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Help the Reedy Creek Firefighters
- Thread starter caparamedic
- Start date
10 min. to wdw
Member
same question as I had rob. by the way hope you had a good trip home, I'm guessing you "home" again
Where to go....
Go to Station One, Headquarters on Buena Vista Drive at Victory Way. Best time to go is M-F from 0900-1700 (9am to 5 pm). Park in the visitor parking spots (the first ones you see) and go to the wooden front doors to the right of the Dalmatian spots.
Cash is best, but we can also take personal or traveler's checks. No credit cards yet and absolutely no Disney dollars! :slurp:
See you soon!
Go to Station One, Headquarters on Buena Vista Drive at Victory Way. Best time to go is M-F from 0900-1700 (9am to 5 pm). Park in the visitor parking spots (the first ones you see) and go to the wooden front doors to the right of the Dalmatian spots.
Cash is best, but we can also take personal or traveler's checks. No credit cards yet and absolutely no Disney dollars! :slurp:
See you soon!
bjunderwood
Member
steve will be hearing from me. its always good to know that you guys are there. ill order my t-shirt soon.
10 min. to wdw
Member
hey you know what I found funny the other day when I was at the main street fire station they have fire dept patches from all over but not from reedy creek. I couldn't belive it.
No RCFD patches at Station 71? Look harder!!
The Reedy Creek PATCHES are at the top of the patch board. I think they have three patches.
The original patch had a flame on it and "RCID". The next patch is similar to the current patch and said "Reedy Creek Fire Services". The current patch says "Reedy Creek Emergency Services". This is another thing I have to get a digital photo of!
The Reedy Creek PATCHES are at the top of the patch board. I think they have three patches.
The original patch had a flame on it and "RCID". The next patch is similar to the current patch and said "Reedy Creek Fire Services". The current patch says "Reedy Creek Emergency Services". This is another thing I have to get a digital photo of!
Married@WDW
Member
Just gotta say that I mailed in my money for two t-shirts the first week of December and still haven't seen them -- they haven't cashed my check yet so I'm just waiting patiently. Had I known I could buy them at the station, I would have stopped while we were there last week.
I will follow up on this tonight!!
Sorry we missed you. The code Orange just went to Yellow last week!
I will contact the "tee shirt guy" RIGHT now!
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Sorry we missed you. The code Orange just went to Yellow last week!
I will contact the "tee shirt guy" RIGHT now!
Sorry for any inconvenience.
To Married@WDW
If you have any other problems with your order, check my profile and e-mail me, or go to the ReedyCreek.org site and send a message that way.
I've forwarded a copy of your reply regarding your order to the "tee shirt" guy at 2252 hrs. Eastern time on 1-14-04.
caparamedic
Mr. or Ms. Moderator- please excuse the direct e-mail, but Married@WDW
has requested no e-mails.
If you have any other problems with your order, check my profile and e-mail me, or go to the ReedyCreek.org site and send a message that way.
I've forwarded a copy of your reply regarding your order to the "tee shirt" guy at 2252 hrs. Eastern time on 1-14-04.
caparamedic
Mr. or Ms. Moderator- please excuse the direct e-mail, but Married@WDW
has requested no e-mails.
Married@WDW
Member
Thanks caparamedic! And I hope things start looking up for you guys soon!
JBSLJames
New Member
Re: More news. Here is the counter proposal from the District
I am all for most of what you are saying, but I have read the offer and it doesn't look all that bad. The Aerospace industry has gotten it in the rear since 9/11 and we have not seen a raise since. I am not in a Union and I am pretty sure that when and if I retire, the company is not going to provide any health coverage at all.
I know that when I work overtime, I don't get paid for it at all, let alone use it as part of a base salary to determine a % bonus.
As far as item 7 above. If it is against Florida Law then I would say you have a pretty good case. I assume that the illnesses in question are work related?
I support the Fire Departments and the Police Departments as best I can, but things have been tough all over. Good luck and God Bless.
I am all for most of what you are saying, but I have read the offer and it doesn't look all that bad. The Aerospace industry has gotten it in the rear since 9/11 and we have not seen a raise since. I am not in a Union and I am pretty sure that when and if I retire, the company is not going to provide any health coverage at all.
I know that when I work overtime, I don't get paid for it at all, let alone use it as part of a base salary to determine a % bonus.
As far as item 7 above. If it is against Florida Law then I would say you have a pretty good case. I assume that the illnesses in question are work related?
I support the Fire Departments and the Police Departments as best I can, but things have been tough all over. Good luck and God Bless.
The fire department is a government agency and as such government employees tend to make less money, but are given better benefits and earlier retirements. In the private sector employees make more money, but tend to have fewer benefits. You can't compare a fire department with an aerospace corporation.
As I've said before, the money part of the contract is the small part. We have always been in the top three best paid departments in Orange County. Thanks to Steve Colston, we aren't even close to being there anymore.
Don't you wonder why the District is trying to DECREASE the certifications needed to be a firefighter? The answer is: They can't find qualified employees in this area. We have more required certifcations than any other department in Central Florida! Maybe employees with these qualifications SHOULD be paid more! Again, money isn't the big issue, but maybe it should be!
They have now resorted to hiring certified firefighters with EMT or Paramedic and paying them to go to five 40 hours classes and a state exam to get certified as a Fire Safety Inspector.
These employees are NOT in the fire department because they don't meet minimum requirements. They will have to test for the fire department once they get their state certification!
Remember the strength of Reedy Creek Fire Department is fire prevention. We just don't allow fires to occur!! :lol:
Why doesn't the District want retirees to have insurance? Got me!
The real danger we face is that the District does pretty much whatever they want. These guys are NOT elected by anyone! Orange County can't get away with things like this because the citizens will support the firefighters and vote out any commissioner who votes against the fire department. Wonder why Linda Chapin is no longer an elected official? SHE FIRED 30 FIREFIGHTERS! Two years later they were hired again.
If you have seen the 10-40% raises that the District managers have received over the last few years, you'd understand that money is NOT the issue. Because Steve Colston and Mickey Shiver are trying to pretend to be fire chiefs, Ray Colburn's job as Chief is that much more difficult. Imagine trying to run a fire department, and your hands are tied by someone who isn't even in the fire service!
Thanks to Mickey Shiver, ALS capable engines are BLS only! Thanks to Mickey Shiver many ALS units roll with only one paramedic, when we have enough paramedics to staff all units with two and each engine with one.
But the real thanks goes to Steve Colston, who was hired to break the union. Thanks to his "leadership", the union is stronger and is not the largest it has ever been. Great job Steve! :sohappy:
Overtime? You think if I work more than 48 hours a week I should keep working at my same rate? Why bother? I would rather go home and work another job or just be with my family.
As I've said before, the money part of the contract is the small part. We have always been in the top three best paid departments in Orange County. Thanks to Steve Colston, we aren't even close to being there anymore.
Don't you wonder why the District is trying to DECREASE the certifications needed to be a firefighter? The answer is: They can't find qualified employees in this area. We have more required certifcations than any other department in Central Florida! Maybe employees with these qualifications SHOULD be paid more! Again, money isn't the big issue, but maybe it should be!
They have now resorted to hiring certified firefighters with EMT or Paramedic and paying them to go to five 40 hours classes and a state exam to get certified as a Fire Safety Inspector.
These employees are NOT in the fire department because they don't meet minimum requirements. They will have to test for the fire department once they get their state certification!
Remember the strength of Reedy Creek Fire Department is fire prevention. We just don't allow fires to occur!! :lol:
Why doesn't the District want retirees to have insurance? Got me!
The real danger we face is that the District does pretty much whatever they want. These guys are NOT elected by anyone! Orange County can't get away with things like this because the citizens will support the firefighters and vote out any commissioner who votes against the fire department. Wonder why Linda Chapin is no longer an elected official? SHE FIRED 30 FIREFIGHTERS! Two years later they were hired again.
If you have seen the 10-40% raises that the District managers have received over the last few years, you'd understand that money is NOT the issue. Because Steve Colston and Mickey Shiver are trying to pretend to be fire chiefs, Ray Colburn's job as Chief is that much more difficult. Imagine trying to run a fire department, and your hands are tied by someone who isn't even in the fire service!
Thanks to Mickey Shiver, ALS capable engines are BLS only! Thanks to Mickey Shiver many ALS units roll with only one paramedic, when we have enough paramedics to staff all units with two and each engine with one.
But the real thanks goes to Steve Colston, who was hired to break the union. Thanks to his "leadership", the union is stronger and is not the largest it has ever been. Great job Steve! :sohappy:
Overtime? You think if I work more than 48 hours a week I should keep working at my same rate? Why bother? I would rather go home and work another job or just be with my family.
10 min. to wdw
Member
what does ALS and BLS mean?
JBSLJames
New Member
Overtime Pay
I aggree with you. I think that any time worked over 40 hours a week (or even 8 hours a day) should be paid 1.5x. I just said that any bonus should be figured on base pay, not overtime pay.
And the fact that, as a salary employee, I do not get overtime pay.
I guess what I was getting at is that times are tough all over. Not everybody gets what they feel they deserve and some people get way more than they deserve.
I hope a fair and equitable solution is reached for both parties.
Good Luck and God Bless.
I aggree with you. I think that any time worked over 40 hours a week (or even 8 hours a day) should be paid 1.5x. I just said that any bonus should be figured on base pay, not overtime pay.
And the fact that, as a salary employee, I do not get overtime pay.
I guess what I was getting at is that times are tough all over. Not everybody gets what they feel they deserve and some people get way more than they deserve.
I hope a fair and equitable solution is reached for both parties.
Good Luck and God Bless.
ALS = Advanced Life Support. The world of the Paramedic, the highest level of prehosital provider. Starts IVs, gives medications, advanced airways, cardiac pacing, defibrilation, and some minor surgical procedures are part of ALS. A paramedic is an EMT-P or Emergency Medical Technician trained to the Paramedic level (highest). Advanced Cardiac Life Support is part of ALS. ACLS includeds manual defibrilation, pacing, syncronized cardioversion, IV medications, advanced and surgical airways with oxygen, post code treatment, ECG classes including 12 lead ECG with the same quality as the hospital, on line medical control when needed.
BLS = Basic Life Support. The world of the EMT-B or Emergency Medical Technician Basic. Florida only has EMT-B or EMT-P.
BLS includes CPR, automatic external defibrilation, basic airways, basic trauma care. At this level the only medications allowed are oxygen and glucose gel. Basic Cardiac Life Support is part of BLS (CPR with automatic defibrilation, oxygen, basic airways but no cardiac medications).
Hope that helps without creating any confusion! :wave:
Things are NOT tough here. MONEY is NOT a problem. They tried to use September 11, 2001 as an excuse to NOT negotiate! Imagine trading on the lives of 343 firefighters! They have no limit as to how low they will go! By the way, EPCOT just set a new record for high attendance, so I guess the excuse about possible economic problems with our taxpayer (Disney) were unfounded.
These guys spend money like it is growing on trees!! Do you know how many $10,000 Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) we got last year? SIX brand new ones! Oh yeah....we got the ones that broadcast too so the Chief can monitor from the safety of his vehicle!! :lol: They are ok, you can find a body in a smoky room which I like since my radio doesn't work inside buildings. At least my wife will get my body back. The digital encoded radio system cost about two million bucks. You would be better off with a Nextel cell phone!
Commander Bob Mitchell actually had to use his cell phone to call dispatch from the Disney / MGM parking lot when he couldn't raise them on the radio!Here's another example: About two years ago we got about 15 brand new LifePac 12 defibrilators with EVERY accessory they could put on it! Cost $24,000 each. They are very nice.
Last year they purchased the newest and most advance self contained breathing apparatus on the market. They bought about 70 of them with all the accessories (heads up display, etc.) and testing equipment, plus 70 back up air tanks and 30 tanks for long duration incidents. They are REALLY nice! I don't know how much they cost, but I'm sure they cost a lot. However, when the AA batteries wear out in them, they don't have any replacements. Maybe money IS a problem? :veryconfu
Reedy Creek does NOT apply for grant money either! They could, but they don't. Rest assured MONEY is NOT a problem here. They just don't want the firefighters to have any of it!! :brick:
The problem is Mickey Shiver and Steve Colston are trying to get rid of a union that has been protecting the Disney properties since 1968! These people are just not nice and think if they can slowly n e g o t i a t e and try to make the union pay a ton of money in the process, they will get rid of us. The president of the International Association of Firefighters assured us that that will NOT happen. He will support us as will EVERY member of the IAFF in the United States and Canada.
Watch the news this weekend for an Associated Press story that will expose these guys. When I get a hold of it, I'll post if for you (giving proper credit, of course). :wave:
Here is the article from the Miami Herald!!
Here is the article from Today's Miami Herald:
Disney rescue workers in labor dispute
Union firefighters who work for Disney are angry because they don't feel they have the same bargaining power as other public employees.
BY MIKE SCHNEIDER
Associated Press
LAKE BUENA VISTA - (AP) -- They use 15-foot ladders to pluck passengers from a broken-down Peter Pan ride. They treat theme park visitors who sometimes wilt in the summer heat. They free hotel guests from stalled elevators.
Whenever there's trouble at Walt Disney World, emergency workers from Disney's personal government come to the rescue.
But the 142 firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers who protect resort guests are not feeling too cheery these days. They've been without a contract for two years. They're unhappy with proposals on wages and health insurance for retirees. Union leaders complain they've been harassed by managers.
More than anything else, they feel they're not getting the same rights as other public workers when it comes to collective bargaining because Disney's government -- the Reedy Creek Improvement District -- answers to a private company rather than voters.
''Other fire departments, they can go and petition the mayor, city councilmen and other politicians, and they can go and work to influence the election, help them out at campaigns, contribute money,'' said Rick Spence, a firefighter for 15 years. ``We don't have that opportunity here.''
C. Ray Maxwell, Reedy Creek's administrator, said union leaders haven't allowed members to vote on a contract proposal that he described as competitive with the local market during the two years of negotiations.
''There is a question of acting in good faith,'' Maxwell said. ``Every time you make an offer, they come back and want more.''
PARK GOVERNMENT
The Legislature created Reedy Creek in 1967 at the urging of Disney, which had just announced plans to build a theme park. Disney wanted political autonomy and the power to issue tax-exempt bonds like other governments to finance projects.
The 25,000-acre district is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors, which is elected by landowners in the district. Disney, not surprisingly, controls about 90 percent of the voting power. Board members are non-Disney business people from central Florida and must own at least an acre in the district.
Hidden away from Cinderella's Castle, far removed from the costumed workers dressed as Winnie the Pooh and Snow White, Reedy Creek keeps Disney World humming. Its workers ensure that rides get the electricity they need to run smoothly, potholes are filled on resort roads, and the water is running at Disney's 21 hotels.
The firefighters and other emergency workers are represented by the Reedy Creek Fire Fighters Association. The union wants to sue the state of Florida to challenge the constitutionality of the process for resolving labor disputes as it relates to Reedy Creek and other special taxing districts.
The process, called an impasse resolution process, is used when labor and management in a collective bargaining dispute can't resolve their differences. The firefighters declared an impasse last month, and they're waiting for the state to appoint a mediator.
If the mediator's recommendations are rejected by either side, state law allows either side to bring their complaints to the controlling legislative body -- in this case, Reedy Creek's Board of Supervisors. The legislative body will hold a public hearing and decide the outcome, which is only binding for one year.
The firefighters argue that Reedy Creek's board is not a genuine legislative body elected by voters because Disney selects its members.
''We have no way to affect the political system, to lobby our interests,'' said Rick Gorsuch, president of the Reedy Creek Fire Fighters Association Local 2117.
But Reedy Creek's Maxwell said that can be done through the board.
''I guarantee it, they're as independent as anybody can be,'' Maxwell said. ``The integrity of that board is beyond reproach.''
Maxwell said the board should be involved with the impasse resolution process because the firefighters are protecting the assets of Disney World. He also said the firefighters have never tried to air complaints before the board.
''The real process should be something where firefighters show up in their shirts and make their position known . . . not trying to influence a commissioner through a donation,'' Maxwell said. ``That is one of the things wrong with our political system today is the fact that people feel they have to buy a politician to get their vote.''
WORKER BENEFITS
The labor dispute centers on wages, whether certain retirees who have left the fire department before age 65 can get medical insurance retroactively and whether code enforcement workers can be included in the union contract. Disney's firefighters earn between $35,000 and $55,000 a year, which is competitive for the Orlando market.
When Gorsuch began working at Disney 15 years ago, it was like family, he said. But management's attitude changed in the late 1990s. He accused managers of trying to break the union by threatening disciplinary action and launching internal investigations against union leaders.
Maxwell denied there was any effort to end the union.
Joseph Little, a law professor at the University of Florida, said the firefighters have a ''contrived'' argument if they sue to change the impasse resolution process and suggested they go to the state Legislature to seek a change. But he conceded there was a distinction between Disney's workers and other public employees.
''Whether or not that distinction is enough to make [the law] . . . unconstitutional, that's what I'm dubious about,'' he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2004 The Miami Herald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miami.com
Here is the article from Today's Miami Herald:
Disney rescue workers in labor dispute
Union firefighters who work for Disney are angry because they don't feel they have the same bargaining power as other public employees.
BY MIKE SCHNEIDER
Associated Press
LAKE BUENA VISTA - (AP) -- They use 15-foot ladders to pluck passengers from a broken-down Peter Pan ride. They treat theme park visitors who sometimes wilt in the summer heat. They free hotel guests from stalled elevators.
Whenever there's trouble at Walt Disney World, emergency workers from Disney's personal government come to the rescue.
But the 142 firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers who protect resort guests are not feeling too cheery these days. They've been without a contract for two years. They're unhappy with proposals on wages and health insurance for retirees. Union leaders complain they've been harassed by managers.
More than anything else, they feel they're not getting the same rights as other public workers when it comes to collective bargaining because Disney's government -- the Reedy Creek Improvement District -- answers to a private company rather than voters.
''Other fire departments, they can go and petition the mayor, city councilmen and other politicians, and they can go and work to influence the election, help them out at campaigns, contribute money,'' said Rick Spence, a firefighter for 15 years. ``We don't have that opportunity here.''
C. Ray Maxwell, Reedy Creek's administrator, said union leaders haven't allowed members to vote on a contract proposal that he described as competitive with the local market during the two years of negotiations.
''There is a question of acting in good faith,'' Maxwell said. ``Every time you make an offer, they come back and want more.''
PARK GOVERNMENT
The Legislature created Reedy Creek in 1967 at the urging of Disney, which had just announced plans to build a theme park. Disney wanted political autonomy and the power to issue tax-exempt bonds like other governments to finance projects.
The 25,000-acre district is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors, which is elected by landowners in the district. Disney, not surprisingly, controls about 90 percent of the voting power. Board members are non-Disney business people from central Florida and must own at least an acre in the district.
Hidden away from Cinderella's Castle, far removed from the costumed workers dressed as Winnie the Pooh and Snow White, Reedy Creek keeps Disney World humming. Its workers ensure that rides get the electricity they need to run smoothly, potholes are filled on resort roads, and the water is running at Disney's 21 hotels.
The firefighters and other emergency workers are represented by the Reedy Creek Fire Fighters Association. The union wants to sue the state of Florida to challenge the constitutionality of the process for resolving labor disputes as it relates to Reedy Creek and other special taxing districts.
The process, called an impasse resolution process, is used when labor and management in a collective bargaining dispute can't resolve their differences. The firefighters declared an impasse last month, and they're waiting for the state to appoint a mediator.
If the mediator's recommendations are rejected by either side, state law allows either side to bring their complaints to the controlling legislative body -- in this case, Reedy Creek's Board of Supervisors. The legislative body will hold a public hearing and decide the outcome, which is only binding for one year.
The firefighters argue that Reedy Creek's board is not a genuine legislative body elected by voters because Disney selects its members.
''We have no way to affect the political system, to lobby our interests,'' said Rick Gorsuch, president of the Reedy Creek Fire Fighters Association Local 2117.
But Reedy Creek's Maxwell said that can be done through the board.
''I guarantee it, they're as independent as anybody can be,'' Maxwell said. ``The integrity of that board is beyond reproach.''
Maxwell said the board should be involved with the impasse resolution process because the firefighters are protecting the assets of Disney World. He also said the firefighters have never tried to air complaints before the board.
''The real process should be something where firefighters show up in their shirts and make their position known . . . not trying to influence a commissioner through a donation,'' Maxwell said. ``That is one of the things wrong with our political system today is the fact that people feel they have to buy a politician to get their vote.''
WORKER BENEFITS
The labor dispute centers on wages, whether certain retirees who have left the fire department before age 65 can get medical insurance retroactively and whether code enforcement workers can be included in the union contract. Disney's firefighters earn between $35,000 and $55,000 a year, which is competitive for the Orlando market.
When Gorsuch began working at Disney 15 years ago, it was like family, he said. But management's attitude changed in the late 1990s. He accused managers of trying to break the union by threatening disciplinary action and launching internal investigations against union leaders.
Maxwell denied there was any effort to end the union.
Joseph Little, a law professor at the University of Florida, said the firefighters have a ''contrived'' argument if they sue to change the impasse resolution process and suggested they go to the state Legislature to seek a change. But he conceded there was a distinction between Disney's workers and other public employees.
''Whether or not that distinction is enough to make [the law] . . . unconstitutional, that's what I'm dubious about,'' he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2004 The Miami Herald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miami.com
Join the union on March 24th when they attend the Reedy Creek Board of Supervisors meeting.
Imagine when several hundred union members show up! The room holds about 30 people!!
Imagine when several hundred union members show up! The room holds about 30 people!!