PFFPNC Political Director Josh Smith Seated On The Retirement System Board Of Trustees

PFFPNC Political Director Josh Smith begins his service on the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System July 20 after being sworn in before the start of the governance board’s meeting. 

One of the primary responsibilities of the governing board is to maintain responsibility for the proper administration and operation of the pension system for North Carolina’s 875,000 active and retired public employees, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, and public servants throughout the state. An added benefit is that firefighters have a seat at a powerful policy making table.

Read the full release here

PFFPNC Proud To Announce A+ BBB Review

PFFPNC is proud to announce an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The excellent rating will help us with our concert fundraising efforts. Please feel free to share this news with anyone interested in supporting our many community outreach efforts. To read the complete review click the link below.

PFFPNC 2016 Convention Day 2

Day 2 of the 2016 Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina Convention was full of inspiring speeches and helpful advice.

The morning started with IAFF President Harold Schaitberger addressing the crowd. He recognized the state and members for all their hard work fighting grievances, manning the polling places and its cancer legislation efforts.

“All of you Locals fighting – I recognize it, and we’ve got your back,” Schaitberger said. “Your work is recognized around this international, and we are going to do whatever we can to support you.”

Schaitberger went on to say that the IAFF is going to make financial efforts to improve membership in North Carolina. The international is going to do whatever it can, Schaitberger said, to build affiliates through organizing strategies and campaigns. Schaitberger told the crowd that he hopes the IAFF’s financial help and support can increase membership by up to 5,000 members.

Schaitberger wrapped up his speech by talking about the political victories across the country this election season, including the election of Roy Cooper.

You can watch Schaitberger’s full speech on our Facebook page.

Cooper addressed the crowd next, thanking PFFPNC members for their support of him during the campaign. He said he looks forward to continuing working with the association to invest in fire fighters and paramedics. Cooper said he wants to work with both parties to “invest in our people.”

“It’s time for all us – Republican, Democratic, unaffiliated to roll up our sleeves and work together,” Cooper said. “I am grateful to all of you who serve the public, and I’m proud to be your next governor.”

The day continued with a presentation from the IAFF Financial Corp and Membership Engagement and Political Action training led by Greensboro’s Dave Coker and Michael Glynn of Fort Worth, Texas.

The training covered topics on communication, social media, membership involvement, political action plans, PACs and SMART goals. They encouraged knowing your union’s message and putting your message out there repeatedly through various ways of communication including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email campaigns, video messaging.

They also said to take responsibility for what you put out there. Don’t spread gossip or rumors and be cautious of what you posting.

The training also included membership involvement. Dave Coker encouraged you to try to understand why people don’t get involved and be prepared to challenge the negatives.

The training continued with a discussion on political action and PAC funds. Mike Glynn told members to develop relationships with your elected officials and start a PAC fund if you don’t have one already.

The educational training concluded with a talk on SMART Action Plans. A SMART plan should be specific, measureable, assignable, realistic and time-based. Creating a plan helps you prioritize and execute goals your Local sets, said Coker.

Convention will continue at 9 a.m. Wednesday when a new District 4 VP will be named and the final resolutions will be discussed.

PFFPNC 2016 Convention Day 1

The 2016 Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Convention kicked off shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 28. The day’s speakers include PFFPNC President Tom Brewer, Secretary/Treasurer Josh Smith, IAFF General Secretary/Treasurer Ed Kelly, Rep. Nelson Dollar Staff Member Logan Martin, New Frame’s Brian Lewis and Travis Payne of Edelstein and Payne Attorneys.

Ed Kelly, who was recently elected as IAFF General Secretary/Treasurer discussed some items the IAFF is working on including exploring ways to grow the disaster relief fun and working on dues deduction. He encouraged the crowd to focus their energy on organizing and growing membership by showing them what all IAFF does for its members.

Brian Lewis discussed recent politic actions and said “we want to work with whoever works for us.” He stressed that PFFPNC is working with  both parties in the state to continue fighting for rights of fire fighters and paramedics. This year, they hope to get three more cancers added to the house bill.

The day also included district caucuses, resolutions and office nominations. Tom Brewer will continue to serve as president. Josh Smith will continue to serve as secretary-treasurer. Scott Mullins, David Pollard and Keith Wilder will serve as District Vice Presidents for 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Jerry Wiggins will continue to serve as trustee. There will be an election in District 4 between Brad Ray and Ryan Merrill for vice president.

Four resolutions were discussed today.

  • A resolution to change representation in convention was rejected.
  • A resolution to update Emeritus Status was unanimously adopted.
  • A resolution to change to a biannual convention from an annual one was adopted.
  • A resolution to PFFPNC officer election resulting from biannual conventions was adopted.

The day adjourned around 2 p.m. and will continue Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Judge sides with former Kernersville Fire Fighter, orders city to provide full personnel file

WINSTON-SALEM — It was a step in the right direction today for a former Kernersville Fire Fighter, the Kernersville Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina as a Forsyth County Superior Court judge ordered the town manager and town of Kernersville to provide Bray with his full, unredacted personnel records and documents, as required by the state laws that apply to municipal employees.  This includes more than 40 pages of notes from 17 interviews that formed the basis of the decision to discharge Bray.  Those documents had been provided to him with approximately ninety percent of the words blocked out.

The ruling came at about 4 p.m. Monday after Bray, represented by PFFPNC attorney Travis Payne of Edelstein Payne & Lucas out of Raleigh, and the town manager and town of Kernersville presented their cases earlier in the morning.

In addition to ordering the town manager to provided Bray with his complete personnel file, the judge directed the town manager to hold a new grievance hearing, after Bray has been provided with all of his documents and records and has had an opportunity to use them in preparing his response to the discharge.

Bray and the Kernersville Professional Fire Fighters Association filed a lawsuit on Bray’s behalf regarding the town of Kernersville’s violation of North Carolina General Statute 160A-168. Under that statue, an employee is entitled to receive all of their personnel files and documents from municipalities upon request. When an employee has been disciplined, as was the case with Bray, the employee is entitled under that statute to the entire investigative file relied upon to justify the discipline, as well as drafts of the disciplinary documents and communications among municipal officials concerning the investigation and the decision to impose discipline.

Following his discharge from the Kernersville Fire Department and before his grievance hearing, Bray made a written request for all his personnel documents, records and investigation files. The town manager, in return, only provided Bray with copies from the investigation file that had large portions of the information redacted or blacked out. Also, the town manager did not provide Bray with any of the drafts of disciplinary documents or the communications among town officials. The town manager’s actions are a clear violation of North Carolina law.  Because Bray was never given all of his personnel documents, he was deprived of a fair opportunity to present his case in the grievance procedure.

The PFFPNC, on behalf of Bray and the Kernersville association, are pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to Bray finally getting a fair opportunity to review his personnel file and investigation documents so he can accurately and fairly present his case before a grievance hearing. There’s been no word from the town of Kernersville on a date for Bray’s grievance hearing.

Former Kernersville Fire Fighter To Present Case In Court On Monday

KERNERSVILLE — Former Kernersville Fire Fighter Kevin Bray will get his day in court on Monday, May 16, to present his case regarding a violation of his right to receive and review all of his personnel files and documents that was denied to him by the Kernersville Town Manager.

Bray and the Kernersville Professional Fire Fighters Association filed a lawsuit on Bray’s behalf regarding the town of Kernersville’s violation of North Carolina General Statute 160A-168(c1). Under that statue, an employee is entitled to receive all of their personnel files and documents from municipalities upon request. When an employee has been disciplined, as was the case with Bray, the employee is entitled under that statute to the entire investigative file relied upon to justify the discipline, as well as drafts of the disciplinary documents and communications among municipal officials concerning the investigation and the decision to impose discipline.

Following his discharge from the Kernersville Fire Department, Bray made a written request for all his personnel documents, records and investigation files. The town manager, in return, only provided Bray with copies from the investigation file that had large portions of the information redacted or blacked out. Also, the town manager did not provide Bray with any of the drafts of disciplinary documents or the communications among town officials. The town manager’s actions are a clear violation of North Carolina law.

Because Bray was never given all of his personnel documents, he was deprived of a fair opportunity to present his case in the grievance procedure. Now, Bray is asking the Superior Court, not only to order the Manager to produce his complete and unredacted personnel documents, but also to direct that after he receives all of those documents, to have another grievance hearing where he can make use of the information in those documents. He will be represented by Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Association Attorney Travis Payne of Edelstein Payne & Lucas out of Raleigh.

We invite all media outlets to attend this court hearing scheduled for the morning of Monday, May 16, in courtroom 6-A of the Forsyth County Courthouse. The session begins at 10 a.m., with Bray’s case expected later in the morning after shorter cases are handled.

Lincolnton Professional Fire Fighters Association Donates Nearly 70 Coats To Area Children

Nearly 70 students at Battleground Elementary School received a special surprise from the Lincolnton Professional Fire Fighters’ Association in mid-November.   

Jeffrey Hurt, president of Local 4866, along with other members of the association, came to the school with boxes of brand new winter coats to hand out to students as ambassadors of Operation Warm.

Operation Warm is a nation-wide project that provides new coats to children in need. These high-quality coats are Union-made in America. The project not only serves to provide coats to children but also to create American jobs.

“These coats don’t just provide warmth to children,” said Battleground’s school counselor Kennan Eaddy. “They give them a sense of community, confidence and belonging. Many of the students haven’t taken their coats off since they got them. They call them their ‘firefighter coats!’”

To date, Operation Warm has given new winter coats to over 1.7 million children throughout America and beyond.

“The coats are purchased with the money we collect throughout the year through our fundraising concert ticket sales,” said Hurt. “Working with operation Warm and the International Association of Firefighters gives us a chance to give back to the community that we serve and protect.”

A brand new Operation Warm coat gives a child new found freedom and confidence to play more, learn more and do more.

To donate or learn more about the Lincolnton Professional Fire Fighters Association’s partnership with Operation Warm visit www.operationwarm.org/lincolnton.

Fire Fighter, Statesville Local 3137 File Suit Against City Manager, Assistant City Manager

Statesville Fire Fighter Scott Butler and Statesville Professional Fire Fighters Association have filed a suit against the city manager and assistant city manager asking the city’s leaders to allow Butler his right to a Civil Service Board grievance hearing, which has been denied to him following his failure to receive a promotion.

In a suit filed in Iredell County Superior Court, Butler and Statesville International Fire Fighters Association Local 3137 are asking for a mandatory injunction to direct Lynn Smyth, assistant city manager, and Larry Pressley, city manager, to grant Butler’s grievance be heard in front of the Civil Service Board. Under the City of Statesville Charter, specifically Article V, Section 5.5, employees have a right to bring their grievance before the Civil Service Board. According to the charter, grievances include promotions, demotions, suspensions and terminations of members of the fire and police departments. Butler, a veteran of the fire department since 1992 and a member of Statesville Local 3137, applied for a deputy chief position in October 2014. He successfully completed the promotional process, but in June 2014, the position was filled by an outside candidate. Butler has since requested his denial to this promotion be heard in front of the Civil Service Board multiple times over the course of the last year. All his requests have been rejected.

In the suit filed, Butler and Statesville Local 3137 are asking for a preliminary mandatory injunction directing the city manager and assistant city manager to allow Butler to present his grievance regarding the failure to be promoted to Deputy Chief to the Civil Service Board as required by the Statesville City Charter. The suit also asks for a permanent injunction directing the city manager and assistant city manager to abide by Article V of the City Charter and allow fire fighters to file and pursue grievances before the Civil Service Board as to all matters of concerns set out in Sections 5.5 and 5.14.1.

“As president of Statesville Professional Fire Fighters Local 3137, we regret having to go to this extent to get results,” said John Perry, Statesville Local 3137 president. “We have a member who has applied for a position and he has a right to be heard during an grievance appeal.

“We will continue to be supportive of the Statesville Fire Department and the citizens of Statesville. They are our primary concern.”

Statesville Local 3137 is an affiliate member of the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Association of North Carolina (PFFPNC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). PFFPNC attorney Travis Payne, of the law offices of Edelstein and Payne out of Raleigh, filed the suit on behalf of Butler and Statesville Local 3137.

“It is unfortunate that fire fighters have to resort to a lawsuit because city officials will not follow and respect the clear directives of the city’s charter,” Payne said. “Hopefully this matter can get quickly resolved.”

Both Butler and the Statesville Professional Fire Fighters also are hopeful for a fruitful outcome.

“We feel there has been a law broken to not allow this (appeal) to happen,” Perry said. “We want due process – due process that is already in the statute in the law.

“This is not an attack on the City of Statesville but a matter of public safety for both fire fighters and police. We have a right to appeal.”

Greenville Professional Fire Fighters, City Of Greenville Reach Agreement In Suit Filed In 2013

A lawsuit that was filed almost two years again between the Greenville Professional Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1867 and EMS Specialist Lisa Davis-Christ vs. the city of Greenville has been settled after determined efforts from Davis-Christ, Local 1867 and Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina Association attorneys.

Among the agreements in the settlement are:

  • The city agrees its employees may join and/or support any lawful fraternal, professional or other association as long as such participation does not interfere with the duties or responsibilities of the employee with respect to their work as a city employee. This includes the right of employees of Greenville Fire Rescue to join and/or support the GPFFA.
  • The city agrees that … the fire chief will meet with representatives of GPFFA to discuss any concerns GPFFA may have with respect to Greenville Fire Rescue, upon written request of GPFFA … requesting no more than one meeting a month.
  • The city agrees that Greenville Fire Rescue employees may participate in the MDA Fill-the-Boot campaign while off-duty. For a period of two years, the city agrees to permit off-duty firefighters to wear GFR clothing while engaging in Fill-the-Boot activities, and to permit the use of reserve fire truck in the fund-raising activities.
  • … The city agrees to pay EMS-Specialist Lisa Davis-Christ the gross sum of seven thousand dollars. … The payment set forth is in comprise of a disputed claim for damages, reimbursement of costs and/or attorney’s fees.

“Being almost two years, we are glad it’s settled,” said Davis-Christ. “We are happy with the outcome, and I think we got some good points. (There are agreements in the settlement) that are good for not only the fire department, but for all city employees.

“We still have bridges to build between the city and fire department. One of our points is that we will get a meeting once a month with the Local and chief. That’s never happened before. We are hopeful we can work together.”

The suit was filed in August 2013. Davis-Christ stated the city violated her constitutional rights. Greenville Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 1867 also filed as a plaintiff in the suit. Davis-Christ and GPFFA stated the city was trying to “weaken and destroy the GPFFA”, and it resulted in unfair punishment toward Davis-Christ, the vice president of the association, that most likely caused her not to qualify for a promotion to lieutenant.

PFFPNC attorney Travis Payne of Edelstein and Payne out of Raleigh represented the case.

“The faith in the International (International Association of Fire Fighters) and their backing is the reason was possible,” said Davis-Christ. “This couldn’t have happened without their support both financially and backing of us.”

Fayetteville Local 1873 Plays Large Role In Department Getting Raises, Bonuses

For the first time since 2000, Fayetteville fire fighters will see either substantial pay raises or bonuses after a hard-fought battle with the Fayetteville City Council.

Fayetteville Local 1873 was in the forefront of the battle, in particularly by starting Fire Ops 101 to educate its elected officials.

Throughout the last few months, members of Local 1873, as well as the department, stayed strong and mature as city council questioned how hard the fire fighters actually worked and why they deserved pay increases.

“We are very passionate about what do,” said Frank Kocsis, president of the Fayetteville Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 1873. “The statements we heard from our bosses were very hurtful … But we knew we had to react in a positive way, which was very difficult because we had to take the emotion out of it.”

Fayetteville City Council approved a general fund budget on Monday, June 8, that includes a plan for pay raises that lower-ranked fire fighters and new hires can expect to see over their careers. Some fire fighters will receive upwards of a five percent increase in pay, while everyone will get no less than two percent. Ranked captains up to chiefs will get bonuses ranging from $500 to $1,000. The approved budget also included a one percent city contribution of employees salaries to their 401K – a first for the city.

Since 2006, the Fayetteville Police Department has had a more generous pay step plan, according to local media. Also in 2009, police officers received pay raises while fire fighters got nothing.

The battle with the city council was not without drama and often included snippy shots from the city council. However, under Kocsis’ leadership, members of Local 1873 and the department took the high road and were able to get their message across while staying mature.

“Often times our Chief’s hands were tied, so the Union stepped up to educate elected officials on the job we do,” Kocsis said. “We offered Fire Ops 101 to city council to educate them, and less than a week after it started, the statements of inadequacy stopped.”

In addition to the pay increases, the department got a public apology and one council member praised fire fighters for their professionalism.

President Tom Brewer and District 3 Vice President Keith Wilder represented the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina by attending a city council meeting with the department. Wilder also assisted in helping Fayetteville start Fire Ops 101.

Brewer said it was inspiring to see nearly 100 fire fighters, their spouses, kids and retirees attending city council meetings in a show of solidarity.

“The members of the Fayetteville Local and fire department show what can happen when we stand together and get active,” Brewer said. “I am tremendously proud and inspired by everyone coming together. Hopefully Fayetteville can build on this, and we can all learn from this.”

The ordeal, while not over, is a success and example of achievement. Kocsis thanks fellow Local 1873 members and PFFPNC Locals and E-board members for their support. He was also surprised and humbled but the citizen’s support, as well.

There’s still work to be done in Fayetteville. Local 1873 plans to stay focus on getting fair compensation and benefits for all fire fighters.

“This has been 15 years in the making and it’s not going to get solved in 15 days or even 15 months for that matter,” Kocsis said. “But the people are listening to us, and we don’t want to see that door close.”