Newsom used them and now want to screw them. I hope an over ride to his Veto will succeed.
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Now that that is out of the way, back to the Billions for the fast train to no-where coming from not too far away. His priorities are possibly not in the states best interest.
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This was destined to be vetoed, and the veto will not be overturned most likely. I’ve been with this agency for over 20 years and this is the third veto of pay parity, honestly this last shot was not pay parity. Being within 15% of an average of a wide swath of agencies is not pay parity. CHP was the first, last, and only state agency to get pay parity.
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I’m sure youll see several politcians either vote no or not show up for the over ride vote. That way they can say they voted for the bill and then in time the truth will be forgotten.
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Let’s just cut to the chase it’s TIME for you guys to go with Professional Negotiators!!!
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You really think we don’t take a law firm and professional lobbyists to the negotiation process with us?
The union is negotiating with the governors office, CAL FIRE as a department, and the states Human resource division, then it goes through a legislative analyst review process before it gets approved.
It’s not as simple as a department negotiating with a city board and manager. It’s a much more complex process, especially considering there are 20 other bargaining units as well.
It’s not just a bunch of old crusty firefighters asking for a pay raise during negotiations. There is a large complex team associated during the process and only certain positions are allowed to be present for the actual negotiations by legislative law.
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I paid union dues for 30 years and still pay in retirement to 2881. Then hire another Law Firm and better Professional Lobbyist. Someone to get the JOB DONE!
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It’s actually a prudent process to change things up after a while, meaning new team. Imagine for years being at the same table with the same ol’ faces. Sometimes not knowing the faces and team is a benefit at the table because they don’t know your same old tactics.
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The new team that is needed, Sacramento political leadership. As witnessed this pass week by a candidate for Governor. There is a larger group of leaders, that takes 40% of the voting residents in this state for granted. To the point of making public statements, then having the Gall to attempt to retract those statements.
I encourage EVERYONE to get a copy of 1984 by George Orwell and read it. We are on the verge of a distopian society. “Memory Holing” information is what we just saw.
So in the last year, nobody at a PR event asked Newsom if he was in support of 1309 or 581? I would’ve thought that would be a pertinent question during all the press conferences
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Just a reminder to everyone. Newsom has been consistent in statements/vetoes with various bargaining units that he opposes pay schedules set in legislation. If he had signed it various groups would decry it as politics (which is would be since it goes against what he publicly stated). I can hear it now “oh he signed it so he can get the FF behind him for president blah blah blah”.
Do I wish he has signed it, sure because of the overarching case for it (don’t need to list as most everybody is aware). But it’s a little disingenuous to be surprised and angered that he didn’t.
When I am disappointed, rather than wallow in the anger, I remember what the union has received from this administration. Not all of it initiated by him, but without his agreement none of it would have occurred.
Significant increase in staffing
Significant increase in capital purchases (Eng, Aircraft, Facilities..yes that benefits us)
Pay raises commensurate (or more) than other bargaining units. (For those of us old enough to remember the last 2 administrations of the other party you know what a rarity that was).
A huge one is the benefit everyone received in regards to injuries on the job. Most of us will at one time or another be subject to them and after you do, you’ll wonder how everyone survived before they were passed.
The beginning steps towards a 56 hour work week.
If anybody think any of this would have passed with an administration that views things, how shall I say…differently…I’d bet my next months check and I’ll give you odds.
I’ll say again, I’m disappointed that he didn’t sign it, but I go by the saying
'Politics is not a marriage, you’re not looking for The One; it’s public transportation, you’re just trying to get a bus that’s going in the direction you want to go." It might not take you to your destination but hopefully it gets you closer vs further away. The question you have to ask yourself is which bus gives you your best chance.
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The legislature can overturn the veto but they won’t. CHP is the first, last, and only BU to get parity. With parity, bargaining doesn’t exist in regards to pay, I don’t see the state ever repeating that.
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ffviking I think you are delusional and misinformed on the difference between what we have to accomplish during a bargaining process vs a local government or fire district union. It’s not the same laws we are having to play by as other agencies.
And like what was stated above, we have gotten a lot of benefits under Newsome’s administration so we cannot be completely sour because of this veto. It does suck but did we really think it was going to be signed into legislative law?
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Just curious, if you really didn’t think it would be signed into law, why push for it at all? 1 percent of a pay raise is better than getting hopes high with no return? Trying to understand your comment?
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Why try? For the same reason we give our best effort on every emergency incident. Even when we know a win isn’t guaranteed, we try anyways. Even when we are at a 99% fail rate of success, we still try because that’s what the fire service has built a reputation on.
The same reason I would run into the second World Trade Center tower even after the first one had fallen. The public trusts we will always give our best effort even when we know that success is most likely not going to happen, because on the off chance it does we made at least one other persons life more positive.
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Lets play the cynic here since that motivation gets thrown around a lot. Flora (author) has a lot of political baggage and likes to poke you in the eye. Being from a position of realistically no power, how better a way to stir the pot than to introduce a bill that every legislator can support (Ds & Rs) that he knows will not get signed. It’s an easy lay up for the entire legislature “Look we support FFs!”. Yet everyone knows it won’t become law because the governor has said consistently he doesn’t support it. So term after term it gets brought up. Make you kind of wonder what would happen if a sitting governor went on record with support how the author/votes might change. On the flip side maybe Newsom had an agreement with some legislators to help them politically by giving them an easy vote. Politics is an art.
But I’m not a cynic 
.
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I’m sorry, comparing wages and why most of us did or do this job with possible sacrifice is lost on me? The World Trade Center and how much money you make on the job i don’t think was on anyones mind that day or ever!
Your comment above ( did you really think it would be signed into law) surprised me. Now your saying you thought you may have had a 1% chance? I guess that’s why you did it? Ok
The short answer to your question is Because that is what the membership wants. Negotiation priorities are set by the membership at the convention.
What i think the younger generation fails to study remember is where we have come from.
First NONE OF US were forced to work for the state. Everyone of us VOLUNTEERED and filled out the application. Shame on you if you did it blindly not knowing the agency that employes you.
From a 5-day work week, IRA/NIRA, 4-day work week, “nickle” fixed 3 day work week, 66hr and eventual 56hr work week. This agency has DOUBLED in size in leas than a decade. The budget has almost quadruple ln size during that same time. That didn’t occur in a vacuum or without sacrifice. Labor & Management (CalHR, NRA, CAL FIRE) in the past have had MUCH, MUCH worse relationships. (See above with other Governors)
I am no fan of the Governor. But he has supported the agency more than any other Governor in my 50+ years of life.
Finally, NOBODY IS FORCED TO WORK FOR CAL FIRE. While we do live in the “People’s Republik of Commiefornia” as i like to say. I still am free to move out of where I live, change who I work for (this is a 2nd career). It is that freedom that the “naysayers” seem to forget.
“What is the ideal solutions to this problem”?
Be honest, get involved, get educated, and above all GET INVOLVED POLITICALLY if you want change. Otherwise, your just bitching, moaning, and complaining. Be a leader, lead yourself, your family, and those you work with, AND COLLECT A CHECK AND WORK FOR! That might mean changing careers, agencies, or employers.
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Did Newsom sign sb581? I can’t find anything while googling. The deadline was Sunday. I get the feeling he neither signed it or vetoed it which means it automatically became law but my gut is also saying that the union hasn’t said anything yet that I am aware of so maybe he vetoed it due to “the current budget deficit “.