Thanks for sharing. Regardless what the header says. 
They sure have a lot of speculations in there for a agency that can’t even hire enough people right now with the only requirement being a heartbeat
Well that document didn’t last long. Wonder why they’re keeping everything secret? Is it they don’t want feedback from the 0462’s out there?
Wonder what the 5 California federal fire management directors are doing on the 0456 series. Messaging out would be a good thing.
I honestly feel they really don’t care and if they could get rid of us all and contract out they would
Don’t be surprised if in 3-6 years all the green stations turn red and all of R5 is contracted to calfire.
Unfortunately this is the way it appears to be going. But it won’t be all green stations only those that make since. ESP cause the state cost way more and has a higher standard of stations. Feds can’t get stations fixed now there will be even less money if and when it happens.
Not likely the wages proposed will turn the corner on the vacancy rate, and if it does, it will take 3-4 years to see staffing at an acceptable level. If we get the pay scale approved and add on top of the administrations 5.1% raise for all, that could be a sizable bump.
I personally think, this is baked into the cake and the point of no return has already been passed.
In California MOST ALL LG depts have between 15-30% vacancy rate and its growing in most cases. Depts that once only hired Paramedics that had 1yr field experience and a SFT FF1. Will now hire almost anyone with a EMT card and put them through a SFT academy.
I know of several So Calif, Inland Empire depts that have Vacancies in all ranks. Some are offering a $15,000 signing bonus. While others are recruiting from Senior class at local high schools. Others have even taking their training staff and pushed them to stations to help alleviate the force hire problems.
Until the DEMOGRAPHICS problem is solved, this problem will continue and get worse with time.
Not just a FEDERAL FF problem. Rather it’s an ever growing BLUE COLLAR Labor problem.
Still waiting for the house to introduce… start writing those representatives. Friends, Family, everyone you can imagine. Once introduced, it has to go to committee, then vote… we have less than 60 days… tick tock tick tock…
Any updates? September is coming up quick
Im taking the silence as a negative
Congress is on August recess. Won’t be any movement till they get back.
The house is introducing a companion bill for the senates.
I appreciate that info. Good to know. Sounds like there is a chance then it might go through without a lapse
Update: Wildland firefighter pay, classification
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Update: Members of Congress recognize need to address wildland firefighter pay during appropriations process
Aug. 10, 2023
A lot of activity has been taking place in Congress around wildland firefighter pay these last few weeks. As you know from the last update, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2023” (S. 2272) on July 12, which would provide special base rates and premium pay for wildland firefighters. And just this week, on Aug. 8, a bipartisan group in the House introduced the companion bill.
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee considered S. 2272 during a business meeting held on July 26. The bill was voted favorably out of the committee on a bipartisan basis by a vote of 10-1 and now awaits further consideration by the full Senate.
The appropriations process is also in full swing on Capitol Hill right now. This is the time of year when Appropriations Committees (those that oversee federal agency funding) hold their business meetings regarding the various bills that fund the federal government. During these business meetings (or mark-ups), members of Congress offer and vote on amendments related to these funding bills, committee members vote to accept or reject the amendments and then vote to move the bill forward for consideration before the full Senate or House. These mark-ups are an important step forward in the process to fund the government before the next fiscal year. Both committees that oversee and provide funding for the Forest Service—the House and Senate Appropriations Committees—held their business meetings last month. You can view those meetings here:
Senate: Hearing | Hearings | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
During their business meetings, numerous members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees expressed support for averting the pay cliff. The final reports that accompany the final bills that passed out of both the House and Senate committees contained language recognizing the administration’s legislative proposal regarding firefighter compensation and the need for authorization.
- House Report language: "The Committee is aware of the Administration’s legislative proposal regarding firefighter compensation and the request for additional funding to implement the legislation. If authorizing legislation regarding firefighter compensation is enacted, the Committee will consider providing the funding required to implement such Act.”
- Senate Report language: “The President’s budget submission included a package of firefighter pay-related legislative proposals and the Committee awaits authorization committee action to enact those proposals. The Committee is committed to providing the required resources to implement these compensation reforms once they are enacted."
Congress is in recess for the month of August and will return in September to further consider legislation related to firefighter compensation before the end of the fiscal year. We are optimistic that Congress will send legislation regarding a permanent wildland firefighter pay fix to the president’s desk. Further, we remain committed to doing everything we can to ensure all our wildland firefighters are rewarded for the dangerous, grueling work they do to protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources.
We are also beginning to schedule town halls by region to provide information on these proposals and answer your questions. Look for one coming to your region soon.
Thats good info, appreciate that. Thats the stuff we need to hear about
Is there any idea about how long it will take for us to recieve the pay if it is to pass? How long the lapse will be
I said it once when this thread started, and I’ll say it again, don’t trust the Federal Government ever! You have to trust in yourself, and if that means jumping agencies do it. Having been in government 22 yrs. as an elected official the government rarely gets it right. If you can’t help the House Members or Senate Members politically, you mean nothing to them. Good luck on moving this issue forward and getting results but count on yourself first and go where your paid what your worth. Godspeed!
Talking Points
[OWF-Wildland-Firefighter-Pay-TPs-FINAL-08.21.2023.pdf|attachment](upload://rDIXTcNKH3s0031snDFYhrbP1vz.pdf) (102.2 KB)