I called Chris to have lunch with him on Monday. I have always thought Chris to be reasonable
and someone I could talk
to. There are certain elements of the
Fire Fighters Union that have a sensible chord and I believe Chris to be
one. The reason for the meeting was to
talk some sense to the union. My message
was Sick Leave and Vacation Leave have been off the board for 3 weeks and it
has not motivated Crow to talk. As a
matter of fact things are in “concrete”. Therefore, we can surmise that the cuts weren’t deep enough and Crow is
happy with the 143 plus. So after the
meeting Chris told Crow and Crow wrote an email to Trey, copy Roxanne and
Victoria, that he is willing to meet with him anytime. Crow is simply covering his fanny with the
rank and file, because he was fine with the loss of sick leave and vacation. You see if Crow wanted back sick and vacation he would have said something in the last 3 weeks but he didn't. It's ok with me.
Yesterday the Council had a special meeting that I urged
concerning Civil Service. If you watch
the afternoon presentation, Trey’s timeline doesn’t give enough time for Fire
Fighters to make a decision about putting in their papers. They deserve time to make this important
decision. Yesterday the Council removed
every benefit that is not contained in Part 143. It is all gone. The Council is tired of the dysfunction of the
fire union.
Meet and Confer has been curtailed and there is 48 days
until Civil Service arrives. That is
important because, that is the drop dead date for all your benefits. If you want anything back it has to be done
prior to November 1.
The other item that I brought to Chris is that if Crow sits
at the table, you will lose everything.
He has been your representative for the six years that I have been here
and all your benefits are gone. Good
job! I told Chris to find others if you
want back any benefits.
At the meeting yesterday we had a lengthy conversation with
our Lawyer Betty Lynn. Betty Lynn has been a very respected Civil Service Lawyer for the last 37 years and represents cities all over the state of Texas. She stated that
Arlington offered the best benefits package of any other city in the
Metroplex. You have successfully thrown
that away, and I really don’t care if any aspect of it ever comes back to
you. If you want any part of those
benefits, Trey and Chief Crowson are the people that you will have to deal
with, Council has spoken and acted. Good
Luck!
How is meet and confer curtailed when the city manager asked for a meeting yesterday? You are so full of your self Parker.
ReplyDeleteYou have to understand the process of getting rid of meet and confer. A letter from the City Manager to the Fire Union curtailing meet and confer was written at the beginning of the month. That letter states that meet and confer will drop dead in 90 days. So at the end of November the process will cease to exist. Then there will not be a vehicle to negotiate anything further. As stated in the blog article, Crow sent an email saying that he will meet with the City. Trey simply responded to that statement after getting direction from Council. Also yourself is one word.
DeleteI’ve got a few questions for you. Why is it that firefighters get more information from your blog about benefit cuts than in an official council work session? The mayor made no mention that all benefits outside of Chapter 143 minimums were cut. He related that 'city staff remains open to continuing dialogue with the fire association.' My second question is what ‘continuing dialogue’ is he referring to? The Association has been wanting to discuss Ch. 143 implementation since the May Meet & Confer meeting was canceled by the City the day before it was scheduled to happen. Multiple attempts were made with no action or response since then. Now the City is wanting to discuss Ch. 143 implementation under M&C next Tuesday, so my third question is what makes anyone think that anything can be done under this venue if it is going away along with all of the concessions agreed to? Sounds like the City is trying to cover it’s fanny in being able to claim that they were inclusive in the process. Heck, they’re probably hoping that the Association doesn’t negotiate so they can put the cuts squarely on the shoulders of David Crow. But the members are wiser that that; they know who ultimately has the last say in cutting benefits – City Council. And what baffles me is the push to have someone other than Crow to lead negotiations on terms of 143 implementation. Do you not know that while M&C is in effect you don’t have a say on who represents the recognized bargaining agent? Did you not know that there are 4 other persons on the Association’s M&C team and that any agreement made must be ratified by Local 1329’s membership? In fact, you do not have a say in any part of the negotiations until an agreement is made. THEN you have ONE vote on whether to ratify the agreement or not on behalf of the City. I still don’t understand how you can hold your hatred for Crow against the other 300+ firefighters. You can’t set aside that hatred to make sensible decisions on behalf of the rest of the Fire workforce? Your vendetta to oust Crow is affecting thousands of people, and you could care less. In fact you’re proud of the fact that you will take every benefit that goes above Chapter 143 minimums. It’s representation like you that turn The American Dream City into a nightmare.
ReplyDelete1&2) Why is it that firefighters get more information from your blog about benefit cuts than in an official council work session. The Mayor stated that 143 will be implemented as written. What that means in real language is that all benefits contained in the gray box on the handout have been removed. The Mayor's comment to remain open, deals with the timeframe that is left until Meet and Confer drops dead.
ReplyDelete3) Your President stated that all the benefits will be maintained because he had talked to all Council members except me. Really? The Council has not agreed to any benefits package other than what is contained in part 143. I agree with you that nothing will be accomplished if Crow is there. He has sat at that table with Trey and the Chief and nothing has been accomplished. I don't expect that doing the same thing will render a different result. Removing Crow from the process shouldn't baffle you at all. Crow doesn't like Crowson, so you have a problem right off the bat. It hasn't rendered good results and I don't believe it ever will. But go ahead and throw him out there and see what happens. You have till the end of the month to negotiate favorable terms. I understand that I don't have a say in who represents you at the table. I'm simply pointing out that you are now in negotiations that are vital to your benefits package, then it goes away forever. Make the best of it. If the rank and file has confidence in Crow then put him out there. That is your call.
Lastly I don't have any animosity toward the 300+ firefighters, that is your perception. If you get your benefits back or not it doesn't make any difference to me. As a matter of fact I would like some of them returned. That would mean that the City negotiated something in return. What I really can't understand is why you think that you deserve the benefits package that was given to you in part 142 and also the protections in part 143. Part 143 gives you things that no other city employee gets. In getting those benefits you gave up the package in 142. You need to ask yourself two questions. Am I better off now than when I was in part 142? How or who got me here?
If I recall correctly the firefighters were told upfront they would lose the benefits which were in place prior to 143.
ReplyDeleteI respect firefighters but as seen the police wanted nothing to do with civil service. That should of had been a HUGE message to the citizens and firefighters as most police and fire join 143,if approved by the citizens, together. I guess firefighters didn't believe they would lose 142 as warned.
Mr. Parker,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Stan Flahaut and I retired as a Lieutenant from the AFD in 2009 after 22 years of service.
I have been reading your posts and replies to comments on civil service and the need to cut firefighter benefits. I realize that body language and tone are lost in type, however, to me it appears you have a personal vendetta against David Crow and members of the APFFA. Yes, many comments to your site lack tact. I'm amazed that as a public official your replies are quite abrasive and vulgar.
Loss of tone and body language cannot disguise your lack of respect for real people that have real problems and just want to improve themselves and their department. IMO Your disdain for David Crow should never get in the way of common sense and treating people with fairness.
It would be my desire that you would just "Do the right thing". IMO The idea that you are "Implementing the wishes of the voters" by whacking benefits to minimum levels specified by Civil Service is puzzling. How did you decide that was absolutely the case? Do you REALLY think that is what the voters wanted?
Stan Flahaut,
Lieutenant (retired)
Arlington Fire Department
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMr. Parker, foremost I would like to state that I respect the position and title you hold within the City of Arlington and the citizens you represent in your district.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you have stated that you do not hold any animosity toward the 300+ fireifighters serving the City of Arlington, including those you represent.
Part 143 is in fact a "part", along with 142. One does not negate the other. Chief Crowson has made attempts recently to help solve this situation by holding meetings with the Firefighters over the weekend, not long ago, to establish his willingness to help bring all sides together. He expressed that he was willing to act on behalf of all firefighters, for the betterment of all department members. After that weekend we had a firefighter arranged meeting, based upon what Chief Crowson expressed to us previously. At that meeting he conveyed he was only a manager of the department and had no control at this point anymore.
Firefighters have attempted to help facilitate a positive move forward from this situation. There is no animosity felt by Firefighters from this process. The only thing sought at this point is common ground and understanding in order to move forward in a positive manner for all involved. That includes the leaders of the City of Arlington, Firefighters and anyone else involved via the scope of this process.
Ultimately, the Citizens of Arlington are the ones are best served to have an appropriate resolution to this ongoing discontent that seems to linger.
Its time to turn a cheek, turn a leaf. We all serve the same purpose and it would be better if we work together for the future of the City of Arlington and its citizens. We need to repair the damaged public reputation the City of Arlington has regarding this 143 issue in order to attract desirable applicants and to recruit the best of the best.
I would like to formally invite you to the table for a fresh start and gain your valuable input into repairing this discontent for the betterment of the City of Arlington, its citizens and also its visitors who help fund a large portion of our tax base.
The Big Picture is in fact that we all do our small parts to make this City work as best as it can for as long as we can. We are all small parts in this. There is no reason that we can not overcome and reach common ground on a moral or philosophical basis, in order to keep our City competitive and continue the ground work that has been laid by so many more leaders before us.
I encourage you to help the men and women of the Arlington Fire Department, maintain the benefits and pay that they have had. It is a fact that nobody enters civil service of any kind, expecting to be rich or make great financial gains. We only enter to do good and help serve our communities. The removal of any benefits we receive is monumental to us and greatly affects our families that often bare the brunt of our service.
I encourage you, again, to come to the table with your knowledge and expertise and help alleviate this situation.
I believe that there are some reasonable posts here this evening, and I want to make things perfectly clear. It is stated in the statute that items accrued in Part 142 do not transfer to Part 143. So the City is on very firm footing concerning instituting Part 143 as written. That being said there is an opportunity to negotiate with the city for the next 77 days, that is if the Union would like to use the last days of meet and confer, before it goes away. The City's position is firm and it is up to the Union to speak with the City Manager and the Chief (not councilmembers) if they want benefits, not contained in Part 143. It is that simple. I am not included in those negotiations and I don't want to be. It is up to the City and the Union to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that the Union wants the protections of Civil Service and wants to keep benefits of another part of the governance code is ridiculous. Where does it say that? I have cleared my desk of all Civil Service literature except for the flyer with the lies about Military leave and Civil Service solving reservist problems. That one I will keep as a memento, to allow me never to forget of the lengths that the Union will go to and the lies that were told. I personally am out of the Civil Service arena for the rest of this process. So asking me for any portion is a waist of time. Remember also that I am but one vote on Council, I simply have a blog and am willing to answer questions. I do however want to point out that the language used on the ballot is clearly delineated in Part 143. It states clearly civil service is to be implemented. The Union has a problem with how the City is doing it. So talk to the city. But I remind you that past talks with the same players have not gone will. Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. By having lunch with Chris, I was simply insinuating that Einstein was a really smart guy. I want to personally thank Mr. Turner and Mr. Flahaut for being brave enough to use their names in contacting me.
I've got to dive in a little deeper...
ReplyDelete“The Mayor stated that 143 will be implemented as written.”
I guess that was said during executive session, because he sure didn’t say ‘as written’ during the public’s 30 second address on the Civil Service update.
“The Mayor's comment to remain open, deals with the timeframe that is left until Meet and Confer drops dead.”
So again, if Council is negating all concessions made in M&C, will any concessions made on benefits drop dead too? Most certainly.
“Your President stated that all the benefits will be maintained because he had talked to all Council members except me. Really?”
No such comment was made. You are fabricating statements or relying on bad information.
“Crow doesn't like Crowson, so you have a problem right off the bat. It hasn't rendered good results and I don't believe it ever will.”
A vast majority of Arlington Firefighters doesn’t like Don Crowson. He was a major component in going for Civil Service in the first place. Did you not hear those that were brave enough to speak up at numerous Council meetings last year? There’s no transparency. No consistency. Favoritism runs rampant. Grudges are held against good Firefighters. When challenged, he takes it personally. Bad practices in policy and staffing. He has two wrongful terminations under his reign. But City Management and Council overlooked all of that. He stays within budget (at any cost, including firefighter safety). He tells you all what you want to hear. Now, will Civil Service fix all of these issues? Not all of them. But Civil Service allows for people to be put in positions of leadership that can constructively challenge his policy without fear of losing their job. Every good leader should be open to ideas and criticism from all of those whom they command. Don Crowson doesn’t like David Crow because Crow is a Firefighter rank employee. Lastly on the subject, Don Crowson has admitted that he’s a manager, not a leader. You’re previous military; would you have followed a manager into the gates of hell, or would you follow a leader? Firefighters want a leader that understands them and their profession. Don Crowson and his management team have seemed to forget where they came from. ‘Managers’ incentivize employees. ‘Leaders’ inspire their team. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why those ‘greedy Firefighters’ (as you call them) are so focused on pay and benefits. If you had a leader in place over the FD, the intangibles may just outweigh monetary value.
“What I really can't understand is why you think that you deserve the benefits package that was given to you in part 142 and also the protections in part 143. Part 143 gives you things that no other city employee gets. In getting those benefits you gave up the package in 142.”
ReplyDeleteIt’s not a matter of deserving Chapter 142, the City is obligated in following parts of Ch. 142 that apply to them. I still don’t think you understand that 143 does not negate 142. Even when M&C goes away, there are facets of 142 that must be adhered to along with Ch. 141 and Ch. 143. It’s law; if you don’t like it, lobby for changes at the State Legislation in 2019.
You need to ask yourself two questions. Am I better off now than when I was in part 142? How or who got me here?
Yes, the AFD will be a way better off department with 143. We will have a fair and equitable promotional and hiring system. Discipline will be upheld consistently. The Fire Chief will not go unchecked, and will have a layer of accountability between them and the City Manager. These things will come at the cost of some of our benefits under local rule, but every member knew that yet still motored forward. That should tell you how fed up the workforce is. And before you blame the evil ‘fire union’ for losing firefighter benefits, understand that only a few Firefighters choose not to be a member of Local 1329. So when you mention ‘your fire union,’ you are referring to 310 members of the Arlington Fire Department. And that’s how and who got us here collectively, not just David Crow.
Good Morning Mr. Crow! Yes you gave yourself away, but that's ok. You did in fact stand in front of your Kool Aide drinkers and state that their benefits would be returned untouched and that you contacted all Council Members except me to insure this. I saw the video that someone made with a phone. It is easy to lead and lie, you just have to look at yourself in the mirror the next day. Must be difficult?
ReplyDeleteConcerning 143: Yes I understand that some parts of 142 is still applicable. That is why your holiday pay will remain, but what you have to understand and what you have to relay to the rank and file is that anything accrued under 142 does not transfer to 143. Have you told them that? As far as the law of the governance code goes, the City is fine with it. It would seem that your rank in file are the ones having problems losing benefits legally, so you might want to change the law instead of me. I'm certain Tinderholt and Stickland will go to bat for you.
So now let's talk about the vote of your union. You stated that 92.5% of the firefighters approved of proceeding with 143. We have gone over this before, but we will do it again. Since you have 328 firefighters that would indicate that 304 would have voted yes. But again that was just another lie because only 196 voted yes. That would be 64%. So 64% wanted to follow you and you lied to pump up the percentage. Wow some leader. I might just want to follow a manager that tells me the truth instead of a leader that lies whenever he can. I think that is enough truth for today. What is most troubling to me is not the lying, we have all lived with that for a while now. But it is your lack of contrition. I know that is a big word, but what it means is that you have no remorse or conscience about the lies you tell in your leadership role. Case in point, trashing the flag and denigrating the military uniform so that you could spread lies about military leave was about as low a one person can get. I think that is a good place to stop.
Sorry Charlie, but it's not Crow. But I will break the military thing down for you so you will finally understand...
ReplyDeleteSo firefighters work a 24 hour on, 48 hour off schedule. To remain active in the reserves, one must commit one weekend a month plus a two week stint, once a year. Let’s use the Army for example. A serviceman must report for his duty in Fort Hood, TX on a weekend, first thing Saturday morning. That firefighter is scheduled to work 24 hours on Saturday from 7am to 7am Sunday morning. He must take off for 24 hours to fulfill that commitment. Multiply that times 11 months of the year and he must use 264 hours of time just for the weekend drills. Now let’s add the two week stint. That’s 4 more shifts he must miss, or 96 more hours. Now he’s on the hook to take off a total of 360 hours! A far cry less than the ‘generous’ 180 hours the COA gives him. So that extra 180 hours they must use can be more than half of the time that Firefighter earns every year in time off under today’s rules.
Now let’s put the same situation in for a regular 40-hour a week City employee. Saturday is their day off. They don’t need the time off to fulfill their weekend commitment. The two week stint only costs the City 80 hours. Still, they use their time off (and away from their family) to serve our country. Absolutely commendable.
So my hat’s off to each and every Firefighter Reservist that serves our country whilst using their own personal time off, missing time from their family, and doing so without complain. Maybe you need to swallow some pride and honor them as well… by thanking them for being such a selfless person in service to our country despite the sacrifice in personal time off. Then you can throw away that flyer on your desk that IS absolutely true and apologize to the members of the APFF.
First of all thank you for trying to explain something that has nothing to do with civil service. You simply don't understand the benefit you just threw away by going to civil service. The lady on the flyer spent her vacation time in the fulfillment of her annual active duty last year and under civil service she will do the same thing this year. Read Part 143.075. The civil service benefit doesn't kick in until the Reservist is activated, and it only starts 3 months into the active duty tour. It has nothing to do with annual active duty at all. Firefighter Pugh will tell you that when he was deployed on active duty, the current benefit, (which you will lose under civil service) started on the first day of his active duty orders. He was paid the entire difference between his City job and his Military job. The City covered the entire cost on day one. With Civil Service, after 3 months an account opens where firefighters can donate sick pay, vacation pay, or work a shift.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see your understanding of the statute is totally wrong. I might add that I was a reservist for 9 years. My pay differential from the airline to the military was never matched. People aren't reservists because of the money. They do it to serve their country. If you are driven by money then you are in the wrong business by being in the military. So the flyer is a union lie. I will keep it because it reminds me of all the other lies that were told by the union and how low they will stoop to get what they want.