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It is with a heavy heart that we share the active duty death of Fire Fighter James O. Taylor on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Brother Taylor was assigned to Fire Station 38 in Los Angeles. He faithfully served our Department, residents, and communities for 36 years.
We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family, friends, and colleagues of Brother Taylor. To ensure the proper care and support of the Taylor family and our personnel, Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone has activated the Department’s chaplains, Peer Support team, behavioral health clinicians, and Memorial Management team. Thank you for respecting the privacy of the Taylor family during this extraordinarily difficult time.
Our mission is always to be there for our brothers and sisters in the fire service – and especially during your greatest time of need. If you find yourself struggling, please reach out to one of our trained Peer Support Team Members. Please click the Peer Support Team Roster, which includes your colleagues in the LACoFD who will maintain your confidentiality and provide you with support during difficult times.
The Local 1014 / LACoFD Behavioral Health and Peer Support Programs are here for our members and families, and we are ready to assist with free services that are 100% confidential and supported by both specialized Mental Health Professionals and highly-trained Peer Support Team Members (many of whom have been through the same issues that you may be experiencing right now). YOU ARE NOT ALONE. |
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IFEPB - Pension and Medical Benefits
Members of your 1014 Executive Board joined President Gillotte and the Local 1014 Health and Welfare Trust and Staff at the annual International Foundation of Employee Benefits and Plans (IFEBP) Conference to train and update our alliances in healthcare and pension work. The IFEPB is the premier association of pension and health care trustees and providers and a platform to keep up with the latest legally required and best practices training and education for our Union Board Members, Trustees for LACERA, and our Local 1014 Health and Welfare Plan and Retiree Medical Trust Plan for Plan C Members.
We came together with plan administrators from a wide variety of industries, both in the public and private sectors, to help with decisions that impact our members' lives regarding pension and healthcare. Starting in 1954, the IFEPB has become the premier educator and alliance builder for public pensions and healthcare, in particular, with a wide variety of classes, seminars, and workshops, in addition to legally required fiduciary certification programs.
Partnering with CEBS and Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania training curriculums regarding funding of plans, legal and regulatory issues, medical and fund management firm issues, as well as hardware and software and disease management tools covered. Local 1014 members were engaged in investment strategy and fund management platforms as well as logistical training with new software and processing programs we will be investing in to run our health plan more efficiently.
Cancer treatment and behavioral health treatment issues were also topics of training. Local 1014 is broaching new technology and management of these issues as well as IVF and fertility treatment. In addition to the class work that begins each day at 7:30 am and ends at 5 pm, there were a variety of keynote speakers and topics addressing administration, fiduciary responsibility, fund management and investments, fund professional use and evaluation, and apprenticeship programs and education similar to our own JAC were covered.
Local 1014 remains committed to providing our leaders the best training and education available and courting alliances where we drive the work on behalf of our members in regard to retirement and health care benefits. We look forward, in particular, to the new software implemented in the Health Plan by our new Plan Manager, Shalaura Soliai. We will update the membership on implementation and strategies to help administer our plan more effectively. |
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We would like to thank all of those who submitted questions and attended the first ever Plan C Retirement Planning webinar hosted by your Local 1014 President Dave Gillotte, 2nd Vice President Tony Carcioppolo, Director Matt Duhamell, and Director Jason Green.
President Gillotte brought his expertise about how Plan C came to fruition. Also, how Local 1014 and CPF are drivers behind legislative movements with legislators and the govern at the State to bring parity to Plan C retirement. Other topics covered by President Gillotte and 2nd Vice President Carcioppolo dispelled “kitchen table” rumors about what bonuses are pensionable and what’s not, retirement age, pension benefits, highest three years, retirement maximums etc.
Director Matt Duhamell answered questions and talked about spousal/dependent health care in retirement. Director Duhamell sits on the Retiree Medical Trust (RMT) board that will provide healthcare benefits to your families. The RMT can be utilized for yourself as well as flexible options for IRS-approved medical expenditures post-retirement.
Not only is Jason Green a director for Local 1014, but he is also our resident expert on retirement. Director Green is also an elected LACERA Board member. Director Green is an intricate part of our union and a valuable resource for our membership.
This was the first of other future webinars to be hosted by President Gillotte and your union board to educate you on retirement and other benefits. We encourage our members to plan now, for your future tomorrow. It’s never too early. Your career will go by faster than you think in this amazing profession we are blessed to have.
Reach out to LACERA or your Union board with future retirement questions. Director Green, as a reminder, is a valuable resource; reach out to him via email at jgreen@local1014.org.
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In a historic vote, the House of Representatives has voted to repeal WEP/GPO and restore fairness to Social Security. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, by a vote of 327 to 75.
H.R. 82 has been a top priority for the IAFF. The bill eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), provisions that unfairly punish retired firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public servants.
Now that H.R. 82 has passed the House, the bill moves to the Senate.
Unlike the House, where the majority party can move legislation through the body relatively quickly if they have the votes, the Senate gives each Senator unique powers to slow down the legislative process. These powers include the right to offer amendments to legislation, and the right to speak on a bill. Because of this, the Senate must vote to end debate on a bill before it can be finally voted on and passed. This process, known as invoking cloture, requires a 60-vote threshold.
Currently, the Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act has 62 co-sponsors, meaning if all those who have co-sponsored the bill vote to invoke cloture, a vote on final passage would be guaranteed.
The IAFF is asking all members to join the fight to pass WEP/GPO repeal. Senators need to hear directly from those most impacted by these unfair penalties.
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By now everyone should have received your 1014 Election Ballot. If you have not, please contact the Union office immediately at 800-334-6285.
Remember:
- Ballots must be postmarked by U.S. Postal Service and received at the Post Office Box by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024, in order to be counted!
- No hand-carried ballots will be accepted at the Union Hall or at the Post Office.
Ballots will be counted on Monday, November 25th by California Elections Company (CEC) and results will be posted to the web and sent to stations and sites.
Thank you in advance for your vote and your voice. As always, stay safe and take care of each other.
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In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board |
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