Entitlement
Would you like to know what I did today? Apparently you have stopped in to see what is going on, so I will tell you.
Today I began the day with stopping by the Union hall to open it up for the MDA Poker run coming in from Lynchburg. I got off work this morning, and did not get to stop by the house to see my wife and kids until after lunch was served for the bikers. Unfortunately there were not as many riders as were expected. Only 3 Roanoke Firefighters rode and another helped me at the Hall. Yet another event brought to the firefighters for a good cause, but not nearly the support expected.
Fast forward to 3pm, I got home. Guess what. I have yard work too... Unfortunately I do not have someone to come by and mow my yard. I did get to play with the kids a while. Then down to business. Yard cut by 5:30. Out the door by 6pm after a quick shower.
Where to now you might ask? Becky, the children, and I head off to the Fire on Ice hockey game. I have to be there early to sell t-shirts. The Henrico Fire Hockey team came to town to play the Roanoke Valley Firefighters team. Unfortunately there was not nearly the turnout expected. (see above, kinda the same thing. Actually the exact same thing.) But I was there in support of the cause, MDA, and to see my brothers battle in the round house. It was a great game. We came out to a 2 point lead and held them 2-1 until the third period. However, Henrico fought back and won 4-6 in the end. It really seemed as though the guys had a great time.
If you are a Roanoke Firefighter, go ahead and print this out and keep it close. This is a perfect example of your Union doing things for you. We created 2 great events for you to participate in. The outcome is raising funds for our Charity and increasing the publics positive perception of the Firefighters. Remember, these events do not cost the Union a dime. They are completely self funding. There are members who spend a lot of time planning these events.
I had a lot to think about today. Somebody questioned me about what the Union had done for them. I could have answered them with one statement - "If you come to the meetings, you would already know". But I didn't. I entertained his gripe as a good Union Officer and considered his standpoint. I left out an important point though, the start and finish of the conversation was that he was turning in his Union Card. What? That is right. Apparently he felt that the Union had not done enough for him. Which leads me to my next point. Just because you are an RFFA, VPFF, and or IAFF member does not make you entitled. There is a greater good, a common goal, a give and take involved. As a Union member you have a responsibility. That responsibility is to support your fellow brothers and sisters. Not everyone will be able to do everything all the time, and actually that would be unnecessary. If everyone gave a little, we would be able to achieve so much more.
Before you ask me what the Union has done recently you might want to think twice. If you do not know, chances are you haven't done anything for your Union. Before you tell me that you did not hear about these events. Every fire station has a computer and all of this information is on the website.
Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed your Saturday. I will be at the VPFF convention the next three days. I will try and post some information on it. It is being held in Lynchburg this year.
Today I began the day with stopping by the Union hall to open it up for the MDA Poker run coming in from Lynchburg. I got off work this morning, and did not get to stop by the house to see my wife and kids until after lunch was served for the bikers. Unfortunately there were not as many riders as were expected. Only 3 Roanoke Firefighters rode and another helped me at the Hall. Yet another event brought to the firefighters for a good cause, but not nearly the support expected.
Fast forward to 3pm, I got home. Guess what. I have yard work too... Unfortunately I do not have someone to come by and mow my yard. I did get to play with the kids a while. Then down to business. Yard cut by 5:30. Out the door by 6pm after a quick shower.
Where to now you might ask? Becky, the children, and I head off to the Fire on Ice hockey game. I have to be there early to sell t-shirts. The Henrico Fire Hockey team came to town to play the Roanoke Valley Firefighters team. Unfortunately there was not nearly the turnout expected. (see above, kinda the same thing. Actually the exact same thing.) But I was there in support of the cause, MDA, and to see my brothers battle in the round house. It was a great game. We came out to a 2 point lead and held them 2-1 until the third period. However, Henrico fought back and won 4-6 in the end. It really seemed as though the guys had a great time.
If you are a Roanoke Firefighter, go ahead and print this out and keep it close. This is a perfect example of your Union doing things for you. We created 2 great events for you to participate in. The outcome is raising funds for our Charity and increasing the publics positive perception of the Firefighters. Remember, these events do not cost the Union a dime. They are completely self funding. There are members who spend a lot of time planning these events.
I had a lot to think about today. Somebody questioned me about what the Union had done for them. I could have answered them with one statement - "If you come to the meetings, you would already know". But I didn't. I entertained his gripe as a good Union Officer and considered his standpoint. I left out an important point though, the start and finish of the conversation was that he was turning in his Union Card. What? That is right. Apparently he felt that the Union had not done enough for him. Which leads me to my next point. Just because you are an RFFA, VPFF, and or IAFF member does not make you entitled. There is a greater good, a common goal, a give and take involved. As a Union member you have a responsibility. That responsibility is to support your fellow brothers and sisters. Not everyone will be able to do everything all the time, and actually that would be unnecessary. If everyone gave a little, we would be able to achieve so much more.
Before you ask me what the Union has done recently you might want to think twice. If you do not know, chances are you haven't done anything for your Union. Before you tell me that you did not hear about these events. Every fire station has a computer and all of this information is on the website.
Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed your Saturday. I will be at the VPFF convention the next three days. I will try and post some information on it. It is being held in Lynchburg this year.
42 comments:
Rhett Lets get this straight! The reason i am turning in my union card is not cause the union has done nothing for ME! as you say here. I am turning in my card cause i joined because i was told it was about brotherhood and we will cover your back if anything ever happens to you and we will look after your family. as everyone knows i was in a Bad MVC and missed 8 months of work, not once did a union officer call me to offer help. i was offered disability due to this MVC, But for the love of this job i wanted to come back to work.Then when one of our members was denied a lawyer in his case it started me to thinking. Then you take in affect that i get stabbed in the back so often on the roanoke rumor mill by a bunch of cowards that are union members that come to mettings and set in the back row, why would i want to come in on a day off and set with people like that? rhett i even took a few hits on your site last week. so i said what the hell, there is no brother hood here there is no guarante that the union will even help me if i need it or if members will even work for me if needed. I even had a union oficer tell me when i asked about not geting a call after my accident he said when is the last time you came to a union meeting., my reply is when is the last time you took union dues out of my check.If anyone wants to see what i am talking about the issues with brotherhood just go see how our union brothers treat other union brothers and sisters just go to the roanokerumormill.com.And Rheet i did my share of work for our union and their members, I worked very hard on our turnout gear program and put our members in safer turnout gear when i went to report our findings to the union members at a union meeting i was accused of spying for the chief. After 9-11 i wanted to do something to help so i thought up the firefighters fund,my union said that i was doing it more for volunteers and myself and not for the union, Hell i was doing it for union brothers familys but the leadership of the union thought more of them selves then the cause so why would i come to another meeting. Hell i have been told by many members they want out,but most wont do it cause they are afraid of how they would be treated.But i figure hell they called me alot worse then a scabb.I guess ill be putting a extra $50 bucks towards my ICMA each month, i have 7 more years that adds up after a while. So Rhett i would hope you write the truth on your site and not half truths.How i look at it, is i work for this department but i am not a member of this department.I pay union dues but i am not a member of the union. it took 11 years but i understand this know. Todd Stone
Whoa there buddy. You must have a guilty conscious. The beginning of that post was meant for all the members. The last point was obviously speaking about you. However, I did not name you out of respect. The fact that you were the one that dropped the Union is a small one, the bigger point is that A CARD WAS TURNED IN.
As far as your wreck goes. I give you this. President Jordan contacted your wife about your needs. He was told that you wanted to be left alone. Similarly I got the same response from your Lt. at the time. There was a page sent out that said you were doing fine and you needed rest. How in the hell do you expect YOUR UNION to help you when we were told everything is fine.
When you speak of how the Union brothers treated you I say this. Are they acting as Union members or Department members. Are you going to quit the department as well? What gives. I have people who do not like me. Who the hell cares. This is a family. There have been times in my life when I have wanted to strangle my brother. Who cares. Not everyone is going to get along 100% of the time.
I have always said that I will never know what all the guys have done for the Union before me. How can I judge someone else about what they are doing currently when I do not know what they did in the past.
In the same manner, how can certain members ask me what we are doing for them when they aren't currently doing anything for the Union. In case you didn't know, the Union is only as strong as its members.
Half truths on this site. Well whatever. I don't claim I know everything. That comment you made because you thought that I aiming the whole post at you.
This is what I love about this site. Freedom of speech.
GIVE THEM HELL.
I will close on this. I really feel that you messed up in turning in your card. Why didn't you try to change things instead of throwing up your hands.
Well said, both of you. Finally people are saying what is on their minds.
Now we should channel that anger in the proper directions. Admin. and DT has been using the divide and conquer mentality for years, and this is a perfect example. Lets stop infighting and stand up together, and work on making this a job that we love again. That love has been taken from us, but together we can reclaim it!
Well said my brother.
Rhett you say i must have a guilty conscious, Because you did not use my name in your post, But you damn sure droped my name at the MDA Event after you left station 3, The only person i told about turning in my card was you, not even the guys i worked with knew it until then.Yeah its your site you can say anything you want but dont act like you did me a favor by not posting my name. Second there is no diference in a department member our union member they are one and the same if you are in the union! But you come on your site and bitch and moan about union members not coming to union events, well look in the mirror people do not want to come to an event with union members that stab one another in the back,Why is it that the union has to always fight everything? why is that we all have to have a negitive attitude when it comes to the city? Just like you said Rhett the city has screwed you! How? You got promoted pull your time at ARFF do a good job and you will get to a busy company!I was the most negitive person in this department!! I decided that i was tired of being that way and if i was going to stay here i needed to change, i have kept my mouth shut did my job. I do not want to ever go back and be that way again! I can tell you what one pays more! Thats the problem with the union it is a negative atmosphere,its a we are going to fight everything attitude! i am not into that. And no i have NEVER kissed anyones ass.Look the union and the members need to change,we need to look out for ALL Union members stop stabbing each other in the back ,work towards goals we can meet and are worth fighting for, not fighing everything. We have been labled as a angry bunch of babies and the city manger and her boses see us coming with that attitude we will never get any where! THIS IS A WAKE UP CALL TO ALL UNION MEMBERS.Rhett you said i should work for the union and help fix it me you rodney cant do it or the other 20 active members(If it's that many?) It will never happen we have driven a wedge to deep to pull our selves out of it, It will take many years before this union and department changes there thinking.But ill close with this. I thanks you Rhett and rodney for what you have done, but untill we stop stabbing one another in the back and treat each person in this union with respect we will continue to lose more then we ever win! Todd Stone
where does the "we" come from? You have dropped out and now you are a SCAB. So get over it.
Todd, if you Rhett and Rodney cant fix it alone, then why turn in the card? You said yourself it takes members. You spoke of the way you were well I remember you wanting to be in the FD. You took the test multiple times to just get a shot. So what now? Were you wrong to want to be a part of that? Dont you want to work to make it better or more like it was? Alot of people have busted your balls in the past but I have to say, I never had you pegged as a quitter.
Ok, settle down everyone. Seems we have a heated issue. You say I dropped your name at an event. So what if I did, you disappointed me. You say I am the only one who knew. Wrong. You quit the Union in front of your whole crew. Quitting never served anything.
I am onto another subject now.
You're history now, big boy.
That Proves It!!!
Local 1132 is a LABOR union. The main purpose of the union is to represent it's membership.The union is NOT a social club. I have been a member for many years, and have observed many changes. If we stick to LABOR issues we would be much better off. I do fully support MDA. Much time and money has been used to support issues that in my oponion are not LABOR related.I am in no way condeming our union officers , They do a wonderful job. What I am really trying to say is that it is time to take a look at our local,state, and international by-laws and start going by them.
To the last comment I will offer this- You are correct that the main purpose is to represent its membership.
It seems as though ever since I got involved in the RFFA about 3-4 years ago, when I started doing the golf tournaments, I have had to put most of my efforts into getting people to help than actually pulling off an event. I was the MDA Chairman at the time. Now I am the Sec/Treas and I spend most of my time trying to get people involved. I try to update the Local1132 website at least weekly, but so many of our members do not know or care how to get to it. We offer a meeting once a month to conduct business and give the schedule out 3 years in advance, but still we cannot get the numbers to show up to be effective.
I will say more in a future post.
Fat chance getting that to fly. That means everyone will have to buy union beer and American made products (try finding something worth a shit made in USA)
Hey Rhett
Why no post on Randy's promotion
Todd DO NOT GET OUT OF THE UNION! This shit will change in time Does Rhett have your card? Have you talked to rodney? Did you send a letter to Rodney or the E Board? You are a good man do not do this, just cool off. What you said is all true,maybe what you did may help the union? Time will tell brother.
Amen!
There are a lot of things that need to change, but if you leave you lose your opportunity to influence the change. Stick around, and use your influence to support people you agree with, when you can. Todd, If you drop out, you just give the guys with the big mouths and bad attitude a victory.
Todd please! please! don't quit.The union is here to represent it's members. We need your membership money.We use it to fight for you like we did for Clayton Martin.We also need it for raises for Rodney And Rhett.
There's one now!
It is good to see the communication above. There are a lot of good points. Then again there are some which are just fishing for a certain response. It is good to see you all talking.
Every Union in every Dept. across the globe has the attitude of "what can you do for me?" You need to sit down and talk it out in person not on this websight and stand together for the greater good.
well lets see you want to say what a good union officer is well it is not one that downs a fellow firefighter union or not about a decision he has made, it's not a good officer that helps raise union dues and in the same breath ask foe a raise, i see those flapping gums of yours still doesn't know when to quit, you and the ole pres should step down so we can get someone who will look after local issues not state and national, like the trip you are on now!
Does that mean your putting your name in the hat? Nope, didnt think so
"Can we get along here? Can we all get along?" -Rodney King
"Hit him again" -Mark Fhurman's partner
I been through 6 different presidents and the current one is doing just fine (I hate to group them like that) The Sec/Treas position hasn't been the same since Hanks left but Rhett is doing the best he can and seems on top of stuff, I don't aggree with the pay raises but I haven't been to meetings on a regular basis in a long time. Give them some slack and see what happens. If they screw up we can take em out back and beat em.
I like the comment about"local"issues. Fed decisions affects the states decision which in turn affects the "local" decision. Need to look at the whole picture not just a slice. As far as the card turning in think about it some more and pray you have predicted the future right in regards to your health. The force of 265,000 is greater than the force of one.
what Todd said is completly true, you people preach brotherhood but then you want to get on that Rumor Mill and bust each others ass all over the place, but it's "All in Fun". thats the dumbest damn thing i ever heard. other departments look at that stuff and yea they laugh, they laugh at how it makes the PEOPLE who WORK for the DEPT. (not the dept) look so stupid!! and as far as the union goes, this is a "right to work" state. so you can call people "scabs" all you want but that and the union doesn't mean nothing in this state. all it is a orginization that represents common ideas among themselves, other states unions have power, not this state only to lobbying and money donations oopps sorry we dont have any of that so there goes that idea!! just like your own family. it comes first, why doesn't this union local 1132 take care of the problems we have first then try to help with state and national levels...we need to go to patterson avenue, clean house start over with a new goal, local issues first.
Hey Rhett is it true that roanoke county officers make 17% more then roanokes? Is it true that salem captains make $20 thousand more a year then roanoke captains? I remember chief grisby said roanoke fire-ems would be leaders in this nation in fire and ems delivery, Hell i would like to just be leaders in our general area, We run more fires and ems calls then the county and salem combined at least we shold be making what they are or more! What is the union doing to address this? Are we fighting to much to save a 100 year old firehouse or we going to try and get us more money? You know there is a reason no other cities in virginia are no longer in 100 year old firehouses.So get your act together get the officers more money, then work on our medics that are running there balls off some more money then work on geting our firefighters more money because they are the ones that make us all look good!! Wake up rhett and figure out what the union is for! its not about saving a 100 year old fire house it's looking out for our members and there pockets!
Dear anonymous above: I have to admit that I am enjoying the communication. Some of what I read is credible, while some is speculation. 17%, I am not sure. You will have to get me a report and I will look at it. As far as the 100 year old firehouse goes, I think that your point is interesting. First of all, I was not a Union Officer when I assisted the group of concerned business owners with keeping it opened. I was merely acting as a Union member. I saw something that I felt strongly about and I did something about it as a Union member. I asked around and the majority of the firefighters wanted it to stay open. I acted under the assistance of my Union Officers. I can understand how you might not know that though. One main standpoint of the Union relating to the building of the new firehouse and closing the current one was not that it was unneccesary, rather that the money would be better spent on better Pay, benefits, apparatus, equipment, etc. All the things that most members take issue with now (proof given in your post). I can understand how you might not have know that either.
I am glad that this post has sparked an interest in the Union and its holdings. I hope that all of you show up at the meetings this week and join up on committees so that we can make a difference.
For those of you that think that unions don't mean anything in the state of Virginia guess again. Ask any HR person in the state if they would like to deal with a union! Check your facts being a right to work state means that a city or state does not have recognize a union but trust me they do and if the need arises they will recgonize a union!
FACT, Salem's lowest paid Captain makes $61,000.00 a year! Go ahead and pick your jaw up off the keyboard. We got alot of work to do men.
One thing you guys are missing is that a Capt in Salem is equal to a Bat Chief in the city. As Lts are equal to Capts in the city. They also screw their guys into having 'senior' firefighters riding the seats and risk their lives by not having enough staffing to man a ladder and an engine. $61k a year for a Bat Chief? Par with us I think
i think the point is being missed here. we need better pay, better benefits, and need to have a little say in how things are done within the city. old trucks, a building fund for those old trucks, and other bullshit needs to be put on the back burner. if someone has an idea then lets hear it and roll with it. come to the meeting this week and leave the "what has the union done for me lately" crap at the door. also leave the negativity, rhett and rodney, at the door also. you asked for those positions now suck it up or move out of the way. i challenge the two of you to support whatever ideas are brought up and promise the brothers that pay and benefits are the number one priority and that is where all the unions energy will be spent. can you do that? rodney has done a good job, and rhett, you're coming along, (quit whining pal), we can be great again.but we must all do it together. we already had one quit, like him or not, he was a brother. P.S. there is talk of more following the same path. lets fix it before it's too late.
Ok, I will entertain your comments. Just to make one thing clear, I was nominated and elected for the position I am in. Nobody else was nominated. I have never complained about being Secretary/Treasurer. I have said that my job would be a lot easier if the members did theirs. That consists of filling all the empty seats on all of the committees.
So in order to be positive I will say this; It seems as though a lot of the guys posting above will be there at the meeting to sign up for the committees and begin the arduous task of getting the better pay and benefits that you and I crave so much.
Sale the union hall! Thats a good start!
sell dipshit
if you can keep their ass here in town instead of off up scheitshitters ass, we might get something done, all those people don't live her, you want more dues from me so you can get a raise and go on all these exspensive trips this union can't afford?? they give you a small raise here and then hike up the insurance, now the union dues!! hell we are volunteering!! how can someone be on a committee, when they have to work two jobs to survive?? some ways Todd is right keep your due money and invest it for your own future, and there isn't no city, employer scared of no union, that was a dumbass remark.laugh at you and hire others who can use a paycheck!!
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!
If you would get involved with YOUR union then you would know that Local 1132 pays very little for these trips, most of the cost is taken up by the VPFF.
Next, it is not just you that is paying more in insurance, its the entire country dumba##! This is a national problem not just a Roanoke problem.
The reason we need a due's increase is that we no longer have a show fund to give us unlimited cash flow. If you were involved you would know that we have payed out large amounts of money to lawyers in the past two years to save peoples jobs! If you don't think the lawyers reprensted us good then first you should get ALL of the facts and then come to a meeting and suggest alternate plans to represent our people.
I also did not notice you giving back the extra 4% you recieved in January. The rest of the City's employees did not get that. WHO do you think fought that battle?
If you don't like our leadership, they are elected, find someone else that is willing to work 30-40 hours a week, on and off duty for $500 a month. Or even better you are welcome to toss your hat in the ring.
Admin has been trying to break our union for several years, if you want to get on the fast track, go ahead jump on, but remember some times people get sacrificed for the cause, just look around and open your eyes!
Remember don't go around half cocked until you know both sides of the story!
This is the most amazing load of nonsense I have read in a long time. Folks, a Union is the force of its membership, not a group of members doing what is best for themselves. I have spent more years with this union than most everyone else in this fire department. The main problem is that most of the new members, and some of the older members, are looking for someone to do something for them. They don't want to make any sacrifices for the good of the whole. I have seen members stab each other in the back for promotions, or to score points with their BC. I have heard them complain about this and that, but when it comes time to stand together, they are always too busy. However, quite a few of those seem to have time to volunteer with their little, local, fire/ems crews.
A Union is simply that, a Union. If you can't make a sacrifice for a brother/sister, then don't expect them to make a sacrifice for you, although a true union member probably would. We have had members that were strong supporters of the union break rank and now work hard against the union. That is their right to do so, but that really means that they never were a true union member in the first place.
When you take your oath to Local 1132, you really need to mean what you are saying, or don't say it. If you can't accept all of your union brothers, then you are not a true union member. You don't have to like everyone, or hang out with them, but you do need to stand beside them as a team, a unit, a UNION!!! That's why they call it a UNION!!!!
So cut through the crap. If you haven't attended a union meeting, don't complain about what they do. Paying your dues doesn't give you anything except one vote. If you don't care enough to attend a meeting to cast your vote, then you are the one wasting your union dues, not the Officers. Seems to me that the ones that complain the most can't bother to be involved.
Amen to the last post seems tomorrow and Thursday will be packed according to the rumors. Peoples faces that haven't been seen in years or never have been seen in the union hall. All bitchin about something they know nothing about. All the naysayers get your head out of someones ass and wake up and get involved instead of bitching about the way someone else does something for you.
Nobody stabbed anyone in the back for a promotion. You talk about a UNION, this department has NEVER been a union for anything, we are to busy with in fighting and back stabbing to get anything done.And WHO got us the 4%, thank the cops they got us our overtime back and our 4%, Hey what are the dues over at the FOP?? do they still have a pool at their union hall?
Is our union president doing anything about the ordeal at #4? Three or four guys and gals putting their gear in the middle of the floor trying to staff which ever piece is needed?? What kinda signal does that send to the citizens & council? We used to laugh at Salem and the County for doing it and now we're stooping that low?? Hope someone's looking into this goat rodeo.
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