the PPFFA and the Legislators in Harrisburg than can not be measured, this was apparent at our reception Monday with the amount of legislators attending. We need to continue fostering these relationships in order to further our legislative agenda.
However this doesn’t stop here. We need your help not only in Harrisburg but on the home front. We need you to continue following up back home with your legislators by getting them to co-sponsor legislative bills important to the needs of the PPFFA and our affiliates. If your legislators have said to you they would co-sponsor a bill and haven’t yet, you need to go to them and ask why they haven’t and remind them of the commitment they made to you and the PPFFA. Them you must further lobby them to move our bills through the halls for Harrisburg right on up to the Governors desk.
One last note, if you haven’t already agreed to become a PPFFA Pac-Fund contributor, remember to do so. Without your support we can not continue to further our rightful place and agenda in Harrisburg.
In just a few short weeks the PPFFA will again be hosting our annual Legislative Conference in Harrisburg. As our presence in the political arena becomes greater, it is imperative we engage all of our affiliates to participate in this conference and reception.To date we have over 100 legislators agreeing to come to our reception.It has been apparent since the IAFF has become more visible in the political agenda so has this visibility filtered down to our State level.We now have legislators seeking out our endorsement for their respective offices.In order to help get our legislative agenda through the halls of the Capitol we need everyone’s help.We need your help at the Capitol and also back home.We need to engage our affiliates on the home front as much as at the Capitol.So come on get on the team and lets win the big one, come to the conference.
Also as former General President of the IAFF Al Whitehead used to say “money is the mother’s milk of politics”.That being said please don’t forget to join the PPFFA Fire Pac.
As per convention action the per-capita for the PPFFA will experience a COLA increase.The increase is controlled by the Consumer Price Index for the northeast region.
The Consumer Price Index for the northeast region as published by the U.S. Department of Labor for the preceding year ending December 31st 2006 was 3.6%, thereby raising the per-capita by thirteen cents ($.13).The current per-capita being $3.53 is now increased to $3.66 beginning May 1, 2007.
12 Months Percent Change
Series Id: CUUR0100SA0,CUUS0100SA0
Not Seasonally Adjusted Area: Northeast urban Item: All items Base Period: 1982-84=100
Well by now all the dust has settled since the IAFF Convention in Toronto.This past convention seems to have been somewhat of an historic event, at least since my involvement some twenty plus years ago. The delegatesat convention passed a whopping eighty and a half cents, rounded down to eighty cents ($.80) per-capita increase.
This increase is a result of the following resolutions.
Resolution No. 1 Re: Budget Adjustment for Inflation, 32 cents per active member and 16 cents per active-retired member on September 1,2006, and in the second year beginning September 1, 2007, the cost will beadjusted by the 2006/2007 CPI, but not to exceed 4.5 percent (4.5%).
Resolution No. 4Re: Per Capita Increase for the Emergency Disputes Fund (EDF), 10 cents per active member and 5 cents per active-retired member.
Resolution No. 7 Re: District Vice Presidents’ Salary Increase, 7 ½ cents.
Substitute Resolution No. 13Re: Seminar on Occupational Disease Presumptions in Workers’ Compensation and Disability Retirement Systems, 1 ½ cents, sunset after 1 year.
Resolution No. 18Re: Affiliate Support of NCPERS and Consideration for Pension Summit, ½ cent.
Resolution No. 19Re: Creating Joint IAFF/IAFC LODD Support Teams, ½ cent, sunset after 2 years.
Resolution No. 29Re: Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference, 1 cent.
Revised Resolution No. 33 Re: Fire Fighter Presumptive Disability Database, 3 ½ cents.
Revised and Amended Resolution No. 38Re: Political Referendum Operations Partnership Fund, 10 cents,sunset after six (6) years.
Substitute Resolution No. 39Re: Union Sportsman’s Association, 2 cents, sunset after 2 years. These and the other resolutions may be viewed on the Internationals web site.
During the IAFF Convention a number of our delegates inquired as to the amount of Per-Capita paid to the PPFFA, so as a reminder the current Per-Capita for the PPFFA is $3.28.Beginning January 1, 2007 the Per-Capita will increase twenty-five cents ($.25) for a total of $3.43.June 1, 2007, there will be a C.O.L.A. increase of no more that 4.5 percent, based on the CPI Northeast region.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all the delegates who supported me in Scranton.It is an honor to be able to be your Treasurer for another two years.Again I will do my best to fulfill my obligations to you and our great organization.Looking forward to seeing you all, throughout the next two years.Again thank you for the trust you have shown in me
You Get What You Give.pdf
