To:  PFFM Executive Board and PFFM Locals

From:  Bob McCarthy, President

Brothers and Sisters; Today the House of Representatives and the State Senate voted unanimously to pass and enact the Conference Committee Report submitted by the conference committee in regards to pension reform. Senate Bill 2079," An Act Providing Responsible Reforms in the Pension System." This bill is before the Governor and will be signed in the very near future and thus will be effective July 01, 2009 for all public employees.

I am pleased to report, although the bill pertains and is applicable to all public employees who retire after July 1, 2009, the new section titled "wages" does not change what we as firefighters currently use as compensation for retirement calculations presently. The only exception could be clothing allowances as this is one of the definitions to be excluded. Other than clothing allowance the new section on "Wages" is what we submitted as an amendment.

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In the conference committee report; new language appeared that is absolutely punitive to all of our members who are injured in the line of duty while serving in an acting or temporary paid position. This new section changes the calculations of a disabled firefighter who retires  from an accidental disability while working out of grade; from seventy two per cent of the previous twelve months  of compensation to "The Average compensation of the twelve months prior to the date of injury." This change is draconian and would actually reduce a members expected pension significantly. This new language would not include any negotiated raises or promotional status after the date of injury for retirement purposes. This language came out of nowhere as we supported both versions of the House and or Senate; although we preferred the Senate version because they had an appeal process that could rectify inequities.

We have reached out and communicated to the leadership of the House and Senate to articulate to them the harshness and ridiculous language that they accepted and they assured us that that was not the intent of the language and will work with us to prepare and enact a corrective technical amendment as soon as possible.

It is imperative that every local research their injured firefighters who are receiving benefits under MGL Ch 41 111F and document if any of our members were injured while serving acting out of grade and If so immediately notify me as soon as possible. This is extremely important. We must document every member receiving injured on duty benefits while working out of grade this includes heart and lung injuries if the Departments and or contracts pay them their full salary in accordance with MGL Ch 41, 111F. injured on duty.
 

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Also, It is imperative that our members call, email, visit, and communicate to their respective legislators to officially notify the "Conference Committee Conferees" on the State Budget  for fiscal 2010 to accede to the Senate Language in regards to Municipal Health Insurance and oppose any language that would circumvent, eliminate and or delete collective bargaining in regards to Municipal Health Insurance. Please communicate to them that MMA's proposal of impact bargaining with plan design is unacceptable, outrageous and shifts all future costs to participants and decimates the quality of our health insurance plans.
 

THE 2010 BUDGET CONFEREES;

REP. CHARLES MURPHY, REP. BARBARA L'ITALIEN, VINNY DEMACEDO,
SEN.  STEVEN PANGIOTAKOS, SEN STEVEN BREWER, AND SEN MICHAEL KNAPIK

Please get out the word in every way possible.

Thank You