I don’t think this comment is constructive at all. Creating chaos only hurts the cause.
The problem is the headwinds we face when negotiating. For decades, state leadership has shown profound indifference toward the health, safety, and welfare of the dedicated firefighters of CAL FIRE. As former Governor Brown put it, the feeling at the top is that CAL FIRE is nothing more than “budget dust”.
The events of the past decade or so has shown the plight of CAL FIRE’s personnel and I truly believe that the tide is starting to turn at the top.
The current tentative agreement is the result of years of groundwork that has been laid, not only by 2881, but also IAFF and CPF.
Anyone who has attended convention the last few years has heard the strong words of support offered by IAFF President Schaitberger and CPF President Rice, who stood before the 2881 membership and told 2881 President Edwards that, when he felt the time was right, just let them know and he will have the full support of both IAFF and CPF…no holds barred.
President Edwards was questioned in caucus that year why he hadn’t already asked IAFF and CPF for their support. He answered honestly when he said we didn’t have the proper groundwork in place at the time and, once that was in place, he would pull the pin. He explained that the groundwork consisted of additional staffing, additional training capacity, additional support staff, and a number of other items that were critical to the success of implementing a shorter work week. Without those things in place, fighting for a 56 was futile and, even if it were to be successful, would likely to end up being unsustainable.
After years of hard work, many of those prerequisites are now in the process of coming together.
This year, President Edwards pulled the pin and it has been full-court press. CPF adopting a resolution at their recent convention to fully support 2881 was groundbreaking. You also have to remember that current CPF Secretary-Treasurer Lopez was 2881 President when he was elected to CPF.
The measures taken by now IAFF President Kelly to crack the seal of the state’s unwillingness to discuss a workweek that is shorter than 72 hours are nothing short of a work of art.
We have the support of the public. We have the support of the legislature. All we need now is for the Governor to actually have our back instead of just using our stations and engines for flashy backdrops for his press conferences.
You may or may not like the current offer and you may or may not like President Edwards. However, what CAL FIRE needs now, more than ever, is a single, solid, unified voice. Dissension within the ranks will only create chaos and will ultimately lead to our downfall.
