CPF Fire Wire

CPF Fire Wire - Federal Firefighters Cancer Presumption

Civilian federal firefighters  have finally won a protection that state and local firefighters in California have had for 40 years -- a workers' compensation presumption for firefighter cancer.

The victory, part of the federal defense authorization passed last year, caps a decades-long fight that was led by California's federal firefighters.

On this CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice discusses this important victory, and the work done by CPF and IAFF to help federal firefighters, with Charlie Martinez, CPF's 5th District Vice President and a 31-year federal firefighter.

CPF Fire Wire - CA Firefighters Memorial

The California Firefighters Memorial is a touchstone of remembrance for frontline firefighters and their families. The centerpiece of this tribute -- the Memorial Wall that carries the names of more than 1,500 fallen firefighters -- is running out of space.

CPF President Brian Rice talks with California Fire Foundation Executive Director Rick Martinez about the meaning of the Memorial and plans to expand it to ensure that all fallen firefighters can have their sacrifice memorialized.

cafirefoundation.org/memorialexpansion

Legislative Update

On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice discusses CPF’s legislative wins, the legislative process and the importance of building relationships at the local political level with CPF Director of Governmental Affairs, Doug Subers and CPF Governmental Advocate, Meagan Subers.

CPF closed out a successful legislative session as Governor Newsom signed many priority bills, including SB 1127: Workers Compensation Presumption Reforms, and AB 450: Paramedic Disciplinary Review Board. As part of our legislative advocacy we also worked to stop AB 1993, a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that infringed on the rights of labor unions to meet and confer over such issues.

Listen to the episode to learn what it takes to win for our members at the State Capitol. 

 

 

CPF Fire Wire - Firefighter Cancer

Cancer remains the leading cause of job-related illness and death among active firefighters.

Now, a worldwide scientific panel -- the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- has said it more plainly than ever --  being a firefighter can cause cancer.

On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice discusses the IARC finding and what it means for firefighters who've been denied presumptive Workers' Comp support. 

Guests:

Dr. Jeff Burgess, noted firefighter cancer researcher and invited contributor to the IARC working group.

Bryan Frieders, President, Firefighter Cancer Support Network

 

CPF Fire Wire - Forward Together, Union Strong

The cause of protecting the lives and livelihoods of firefighters must be defended every day. 

Nothing is forever.

On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice talks with Dave Coker, president of the Professional Firefighters of Greensboro (NC) Local 947.

A longtime labor leader who cut his teeth as a lineman and CWA organizer,  Brother Coker talks about the importance and value of the union movement in a state where collective bargaining is illegal. 

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Professional Firefighters of Greensboro
https://local.iaff.org/local0947

Organize the South Blog
https://organizethesouth.substack.com

West Virginia Mine Wars Museum
https://wvminewars.org

 

CPF Fire Wire -- California’s USAR Teams.

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are an indispensable part of major disaster response. California is the birthplace of USAR, and firefighters form the foundation of the state's eight USAR Task Forces.

CPF President Brian Rice talks with one of the founders of USAR, Cal-OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. 

CPF Fire Wire - Firefighter Peer Support

As the behavioral health challenges faced by firefighters come out of the shadows, peer support has become an important way for firefighters to comfortably share their struggles. CPF’s sponsored legislation signed in 2019 — AB 1116 — is designed to bring peer support into every fire department, with groundbreaking confidentiality provisions.

On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice talks with the author of AB 1116 — Assemblymember Tim Grayson — about the new law and the importance of peer support.

 

 

 

CPF Fire Wire - CPF Update

CPF President Brian Rice provides an update on CPF's work in Sacramento to protect its 32,000 front line firefighter members. Among the issues CPF is working on at the Capitol include:

-- Workers' Comp Presumptions -- Firefighters are facing months, and sometimes years of needless battles fighting insurers over presumptive workers' comp claims. CPF's signature legislative effort would crack down on local governments and insurance companies aggressive and routine denials.

-- Paramedic Wait Times -- Even before the COVID crisis, firefighter-paramedics have faced ER wait times of hours, as ambulances stack up waiting for patients to be transferred. CPF has been working on ways to moderate these epic "wall times", both now and in the future.

-- Employer Vaccine Mandates -- CPF is forcefully opposing recently introduced legislation that would impose a vaccine mandate on public and private employers, including building a statewide labor coalition.

-- Private Contract Firefighters -- President Rice discusses how CPF is pushing back against the encroachment of under-trained, poorly-paid private contract firefighters whose employers are trying to capitalize on California's wildfire crisis.

President Rice speaks in conversation with CPF's Sr. Communications Advisor Carroll Wills.

CPF Fire Wire - Building and Protecting California

Fighting side-by-side in the halls of power, CPF and the building trades have formed a united front that has won many battles for working people, from retirement security to stopping contracting out services to low-wage, undertrained workers.

This month on CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice has a conversation with one of the toughest and most influential labor leaders in the state: Robbie Hunter, outgoing president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council.

The two men discuss the common values shared by firefighters and construction workers, the critical need to protect health and safety for workers in a dangerous job, and the importance of working people standing united together.

cpf.org

cabuildingtrades.org

 

CPF Fire Wire - San Diego Ship Fire Aftermath

This past July marked the one-year anniversary of the dramatic and devastating fire aboard the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship docked in San Diego.

In this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice talks with San Diego Federal Firefighters Local F-33 President Ian Piccolo. They discuss the incredibly difficult and dangerous firefight, and the critical efforts to ensure that the toxic exposures faced by members are recognized and appropriately treated by the Navy and DOD.