How about PTP for anyone who has a incident number and request number, regardless of incident type?
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Good point. Edited
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I feel this is going to work out. As I’ve come up in the past 14 years, I remember the discussions of a more benefited work force. The groveling of too little, too late in careers we truly enjoy. Ironically when I started as a seasonal I worked at a coop station with a county department. We would talk about retention and benefits with them and come up with legitimate ideas to help the cause. These conversations are having a ripple effect today in the talks with the people who can change it.
The media has helped as well In the aspect of exposure.
Since the beginning I have been a believer of change and an optimist on the subject. Maybe because I really do love my job or maybe because the I believe the human beings I work with are worth it. Regardless, this fight is going to take us all to keep an innovative mindset and a relentless attitude. The stage has been set for us to execute the final product.
Keep it up all. Keep emailing your congresspeople and show the force.
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Nice post Branco. Very well said.
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I would just like to thanks the unskilled Labor of the STF for there quick response to CA-STF-RUBY.
If that had got rolling from Cedar Ridge/Twain Harte the HWY 108 corridor to Pinecrest could of been in jeopardy. Again, the Unskilled Labor has save the day which is being repeated everyday during this Fire Season. Give these folks the prevailing wage that is due to them. Senator Tom Mc Clintock this was in the district you represent.
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Internal email in region 5 is stating pay incentive will begin pay period 16.
The Act contains $600 million for federal wildland firefighter salaries, expenses and the development of a distinct “wildland firefighter” classification series
@milehighbar and whoever is in the know, does this sound like the “forestry tech” issue is going to be addressed finally. Add any info you might have in regards to “reality” pay changes also.
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Incentive awards will come this summer in the following ways:(sorry for the formatting, not sure why its posting like that)
Temporary (1039) seasonal fire employees GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below: Temporary (1039) primary/secondary-covered positions for wildland firefighting, GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below, will receive an achievement cash award of $1,300 (resulting in an after-tax amount of $1000).
Permanent full-time and permanent seasonal fire employees GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below: Permanent full-time and permanent seasonal primary/secondary-covered positions for wildland firefighting, GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below, will receive an achievement cash award equivalent to 10% of their base salaries for 1,040 hours (based on step 5 of grade and the locality pay for the “rest of the United States”).
All GS-3 employees earning a basic rate of less than $15 per hour: Permanent and seasonal GS-3 employees who earn a basic rate of pay of less than $15 per hour will receive additional compensation in their achievement cash awards equal to or more than the difference between their current rate and $15 per hour for a tour of 1,040 hours, regardless of actual tour. This has been calculated to be an additional $1,612.
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I was kind of disheartened, when I saw it wasn’t a 10% pay increase for 6 months as it was previously described. It beats a kick in the mouth though. I truly hope they follow through with the long term goals. I feel it is good in the facet of what our season has been like so far, specifically in how early we hit PL5 nationally and for the headline news.
Obviously too many fires throughout our lands is not a good thing but I do feel this is keeping the pressure on the people who can make a long term change.
Keep doing what your doing out there and keep pressing your politicians. This isn’t just a change for us but the future generations who enjoy the job. Be relentless
#NotEnough
Changes in classification could mean a lot. Other than the name. We could be working for our chiefs instead of the District ranger. I’m sure Fire related Labor Unions are looking to add a couple thousand more members they can speak on behalf of. Presumptive job related Health Cancer is covered cause you’ll be a Firefighter now. It’s a huge stepping stone. But after it’s done. We can’t just let off the gas. People need to be proactive within our unions. Just my .02cents
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Amen…
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Funny cuz the WG-08 trainee operators are included in this but the WG-10 qualified operators aren’t. This about equals the trainees being paid 30-40 cents per our more than their trainers?
Yes, its pretty frustrating to see the WG-10 Operators excluded from the pay initiatives. This quote is from the official USFS Pay Initiative FAQ…
“12. Why did the awards only go to the GS-09 level and below when higher levels are also leaving?
The purpose of these short-term pay initiatives is to improve Federal firefighter compensation for
GS-9 and lower graded Federal wildland firefighters at the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service who directly respond to wildfires and are
tasked in their official position descriptions. This is also to make federal firefighting positions more
competitive with fire organizations in states like California that pay two to three times the base pay
of Federal firefighters.”
I suppose they don’t expect the WG-10 or WS-10 Dozer Operators to continue to “directly respond to wildfires.” Its par for the course with this organization to screw something like this up and allow GS-9 Battalion Chief supervisors to receive the monetary award but not their dozer operators.
The agency has pulled a fantastic PR stunt by proclaiming a 10% pay increase for forestry technicians yet limited the monetary award to only 1040 hours which essentially equates to a 5% award for PFT employees.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see the GS-3 minimum bump to $15/hour and the majority of our forestry techs get a small temporary bump in pay. I only hope this is not a prequel of poor implementation of a “Wildland Firefighter” series developed by OPM if the Infrastructure Bill becomes law.
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MOD Note: I realize it’s a very tough ask, we all have our respective political beliefs, but let’s try to keep the politics out of these discussions. It is a far too important topic to get sidetracked and mired down in the politics. Believe me, it’s tough for me as well, but let’s state the factual information and leave the politics off to the green side for another day, please.
Carry on!
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Apologize for that, but the politics of the Infrastructure Bill is a fact so I spelled it out, of course added an opinion. No worries!