I would agree with you if we still had a 6 month fire season. Now we have a year long fire season, so boots on the ground are getting damn worn out
Something to remember is on the CA State side, Portal to Portal is union bargained agreement between the CF firefighter’s union and the State of California. And only CF firefighter’s receive that pay. The mechanics, the Communications Operators, Forest Logistics Officers and all of CF support personnel only receive hour for hour.
So you need to think how you are going to approach OPM and Federal Management in regards to who would receive PTP if approved. OPM is going to research how CF issues out that pay. And they are going to say only Federal workers who’s job is everyday firefighting will be eligible. So what about the federal militia support staff? Team members? Lead plane pilots, ATGS’s?
You just can’t say CF gets PTP so we want it to. CF firefighter’s spent a long time fighting for that pay. It was their union that got it for them. I know alot of federal fire fighters hate the word union, but it is what gets workers most of their pay and benefits today.
You need to come up with a plan that every federal Wildland Firefighter or Forestry Technician will stand behind and support.
Remember back East, Forestry Technicians only work fire a couple of months. Your going to have to find a way to address their schedule also.
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I haven’t heard any specifics on the PTP other than we would be put on ordered standby for the duration of the incident. no details on what positions that would apply to and if it would only be for incidents off forest. also no time frame either
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That’s exactly correct but instead of PTP for support staff ( everything outside suppression) it’s your regular shift hours which turns to OT if still working then to Standby at half time once off duty. CF staff still get paid around the clock just depends on your assignment.
Keep asking for answers.
They/leadership dropped this on us, it’s their idea and presented Portal to portal as the one thing they can get done quickly. Let’s hold them to those words.
Reportedly the FS union and DOI are involved. Unknown on the scope and scale.
If using ordered standby, it could be difficult for them to justify for just one area of the country. Ordered standby is a reference to determine if time spent must be on duty and paid or not and allows for the employees off duty time to have some level of personal freedom or separation from work. We all know in most cases while on assignment separation from work is not possible. So the feds use fear of job loss, disguised as “fit for duty” during the non paid hours to keep employees in check. IOW’s they lean on a decades old judges decision that occurred before most were even born to restrict the freedom of movement of off duty federal Wildland firefighters. How about we just pay them and stop the facade.
Imagine the FS crew or Type 3 engine from Utah parked next to a FS crew or Type 3 engine from California. The idea that you get p to p and you don’t is not going to fly just because one area is seeing the highest losses of personnel and has a higher minimum wage. The ordered standby working conditions while on assignment are the same for all feds.
If the federal agencies choose to use ordered standby for portal to portal pay, it must be nationwide in scope and include all hazard assignments. Think of the time saved by answering questions from finance about showing breaks. Not having to do that dance alone can save time/money.
Balls in their court, management placed portal to portal on the table. Our job is to make sure they don’t conveniently forget.
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Why isnt NFFE-FSC not taking more advantage of the situation? Using media to capitalize on the fact that the fed is short on staffing to the public. At the very least, inform your members.
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Thats a good question.
It’s up to us.
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It’s surprising how many folks are not aware. Or don’t care
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Its on front street now. Never thought I’d hear the president talk about this. Lets hope its not just talk!
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Come on Joe! Really!?!
You going to host a meeting to prepare for things that are going on right now?
I don’t know about you folks, but I prepared 2 months ago for this, I’m living it, and already bought the first fire t shirts for the kidos!
Be safe and hydrate.
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Amtrak Joe!
Do the right thing sir.
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Maximum pressure is required at this moment. Do everything to can to keep this topic on the table.
@latimes
@nytimes
@R5_Fire_News
@POTUS
@VP
@PressSec
@SecVilsack
@SecDebHaaland
@usfs_r5
@SenFeinstein
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Hi Randy. The next chief of the forest service won’t be the person who watched and managed the implosion of his firefighting organization over the last 10 years.
I promise.
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More news from the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=207827294536199&id=102801208372142&sfnsn=mo
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And like a meeting with the western Governors will do much…
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Lots of good chatter from elected officials and associations. Lost in translation can be proposals that are not effective.
Keep it simple.
Entry level federal wildland firefighter needs to start at $21 an hour and scale up as you go through the ranks.
Create a Wildland fire series.
Implement portal to portal pay nationwide when committed to a Wildland fire or all hazard incident.
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Just thinking about this. What are they going to pay the SO office, District office staff and AD militia staff? Are they going to pay them PTP as well? And does their pay increased when they are on a fire. And what about the Forestry Techs who only do fire a couple of months a year? Are they going to switch from FT to a WF series when they go to a fire? Same goes for support staff from other agencies. Are they going to get PTP as well? These questions need to be answered before any of this is implemented.
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