Union Shop Apparel prides itself on only selling American and Canadian made apparel. All of our employees are proud union members of Local 820 IUPAT. Union Shop Apparel is one of the only organizations within the United States that meets the criteria for using the IAFF Logo as determined by the Delegates at the 50th IAFF Convention.www.UnionShopApparelInc.com
The Law Offices of Shawn J. Sullivan is a full service, general practice law firm meeting the needs of clients and friends for over 20 years. We are located in Concord, New Hampshire and practice in all state and federal courts in NH, ME, and MA.
Last Friday the Josiah Bartlett Center (JBC) brought several high-powered financial executives to testify in front of the House Special Pension committee. They told the legislators why they think your Defined Benefit pension plan should be replaced. They don’t care that creating a new mandatory Defined Contribution plan would jeopardize your benefits; all they care about is that it would pad their bottom line.
Closing the Defined Benefit plan to new employees will directly affect your retirement. The question is, if there are no new members coming in to the current system, and no new money to invest, how will your retirement benefit be funded? We need to show the out-of-touch special interests in Concord what we think about their plan to privatize the New Hampshire Retirement System. Your presence at this presentation will let them and Wall Street know – keep their hands off your retirement.
NH firefighters’ union chief, Hartford Courant reporter win new New England First Amendment Center Awards
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - One pursued a nine-year crusade that yielded an order refunding $53 million to New Hampshire public employees. The other cracked a shell of silence to expose misconduct in the New Britain, Conn., Police Department.
Please click the link below to read the Portsmouth Herald's editorial of December 30, 2012 titled "Right to Know law worth millions in LGC fight" explaining how President Lang and the PFFNH are responsible for millions being returened to NH Cities and Towns.
The IAFF encourages affiliates to organize fundraising and awareness campaigns in support of the fight against breast and other cancers. Over the last several years, IAFF affiliates across North America have participated in events throughout October, prompting a movement to wear and sell pink T-shirts as part of their breast cancer awareness efforts.
Inspired by the success of these campaigns, in 2010, the IAFF passed a resolution that supports and encourages IAFF members to develop campaigns to benefit local and national organizations dedicated to finding a cure for cancer.
The PFFNH encourages all of its Locals to participate, and send your photos to the office for publishing on the website.
Please join us at a forum hosted by the Dover City Council to hear from Secretary of State Bill Gardner about the recent NH Local Government Center (LGC) decision and history, and how it has, and will continue to affect YOU.
Recently, a final order of the Hearings Officer Donald Mitchell was issued in the case of the LGC vs. BSR. You can read the 81 page document here. Secretary Gardner will be explaining the details of this decision, and what it means for you. You deserve to know what happened, and what the LGC did with your money. Please join us on Monday night, August 27th in Dover to hear more. You can view the Secretary of States press release, by clicking on the public forum link at www.sos.nh.gov or see attached.
For advanced ticket sales please contact Josh Hubbard, 603-606-4108.
For members that show up at the park that night, PLEASE tell them that they MUST say " FF Appreciation Night or MDA Night" in order for the MDA to get half of that ticket sale.
Please see attached application. Deadline April 2nd.This scholarship is available to any graduating high school student that will be attending a fire science or paramedic degree program in the fall of 2012, or any student currently attending one of those programs.
For Immediate Release
Contact David Lang
October 11, 2011
GOP Presidential Candidates Used As Lobbyists in New Hampshire's Anti-Worker Agenda
Concord, NH – New Hampshire fire fighters accused Bill O’Brien, speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, of using Republican presidential candidates as lobbyists to further his personal anti-worker agenda.
Please find attached a press release from the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire regarding the Local Governement Center’s claims related to the creation of their workers compensation risk pool.Â
We sent a Right to Know request to the cities, towns and school districts of the LGC’s board of directors which is also attached as well as the responses we have received.
A Concord state representative's email to Republican colleagues at the State House about her Army training is causing national controversy this morning.
Dave Lang, president of Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, said while the union is "very supportive" of the men and women in the military, since a lot of firefighters are veterans and currently serving. But elected officials really need to notch it down a bit.
"Inflammatory comments are not helpful," he said. "Our members, while they are union members, are also taxpayers, fathers and mothers, and members of the middle class of the state. We expect more from our elected officials."
The Republican majority in Concord may be fighting to make New Hampshire the nation’s 23rd right-to-work state, but the unions have clinched the GOP nomination in a pivotal State House special election primary.
Kevin Janvrin, a member of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire union, captured the GOP nomination for the vacant District 14 House seat. The unions appear to have outmaneuvered the GOP in its own primary. A shadowy organization of dubious origin called the Taxpayer Foundation appears to have spent a good deal of money helping Janvrin win.
NH Journal’s THE PRIMER – THURSDAY, JULY 7th, 2011
SPECIAL ELECTION SHOCKER - The Republican majority in Concord may be fighting to make New Hampshire the nation’s 23rd right-to-work state, but the unions have clinched the GOP nomination in a pivotal State House special election primary. Kevin Janvrin, a member of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire union, captured the GOP nomination for the vacant District 14 House seat. The unions appear to have outmaneuvered the GOP in its own primary.
O'Brien says right-to-work veto override vote can wait until fall
By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief
Published Jun 22, 2011 at 3:28 pm (Updated Jun 22, 2011)
CONCORD - Speaker of the House William O’Brien said he will wait until the fall to attempt an override of Gov. Lynch’s veto of the right-to-work bill. O’Brien told reporters Wednesday that after holding override votes on three bills today, the only other veto he will consider trying to overturn would be a veto of the budget.
O’Brien said he will wait until the summer passes before taking up any other bills that Lynch vetoes. “We’ll put them all in one day and get them all done, probably sometime right after the summer. Right-to-work will be one of them,” O’Brien said.
Gov. Lynch veteod Senate Bill 3. Check your inbox for a message from President Lang.
Here is the Gov.'s veto message:
Press Release
For Immediate Release June 15, 2011
Contact: Communications Director Office of the Governor 603-271-2121
Governor Lynch's Veto Message Regarding SB 3
By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on June 15, 2011, I vetoed SB 3, making comprehensive changes to the state retirement system.
Even as this bill sits on my desk with a deadline of today, members of the ongoing conference committee on HB 1 and HB 2 have publicly announced that they will consider substantive changes to this legislation, a version of which is already included in HB 2. Those changes include potentially addressing decisions made yesterday by the Board of the Retirement System that could impact the budgets of the state and local communities.
Given the legislature's stated intent to change this legislation further, and my responsibility to review the legislation in its full and final form, I am vetoing Senate Bill 3 and will assess the legislature's final product.
Meaghan Rowe, with the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, holds up a sign against the "Right to work" bill in the lobby area of Representatives Hall at the State House on Wednesday, May 25, 2011.Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra»
House Speaker William O'Brien backed off his plan to call a vote yesterday on the vetoed right-to-work legislation, saying he would attempt the override when he was sure it would succeed.
CONCORD, N.H. -- The Statehouse was packed Wednesday with activists on both sides of the right-to-work debate, but a vote to override the governor's veto of the bill never came.
CONCORD, N.H.—Republican House Speaker William O'Brien ignored a nearly full House on Wednesday and refused to call for a vote on a vetoed bill that bars unions from collecting a share of bargaining and administrative costs from non-members.
"These types of games are not helpful. It's a bait-and-switch. You have one of the highest attended House sessions. It's not going to get any fuller," said David Lang of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire.
House Speaker says he didn't have needed 2/3rds to override Lynch veto and says it would be "perilous" to announce when vote may take place. With statehouse super-majorities, Republicans have been confident Governor Lynch’s veto of this bill could be thwarted. That’s one reason why they fast-tracked the override vote, and had GOP chairman Jack Kimball in to address the house republican caucus. Prior to that closed meeting, Kimball said the override would be a defining moment for his chairmanship and for GOP legislative leaders.
April 26, 2011 – Message from IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger:
Brothers and Sisters,
The International Association of Fire Fighters has grown into a political powerhouse in the Nation’s Capitol and in state houses, county and city halls across the country.
Over the past decade, the symbolism of our profession and the image of our fire fighters and paramedics decked out in this union’s trademark gold and black have become one of the most sought after endorsements in politics at every level. We have grown what was a modest federal Political Action Committee (PAC) into one of the top federal PACs in the nation.
Last election cycle, FIREPAC was in the top 1.1 percent of the more than 7,100 federally registered PACs in terms of dollars raised and was the 10th largest PAC in candidate contributions. It was also one of the most bi-partisan PACs.
In total, we spent close to $15 million in the last election cycle on behalf of federal candidates and both political parties, helping to elect those who support us and defeat those who oppose us.
But the attacks launched at our members since the November 2010 elections have changed the landscape.
Extreme right-wing conservative and so-called Tea Party politicians are coming after fire fighters, paramedics and all public workers with a vengeance across the United States. They are attempting to take away basic American rights like collective bargaining and your right to negotiate for a good quality of life for your families. They are working to eliminate your pensions and retirement security. They want to silence your voice by gagging you with legislation they call Paycheck Protection. They are taking away the long-held right of dues deductions from paychecks to try to weaken the finances of our union. They want to hurt all unions and drive down wages and benefits with Right-to-Work laws.
Not only are extremist Republicans trying to destroy us -- too few Democrats are standing up and fighting for us.
Over the past two years, politicians from both parties have failed to address our issues in Washington, DC. Now, anti-labor members of Congress and their allies are championing measures that would undermine pension security, tax employer-sponsored health benefits, force newly hired fire fighters into Social Security and attack federal fire fighters. And with no pro-fire fighter legislation likely to be advanced in the 112th Congress – it’s time to take a stand.
With the survival of our union and the ability to preserve and protect the rights, wages and benefits our members deserve in jeopardy in the states, we have re-evaluated how to get the best results for our political dollars.
With the full support of our union’s Executive Board, we are turning off the spigot to federal candidates and federal parties, party committees and the super PACs that are created to support them.
Historically, FIREPAC has made most of its contributions to federal candidates. But it’s time to send a clear message to all politicians at every level that the support of this IAFF is not automatic. It must be earned.
The reputation of our members and our profession in the political arena must not be taken for granted. Our support comes with consequences for those who are working to kill this union, and we will hold accountable those supposed friends who don’t stand up for us.
Now more than ever, as our adversaries speak and act with a concerted, focused message, we need our friends to respond with similar strength and leadership to beat back the multi-faceted, well-organized assaults the right has launched at us – funded by anti-labor extremists like the multi-billionaire Koch brothers. And while we are fighting for our very survival, our friends aren’t doing enough to fight back -- they don’t have our backs.
Re-focusing our work on the states will serve to bolster the “Fighting Back” campaign we have initiated. “Fighting Back” is a coordinated effort with our state and local affiliates involving various IAFF Divisions: Communications and Media, Government and Political Affairs, Safety and Health, Technical Assistance, GIS, EMS and Education.
Through this campaign, we have engaged in an internal and external effort to educate our members and the public on these misguided attacks – through television, newspaper, Internet and social media -- to literally fight back with everything we have. For a complete explanation of the “Fighting Back” campaign, click here.
We know we have legislative fights, ballot measures and re-call elections that will require us to be on the offensive at the state and local level through this fall. I expect this strategic decision to focus our resources on state and local efforts, and the freezing of federal contributions, to last as long as the fights in the states remain at such a high level and until we see some real results and leadership from those in Washington, DC on our members’ behalf.
Sticking together and having each other’s backs is part of this great profession we call “the job.” It’s the core principle of our political work. And sticking to it is what will ensure that we ultimately prevail in the fights we face across America today.
The more we learn about the Local Government Center, the less we like it.
Not only does the LGC seem to be unnecessarily holding nearly $40 million that belongs to local cities and towns, now it is trying to use the Legislature to escape investigation by the New Hampshire secretary of state. The LGC's main function is to provide pooled insurance coverage for public employees in New Hampshire cities and towns.
Alderman: Pension reform effort could push rush to retirement for some
By MARK HAYWARD New Hampshire Union Leader
MANCHESTER – The pension reform that is under way could prod police and firefighters to retire en masse before the end of June, forcing cities and towns to write hefty checks for severance pay and sinking their current budgets, an alderman warned Monday.
State Rep. Ken Hawkins talked to a lawyer recently, but he's not spilling the beans. Hawkins, a Bedford Republican, is chairman of the House Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Reform, which is working on changing the retirement system. Union representatives have warned that the retirement reform bills being proposed by both the House and the Senate this session are likely to be challenged in court if they become law.
State Rep. Ken Hawkins talked to a lawyer recently, but he's not spilling the beans. awkins, a Bedford Republican, is chairman of the House Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Reform, which is working on changing the retirement system. Union representatives have warned that the retirement reform bills being proposed by both the House and the Senate this session are likely to be challenged in court if they become law.
Thank you to UNH Manchester singing and dance groups Classy Cats & Milling Around! They raised money for the Fallen Firefighters Fund & NHPA during their winter benefit concert.
To hear some Republicans, among them Sen. Jeb Bradley and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, one would think that the retirement system serving the state's public employees is on the brink of collapse. That's hogwash, of course - a manufactured crisis to justify cutting spending and breaking promises to retirees.
PORTSMOUTH — Newly hired public employees will work longer and until older than their predecessors to help address the state's $3.7 billion unfunded pension liability, said David Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire.
Check out this awesome slideshow by PFFNH President Dave Lang from the Solidarity Rally. Thank you to all the supporters, speakers, and to Wisconsin teacher Glee Brechler & firefighter Jerry Biggart for making the trip to NH!
Not surprisingly, state and local government pension funds absorbed heavy losses in the 2008–09 Wall Street crisis, because roughly 60 percent of these pension fund assets were invested in corporate stocks. Between mid-2007 and mid-2009, the total value of these pension funds fell by nearly $900 billion.
Monday, February 14, 2011 By: KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Staff Writer
House Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, will engineer a major shake-up this week in the special committee he named to spearhead cuts in public employee retirement costs, The Lobby has learned.
Deerfield Republican Rep. John Reagan will be replaced as chairman of the committee by Bedford Republican Ken Hawkins.
Publicly, officials will say Reagan’s chairmanship of the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee “put enough on his plate” and that making this change lightens his load.
Herald editorial on NHRS irresponsible
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February 10, 2011 9:05 PM
Feb. 9 — To the Editor:
I am writing in response to your editorial on Feb. 3, 2011, "Bradley bill provides vital reform for N.H. pensions." I found your comments irresponsible and at points inaccurate.
Unions balk at some changes debated for state retirement system
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By Jennifer Keefejkeefe@fosters.com
Saturday, February 5, 2011
DOVER — Debate and discussion about reforms to the state retirement system are far from over.
President Lang's appearance with Senator Jeb Bradley and Steve Norton from the Center for Public Police Studies will air again tonight at 6:00pm on NH Outlook.
When firefighters, police and other public employees look forward to their retirement years, they are relying on a system that some say is broke and able to pay barely more than half its obligations. Legislators and business leaders are now trying to reform that system, but state workers say the proposals are unfair. Senator Jeb Bradley and president of the NH Firefighters Association, David Lang, join host Richard Ager to discuss the retirement troubles facing the state’s public employees.
Fire chief criticizes lag in 911 response
Says time wasted as system routes calls to Concord and dispatchers ask a slate of questions before sending out help
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CONCORD – Unions offered a series of concessions Thursday as the Legislature takes up reforming the state's troubled pension plan.
The N.H. Retirement System Coalition, which includes police, firefighters, teachers and state workers, offered to start paying higher contributions, work more years to an older age, cut the size of the retirement system board, and adjust the formula used to figure their pensions.
The move came in reaction to Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley's bill that proposes a series of reforms, including those the unions proposed. Union officials said the Bradley bill goes too far in shifting the burden onto workers and retirees.
Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, said the $5 billion New Hampshire Retirement System is in a condition that requires immediate reform to preserve it for all public workers. He said the system, with more than 76,000 active and retired participants, is funded at 58.5 percent of its long-term obligations, and has unfunded liabilities of $3.7 billion. Taxpayers are being hit with rapidly escalating contributions that strain local budgets, he said Thursday.
"Experts predict large spikes going forward," he said. Change has to happen now, "given the magnitude, the enormity and the burden taxpayers not only face today . . . but also face in the future."
Unions argued that Bradley's changes will not address the unfunded liability, but will have a distinct effect on workers who are part of the NHRS.
They were backed by Senate Minority Leader Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, who said that over the last four years substantial reforms have already passed.
"Those policies are working and claims that the system is insolvent are alarmist and inaccurate," Larsen said. Keeping promises made to workers is both a legal and moral commitment, she added.
In addition to steps the unions agree with, Bradley wants to transfer into the pension trust fund $89 million now in a special medical reserve account for police and firefighters. That idea is drawing vigorous opposition, as unions argue it is an unconstitutional diversion of funds.
Bradley also wants to eliminate extra duty and special duty pay being used in pension calculations for all police, no matter their years of experience.
Bradley and Republican supporters were joined yesterday by the state School Boards Association, the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Business and Industry Association.
Quoting an e-mail Bradley sent to voters this week, School Boards Association president Ted Comstock said "the system is on a course where a day of reckoning is coming."
Pam Brenner, president of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, said pressure on taxpayers cannot be borne much longer. Towns are cutting workers because they cannot afford benefits costs, including retirement, she said.
The Bradley bill, "will attain a stable, fiscally healthy, sustainable plan."
Bradley said the NHRS problems come from three sources: quirky accounting the Legislature put in place more than 15 years ago that masked the system's problems; the transfer of $900 million in what were considered excess earnings to pay for medical subsidies; and serious downturns on Wall Street that cut NHRS assets by nearly $1 billion two years ago.
Bradley said the burden of fixing the system "has to be shared.
He said he expects professional forecasts next month that will show how quickly the system will recover under his plan. The bill has 11 co-sponsors in the Senate and four in the House.
Unions argued that many of the provisions are unconstitutional, such as transfer of medical funds and alteration of benefits for workers vested in the pension plan.
David Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, said the reforms would put too much burden on workers.
"What we have in this special legislation is a political sleight of hand, in which we'd now require employees to pay for the 30-year mortgage that was created by employers," he said.
State Employees Association president Diana Lacey said taxpayers avoided paying their full share for nearly 20 years, so the weight of reform should not fall on workers who kept up their end.
Lacey urged a cautious approach. The Legislature made several pension reforms already that will take time to produce results, she said. One is a 30-year plan to restore full funding as new workers move toward retirement age.
"It will take time. What we don't want to see is anything hasty. We want purposeful, responsible, affordable and possible solutions," she said.
GOP proposes broad reforms to avert collapse of state pension system
By TOM FAHEYState House Bureau Chief
CONCORD – Senate Republicans are taking a broad brush to retirement reform with a wide-ranging revision of the state's public pension plan they will unveil today.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Bradley to propose pension changes
By KEVIN LANDRIGAN
Staff Writer
CONCORD – The state Senate’s top Republican today will propose sweeping changes to New Hampshire’s retirement system that would force newer public employees to work longer and contribute more to receive future pensions.
Friday, January 21st, 2011 | Posted by Hilary Niles
Pondering Pensions
Public employees and unions are keeping a close eye on big changes to the New Hampshire Retirement System that could be coming down the pike — and on a newly created House committee on pension reform.
A Day on the Campaign Trail: Paul Hodes
Photo by John Tully / Monitor staff
Paul Hodes jokes with supporters and David Lang, right, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, outside a Salem firehouse following a speech. Hodes was touring southeastern and central New Hampshire on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, for his campaign
Union suspends suit against Local Gov. Center
By Elizabeth Dinan
edinan@seacoastonline.com
October 25, 2010 12:08 PM
CONCORD — The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire “suspended” a lawsuit it filed against the New Hampshire Local Government Center regarding LGC finances, pending the outcome of a Secretary of State investigation
Local 2904 Firefighter Michael Kiernan injured in Afghanistan
Sniper's bullet spurs acts of bravery
By KIMBERLY HOUGHTONUnion Leader Correspondent
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kiernan, who is recovering from a gunshot wound at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., says it is his sense humor that has helped him get through a traumatic, yet strangely odd combat experience
Is your local participating in a pink campaign? Many of the IAFF Locals across the US and Canada are exchanging their regular duty shirts for pink T-shirts to help raise breast cancer awareness. At the 2010 IAFF Convention, delegates passed a resolution for the IAFF to recognize, support and encourage its affiliates to participate in campaigns to honor women fighter cancer. Specifically, the resolution recommends IAFF locals create union-made pink duty shirts to wear on duty in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The resolution further encourages affiliates to donate 50 percent of the funds raised to women's cancer organizations, and to use the remaining funds for fire fighters and their families engaged in their own battles with cancer. If your Local is planning to participate please contact the State Office. Look back for photos as the shirts are unvailed and the public is made aware.
Legislation could mean $100m windfall for cities, towns and schools
By TOM FAHEYState House Bureau Chief
CONCORD – House and Senate members are proposing legislation this week that would return up to $100 million health insurance payments to cities, town and school districts.
Sen
Legislation could mean $100m windfall for cities, towns and schools
By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief
CONCORD – House and Senate members are proposing legislation this week that would return up to $100 million health insurance payments to cities, town and school districts.
Sen. Deborah Reynolds, D-Plymouth, said the plan to require the Local Government Center to return excess reserves from its non-profit HealthTrust to communities within 60 days of passage.A House version of the bill allows a larger reserve at LGC, would return closer to $70 million and would allow a longer time to calculate just how much money should go to each member community.
Lawmakers who described the legislation emphasized that the excess funds are taxpayers' money, paid into LGC to cover health insurance costs for their communities' workers, and should be returned to them.
Rep. Daniel Eaton, D-Stoddard said. "If reserves exceed what is needed to manage these accounts properly, then the funds should be returned to communities to cover gaps they currently have, or to reduce the tax rate on local citizens."
The House plans to begin hearings on the proposal tomorrow during a Finance Committee hearing on Gov. John Lynch's budget balancing plan. Jonathan G. Steiner of the LGC said the organization follows actuarial standards carefully and returns excess reserves to its members not through cash rebates, but lower rates.
He estimated LGC reserves at $69 million, and said claims this year are running 8 percent ahead of expectations.
The legislation also includes specific regulatory authority, including the right to subpoena and investigate LGC operations as well as other pooled risk management programs.
The proposals is an outgrowth of difficulties the Bureau of Securities Regulation had in trying to examine records of the LGC under a law passed last year. The bill gave review power to the Secretary of State's office, of which the BSR is a division.
Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan of Exeter said the $100 million figure was reached through examination of LGC reports obtained by the BSR, and by applying the same formula the state uses to set proper reserves for its self-insured health insurance fund.
LGC collects roughly $350 million a year in premiums from member cities, towns and school districts. The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire have gone to court repeatedly to get LGC to open its books and share information about its finances with members.
PFFNH president David Lang said today he's glad to see the legislative action, but hopes lawmakers will continue to probe administrative fees and practices at the non-profit.
"I'm thrilled they are taking these steps," he said, noting public workers are accepting pay freezes to help their communities while they struggle through recession.
"Give the money back to them. They need it," he said.
Firefighters rally for paramedic with terminal cancer
Sticker sales drive to aid Sarah Fox and her family
from : http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100410-NEWS-4100319
Sarah Fox, with her twins, Alexander and Anika, has been told by doctors she has one year to live.Courtesy photo
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After decades of debate and months of back and forth in Congress, on March 23, President Obama signed historic health insurance reform legislation into law.
The big question now is, what does health care reform mean for fire fighters?
The IAFF has developed the attached health care reform fact sheet with important information about what the new health care reform law means for you and your family.
The tie is broken, and the NH FIREFIGHTERS have claimed the title for a second year in a game of nonstop action and rivalry with a final score of 4-3. At the end of the event in 2010, WMUR's Jamie Staton announced to the crowd of 3,000 fans that not only had the event raised more than $121,000, but that an anonymous donation had been added to the tally - for ANOTHER $100,000! You won't want to miss next year's game - anything could happen!
Both teams worked hard both on and off of the ice to make this an exciting event for fans to enjoy. But in the end, as always with this talented and generous group of Badge wearing heroes, the benefits grow to exceed expectations and the biggest benefactors of all are the children and families at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.
New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed fair and equitable fire fighter certification reform into law on Thursday March 25th. By enacting HB 1131 the state has leveled the playing field for women, minorities and entry-level fire fighters in the New Hampshire fire service.
After unanimous votes in the House and Senate, the bill moved to the Governor¹s desk where, with a stroke of a pen he wiped out incumbent testing, a practice that the IAFF and PFFNH have fought for years.
Many thanks go to the Governor and our sponsors Representatives Jasper, Welch, Pantelakos, Weare and Senators DeVries and Bragdon. In particular, we would like to thank Representative Steve Shurtleff from Concord who shepherded this bill through the House and Senate on our behalf.
Today the NH House voted 212-151 to "table" House Bill 1664. By tabling the bill, they have set the bill aside without taking action, leaving our contributions where they are! It will now take a 2/3 majority of the house to take it off the table.
We want to thank all of you who wrote emails and made phone calls to your representatives; it worked! Because we voiced our opposition to HB 1664, House leadership has made this unique procedural decision to stop this bill.
We especially want to thank all the PFFNH members who are State Representatives who voted for the tabling motion. Your leadership in the House helped us secure this vote. Thank You!!
Rep. John DeJoie-Concord Rep. Rusty Bridle- Hampton Rep. Pat Garrity-Manchester Rep. Rep Jeff Goley-Manchester Rep. Mike O'Brien-Nashua Rep. Koko Perkins-Seabrook Rep. Brian Rhodes-Nashua Rep. Bill Stetson-Concord Rep. Tim Soucy-Nashua Rep. Dan Sullivan-Manchester Rep. Ken Ward- Rollinsford Rep. Amy Perkins-Seabrook Rep. Andy White-Lebanon
This morning in Merrimack County, the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of our retired and active members.
Please read this suit at the link below as an attached PDF
Article from Portsmouth Herald Business Section Feb 22, 2010 click link:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100222-BIZ-2220303
By Dick Ingram
Executive director, New Hampshire Retirement System
February 22, 2010 2:00 AM
The New Hampshire Retirement System is a promise-keeper
Congratulations, and kudos, to the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire for its state Supreme Court victory over the Local Government Center last month. The win is a victory for all Granite Staters, not just the firefighters and other public employees who have wondered for so long how their money was being spentFor eight years, the firefighters have tried to get the Local Government Center to open its financial records. The center opened some but not others. The firefighters have twice gone to court to get the center to comply with the state's Right to Know law. This time, the center argued that even though it was a government entity, some of its records were not covered by the Right to Know law.
On Jan. 29, the Supreme Court unanimously sided with the firefighters, who had requested in this particular case that the center release all of its salary information. But the firefighters' dispute is far from over. The union is still fighting for more data to find out if the center has been misusing public funds, particularly employee pension contributions.
David Lang, head of the firefighters union, deserves a big thanks for pressing this case for so many years and seeing it through to its satisfactory conclusion.
Please see attached the unanimous decision from the NH Supreme Court, which found in our favor, once again, in our PFFNH v LGC case. We have fought hard over the last 8 years to make the LGC comply with the Right to Know Law and open their books, and we will continue to fight until we see the cost of our health care go down!
Thank you for all your support throughout this process.
I want to thank all of the locals who stepped up and took action when we called for help. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to significantly add to the amount of food the NH State Employees Union collected for their Holiday food drive, which benefits the families of NH public workers who have been laid off this year. Not only was the SEA surprised by our large response, but extremely thankful. Several hundred SEA members have seen layoff do to the lack of revenue in this state.
Because of your efforts the holidays this season may land a little softer for those laid off workers.
Once again, I am proud of the members and leadership of our locals, who extended help when our brothers and sisters needed help.
CONCORD – A Superior Court judge has rejected a move by the Local Government Center to block state regulators from examining the books of its health insurance operation.
The Bureau of Securities Regulation issued a subpoena for records of LGC's Health Trust in October, in response to a complaint about the insurer's operations. LGC provides health insurance to towns, cities and school districts through the HealthTrust operations.
LGC sought an injunction against the bureau, arguing it had no authority to delve into its records, despite a 2009 change in law that gave it added powers to regulate pooled risk programs like HealthTrust.
Merrimack County Superior Court Justice Larry Smukler, in a Dec. 11 order released yesterday, said the burden was on the LGC to convince him it had a good likelihood of prevailing in its fight for privacy.
Smukler's ruling says the organization failed to meet that burden. He said state law "explicitly authorizes the department to seek" information it needs to exercise its power over LGC and any other pooled risk management program.
Kevin Moquin said that with the court ruling in hand, the bureau will now start enforcement of it subpoena.
The bureau's subpoena ordered the LGC to hand over a list of records, including three years worth of financial records and budgets, copies of contracts with the LGC and its subsidiaries, documents related to a reorganization of the center in 2003, and a list of center employees and their salaries.
It's not clear how quickly the LGC will turn over records the state requested. Smukler's ruling did not address LGC's other challenge, which argued that this year's change in law regarding state authority was unconstitutional.
That issue, said LGC attorney Christopher Carter, "is still very much in front of the Superior Court, and will not be resolved until a final hearing."
Carter said he got the order late yesterday and was still reviewing it with his clients.
The LGC has also been waging a New Hampshire Supreme Court fight against the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire to keep salary information private. The court heard arguments in the case in October, but has not ruled yet.
The citizen complaint that prompted the bureau's action alleged that HealthTrust was not using health insurance premiums exclusively for health insurance costs, and that surpluses were not being refunded to member cities, school districts and towns.
LGC told New Hampshire Public Radio this week it had transferred $14.5 million from the health insurance trust to the entity that controls worker compensation insurance, but argued it has the right to do so under state law.
PFFNH president David Lang said in a statement yesterday that in light of the NHPR report, "We are very concerned that public employee health insurance money is questionably being transferred and spent by the LGC in ways that go far beyond the stated purpose of that trust."
While representation of the Local Government Center refuses to relinquish this information to the PFFNH, even after 2 Superior Court rulings, 1 Supreme Court ruling and the Secretary of State’s request, last night the LGC told New Hampshire Public Radio the very information we are trying to get.
This lawsuit is designed under a class action approach, where all of our retired members will be considered part of this class, once certified by the courts. The only costs you will incur are, if the Attorneys are successful on your behalf, we have negotiated they would receive 30% of the settlement in exchange for their fees. This will more than likely be a long and drawn out legal battle. Please log in to the members area and see the Retirees Corner for details.
October 7, 2009 The LGC has made public in a recent filing with the Merrimack County Superior Court, that it is under State investigation for allegedly violating State Statute (RSA 5-B) . The allegations include questions regarding LGC keeping 7 million dollars of health insurance money for "future administrative needs". Under State Law, excess health insurance premiums must be returned to the participating New Hampshire cities and towns. Watch for press accounts soon. More to follow and the documents are available on our downloads page.
Professional Fire fighters of New Hampshire and members of the Retirement Coalition file suit!
August 7 , 2009 The NH Retirement Security Coalition filed suit today challenging the constitutionality of changes in the public pension system (RSA 100-A) mandated by HB1645 , a bill passed in the 2008 legislative session that altered pension benefits that constitute vested legal rights.
August 26, 2009 – The death of Senator Ted Kennedy is a very sad and profound loss for the nation, the IAFF and for me personally. In addition to his unwavering support of this union and America’s fire fighters, he was my dear friend for more than 30 years. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
I first met the senator in 1976. I was 29 years old and the director of the IAFF’s legislative operation. From our very first meeting, Ted – the name he immediately said to use when addressing him – told me of his affinity for our members and, as was his true character, became an instant advocate for issues important to fire fighters. He remained a champion of this union and workers across America even in his last weeks before his death.
Kennedy was known universally as a passionate liberal. He made no apologies for his positions and always respected the strongly held views of others. And because of his willingness to listen, he was one of the few in our nation’s upper chamber of Congress who could effectively reach across party lines to get things done.
Even the most conservative members of the Republican Senate – Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and John McCain (R-AZ) among them – found common ground, formed personal friendships with and had great respect for Ted Kennedy.
This union honors every member’s individual political views, and I know that Senator Kennedy’s stance on particular issues may have run counter to the personal and social values of some, but there can be no dispute that he was a friend and a reliable and effective advocate for fire fighters and a leader in standing with American families and protecting individual rights.
Democrats and Republicans alike who worked with Ted remember him as one of the most effective, hardworking lawmakers in Washington. His formidable negotiating skills and intrepid ability to reach across the aisle became his hallmark for getting things done.
I had the privilege of working with Senator Kennedy as he fought for this union and can tell you that he never said no to us. He was always available – even as he grew in stature and importance. He was unstoppable in his quest to win the rights our members deserve.
In nearly 50 years in the Senate, Kennedy authored more pieces of major legislation than any other United States senator. Where our members are concerned, Ted wrote and championed the IAFF’s national collective bargaining bill – the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act -- which he reintroduced, along with Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), just moments before the Senate adjourned for its August recess this year.
Ted was a stalwart champion of this legislation to expand collective bargaining rights to all professional fire fighters nationwide, and he made sure that the resources to pass this bill will be there when Congress returns from summer recess. Our union owes him our deepest gratitude for bringing this victory within reach.
Senator Kennedy has also led efforts to bring improvements to fire fighter pay, retirement, benefits and health and safety. His work included guaranteeing fire fighters overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); establishing a medical monitoring program for fire fighters responding to disasters; protecting fire fighters against infectious diseases under the Ryan White law; creating the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB); protecting and expanding fire fighter deferred compensation plans (457 plans); improving federal fire fighter pay and protecting fire fighter jobs against contracting out; establishing tuition assistance programs for fire fighters; creating the nation’s first plan to respond to bioterrorism; and expanding OSHA coverage to include fire fighters.
Our country has lost a great leader. This union has lost an ardent supporter and ally. And I have lost a true friend.
I want to remember him as he hoped his brother, Robert Kennedy, would be: “as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it. Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will someday come to pass for all the world.”
Retirees sue over pension deduction
Insurance payment method at issue
By LAUREN R. DORGANMonitor staff
August 04, 2009
From Concord Monitor, click : http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
July 31, 2009 The Attorney General's office has released its long awaited updated memorandum on the Right to Know law, RSA 91-A. The memo seeks to capture the changes made to 91-A in the last two legislative sessions as well as to review recent Court decisions. Interestingly, the AG opines that HB53 - a bill retained by the House Judiciary Committee and opposed by labor groups (see the legislative alert page for more details) - is a good bill! We need to watch this next session very closely. Also, the AG's memo cites approvingly to cases , like the Firefighters' case against HealthTrust, that have expanded the law's reach. This memo (available here) is a must read
Superior Court suspends Sudanese Investment Act -- NHRS wins injunction!
June 5, 2009. In a stunning rebuke to the Legislature's belief that they can run the Retirement System, the Superior Court has confirmed again that there is in place Constitutional constraints on legislative power regarding public employees and their retirement system. In one of the first court rulings interpreting Article 36-a of the New Hampshire Constitution, Superior Court Judge Diane Nicolosi has ruled that the legislature overstepped its bounds by legislating how retirement funds should be invested. This case may well have major implications on challenges now being considered by the New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition relative to changes adopted by HB1645 and the current tinkerings under consideration this term. For example, can the legislature create (and the Governor appoint members to) an Investment Committee?
PSOB Benefits Will Be Paid Fox News Report Is Wrong
A May 7 FOX News report suggesting that that the Obama budget proposal for FY 2010 cuts spending on the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act (PSOB) from $110 million to $60 million is misguided and inaccurate.
The PSOB (Hometown Heroes) program is an entitlement program, which means that 100 percent of benefits must be paid by law to every family that qualifies. The “cut” that FOX News is reporting is an estimate of what the program will pay out and is based on the predicted number of line-of-duty death claims.
“There has been no cut to the PSOB program,” states IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The families of fire fighters who die in the line of duty will receive the full benefit. Whether there are half as many deaths or three times as many deaths, all claims will be paid.”
In 1976, following nearly eight years of lobbying, the IAFF succeeded in persuading President Gerald Ford to sign the original bill, which at that time provided a death benefit of $50,000. Since then, the IAFF has been the principal author of every amendment to the act affecting members’ coverage and benefit amounts.
As a result of these efforts, benefit amounts doubled after September 11 and are now adjusted annually. In 2003, the IAFF succeeded in expanding coverage to include heart attacks and strokes. The benefit is now $315,746 as of October 1, 2008.
“It has been a long and sometimes frustrating journey, with attempts to water down or shelf the legislation and to propose amendments that would have made it ineffective,” says Schaitberger. “We put these benefits in place so that if one of our members makes that ultimate sacrifice, the family doesn’t have to worry -- the benefit will be paid.”
The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, indicating that a global outbreak of the disease is imminent. The IAFF has launched a comprehensive online resource center today to provide tools and up-to-date information to help protect members from swine flu. Please visit http://www.iaff.org/et/pandemicflu/ for news and coverage of these events. Also visit the IAFF’s Informational Bulletin for Emergency Responders on the Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus (Swine Flu) Pandemic at http://www.iaff.org/hs/Resi/Pan%20Flu%20Final.aspand the IAFF Online Learning Module at http://www.iaff.org/ET/Modules/AvianFlu/01.htm, because as a first responder, you will need to know how to protect yourself against the Swine Flu and how to prepare for a possible outbreak
The recent flurry of activity and media stories regarding outbreak of the H1N1 influenza, also known as Swine Flu, has prompted the NH Division of Fire Safety to distribute this guideline for the fire service.
H1N1 INFLUENZA GUIDELINES FOR THE FIRE SERVICE
Prevention
The H1N1 influenza strain is much like other flu viruses in the way it is transmitted. The most likely transmission method is through person to person physical contact. As such we recommend that the fire service consider the following:
-Utilize standard precaution methods during the care of patients and victims. (gloves, mask and eye protection)
-Develop procedures to require hand washing upon return to station from all calls.
-Install or distribute hand sanitizers on all apparatus.
Reduction in Force
We recommend that all departments consider the following when thinking about how a potential pandemic might affect their departments:
-Develop a contingency plan for reductions in manpower for allied forces such as utilities such as water department and other municipal organizations. What will you do if your entire water department is home sick?
-Develop a plan to increase your run card resources for additional manpower. Remember that other departments may also be in the same boat. What will you do if you call for mutual aid for that structure fire and only half of the resources show up and they only have two people per apparatus?
-Evaluate what facilities in your community might be needed for medical surge (med-surge) capacity. Will these buildings have adequate fire and life safety protection for these victims?
-Develop a procedure for conducting welfare checks. Will your firefighters be prepared to respond to a call for assistance for a deceased person who was quarantined in their home?
-Consider developing a cache of logistical supplies for your firefighters for extended operations. Do you have enough food, water and supplies in your station to sustain your operations for an extended period of time?
-Develop a succession plan for each and every function. Who will be responsible for department operations if your chief, assistant chief and deputy chief become victims and can’t lead the department?
This bulletin serves to act as a guide to prompt departments to develop a good plan for the operation of their department during an outbreak similar to this. This is not an all inclusive list of the things that need to be considered.
Those departments that practice good hygiene and who also plan properly will be better suited to serve the citizens of our great state. For more information about the H1N1 influenza, please refer to the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance/
Judge: Proposed Concord tax cap unconstitutional
By JOHN DISTASOSenior Political Reporter from
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The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire and NH Association of Fire Chiefs together denounced the act of police officers acting as fire fighters.
Please view the attached press release below in a pdf format and watch the video posted in the link above. You do not need to be a member to view this page.
The Center for American Progress Fund has published a study entitled "Unions are Good for New Hampshire's Economy". One of the primary reasons why our current recession endures is that workers do not have the purchasing power they need to drive our economy, and what is sustainable is an economy where workers are adequately rewarded and have the income they need to purchase goods. This is where unions come in.
The Center for American Progress Action Fund is a progressive think-tank dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through ideas and action. We are creating a long-term, progressive vision for America—a vision that policy makers, thought-leaders and activists can use to shape the national debate and pass laws that make a difference.
Our mission is to transform progressive ideas into policy through rapid response communications, legislative action, grassroots organizing and advocacy, and partnerships with other progressive leaders throughout the country and the world.
New Study finds 3,000 jobs $454 million in economic impact from NH public Pensions
The National Institute on Retirement Security issued a press release on a new study determining public pensions substantial economic benefits in fiscal year 2005-2006.
The National Institute on Retirement Security is a not-for-profit organization established to contribute to informed policymaking by fostering a deep understanding of the value of retirement security to employees, employers, and the economy through national research and education programs. NIRS seeks to encourage the development of public policies that enhance retirement security in America.
On Friday Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Phillip Mangones denied the Local Government Centers Request for Reconsideration (see attached). The LGC can now appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
As more public officials begin to talk about furloughs, please be aware of this decision of the New Hampshire Supreme Court!!
Download: Opinion of the Justices (Furlough).pdf
Franklin New Hampshire Local 4711 is one of two new Locals to the PFFNH this month. President Chuck Bodien along with several members were on hand to accept the Charter for the new Local at the January Bi-Monthly PFFNH Delegates meeting.
Local 4711 represents members of the City of Franklin Fire Department
Southeastern New Hampshire Local 4718 is one of two new Locals to the PFFNH this month. President Steve Turner was on hand to accept the Charter for the new Local at the January Bi-Monthly PFFNH Delegates meeting. Southeastern New Hampshire is a regional Local representing the smaller departments along the New Hampshire Seacoast
Published: Sunday, January 25, 2009
Union closer to facts behind health-care cash
View the article at : http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090125/NEWS01/301259909
By ANDREW WOLFE Staff Writer awolfe@nashuatelegraph
Franklin firefighters latest to unionize
IN FRANKLINBy GAIL OBERgober@citizen.com
Article Date: Friday, December 26, 2008
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
Employee contracts eyed for tax relief
By GARRY RAYNO
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Friday, Dec. 26, 2008
link:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Employee+contracts+eyed+for+tax+relief&articleId=72b5de7f-dc39-4856-a342-d94e6694dcda
MANCHESTER * Gov. John Lynch wants state employees to forgo a contractual raise
Now that the General Election has been decided, Locals must now turn their attention to Town Meetings and budget season, as the actions taken there will impact them greatly. The PFFNH encourages all of its Locals to stay on top of these dates, the effects of all warrant artcles, and obviously, the operating budget of their communities
by:Gerald McEntee
Posted November 20, 2008 |
from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-mcentee/public-employee-pensions_b_145172.html
Public Employee Pensions are Not the Problem
Right-wing critics of public employee pensions will use any angle to convince folks that these plans are bankrupting states, cities and towns
Members of the PFFNH, including 25 members of Local 856 in Manchester turned out for the endorsement of Lou D'Allesandro for State Senate in District # 20. PFFNH President Dave Lang said "Firefighters Love Lou. Lou has been there assuring the security of our families with the passage of Michael's Law, or standing up to protect our pension system, whatever the issue we know Lou is there for firefighters."
President of Local 856 Bill Clayton welcomed the guests to the Engine 2 firehouse, and spoke of Senator D'Allesandro's support and friendship of the members of 856.
Yesterday afternoon Governor Lynch signed into law HB 1436 the so called “evergreen” bill
This bill levels the playing field for public sector workers and municipalities at the negotiation table Download: HB 1436.doc
The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire announced their endorsement in the United States Senate Race in New Hampshire of Jeanne Shaheen on July 9 at the Manchester Local 856 Union Hall. A crowd of 60 delegates from Locals across the State came together on a hot humid day for the event. Delegates from the Locals unanimously endorsed Shaheen in May at the Tenth Biennial Convention of the PFFNH for her record as Governor of New Hampshire, her campaign platform of change in DC, and her defense of New Hampshire's middle class. Members from across the state will be donning the IAFF gold and black to show their support for Jeanne Shaheen in the coming weeks and months at campaign events statewide.
Please view the photo gallery for more images from the event.
You may also watch the endorsement video in the lower left menu under video gallery.
Public employees seek corrective action to continue retiree benefits
Coalition is taking the lead to protect people and prevent tax hikes
CONCORD, NH — In response to an online report issued Monday evening by <http://www.politickernh.com/> www.PolitickerNH.com where James Pindell detailed the filing of a lawsuit by members of the New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition, public employees are providing additional details.
Public employees asked a Merrimack County Superior Court Monday to force the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) to follow the law and continue payments to fund the medical subsidy with the 8 percent cost of living increase in tact for Granite State retirees. The suit seeks to correct an action by the system they say will cause tax rates to spike, the core concern of cities and towns across the state. This request would essentially allow retirement benefits to continue without increased costs to the taxpayers, according to the Coalition.
James Valiquet, president of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, said taking legal action is never an easy undertaking. “The retirement system was not designed to be a burden to the taxpayer, and rather to provide an employment incentive to hire the best police officers, firefighters, teachers and employees and ensure a well-functioning and safe government,” Valiquet said. “We all heard Governor John Lynch repeat time and again in his previous election theme that you can take care of people and watch the bottom line. The action we seek in court does just that.”
Public employees supporting the suit include the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, State Employees Association of New Hampshire – Local 1984, SEIU, CLC, New Hampshire Police Association, New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, New Hampshire State Permanent Firefighters Retirement Association, and New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs.
As a means to safeguard the viability of the medical subsidy and prevent potential tax increases, the public employees who police local streets, fight fires and teach Granite State children are asking the NHRS to immediately reverse its November 2007 decision to cease making replenishment payments from the special account to the state annuity accumulation fund in an amount equal to that paid by employers to the 401(h) subtrust to offset the cost of the medical subsidy. The special account was established in the late 1980s as a place to deposit earnings over and above the actuarial rate of return. The money is used to fund the medical subsidy and reimburse the employers so the benefit is cost neutral for the taxpayers.
The public employees say they recognize the prior action was taken upon the advice of legal consultant. However, they believe this action was rash and unnecessary. “Public employees continue to go to work to teach local children, respond to emergencies and protect New Hampshire’s streets,” said David Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire. “They were promised this benefit and we beleive there is no legal reason to prevent them from receiving it.”
In a letter sent the NHRS Board Chair Lisa Shapiro, Attorney Glenn Milner, on behalf of the members, writes, “We recognize that your prior action was taken upon the advice of your legal consultant, Ice Miller. We believe this action was taken far too hastily and contrary to New Hampshire Law and the best interests of the members of the NHRS. As well, you have now been provided a second legal opinion by Attorney Wagner establishing that the conclusions of Ice Miller are highly suspect.”
Last week, Attorney Marcia S. Wagner, who specializes in retirement related issues, blasted the “Ice Miller Report” - the findings from a funding review of retiree health benefits through a 401(h) subtrust by the law firm of Ice Miller LLP that resulted in the loss of employer reimbursement for medical benefits and is expected to increase contribution rates for cities and towns around the state. The “Wagner Report” discredits the foundation for proposed reform found in House Bill 1645 which eliminates the employer replenishment of contributions to the 401(h) subaccount.
The law states (RSA 100A:53), “At the end of each fiscal year beginning with the year ending June 30, 1989, the state annuity accumulation fund of the New Hampshire Retirement System shall be reimbursed from the special account established in RSA 100-A:16, II(h) for the amount of funds allocated to the 401(h) subtrust for that year.”
Jon Garvin, president of the New Hampshire Police Association, said the Coalition is following the advice of the Senate Executive Departments and Administration (ED&A) Committee. “During the last Senate public hearing, State Sen. Peter Burling (D-Cornish) made it abundantly clear that this issue is a NHRS issue and is best presented to them,” Garvin said. “We believe Senator Burling is right and we have taken this issue to the System and have asked the courts to order the system to follow the law. Based on advice we have received and presented, we believe you can have a medical subsidy and save the taxpayers money.”
Arthur Beaudry, president of the New Hampshire State Permanent Retired Firefighters Association, said retired teachers, firefighters and police and other public employees paid into the system and devoted their lives to public service under the promise of retirement security including a medical subsidy. “If the law is not followed and House Bill 1645 is passed, these same dedicated people will be forced to decide between medications or meals,” Beaudry said. “It’s just not right.”
Rhonda Wesolowski, president of the National Education Association of New Hampshire, said every child has a right to be educated in a great public school and the entire community shares the responsibility to recruit and retain the highly qualified teachers that students deserve. “Part of this recruitment effort must be to ensure that teachers and other public employees get the benefits they were promised,” said Wesolowski. “By taking part in this lawsuit, we are protecting the taxpayers’ interests as well as our members’, because it requires the NHRS to reimburse employers for every dollar spent on the retirement medical subsidy. This will translate into savings for taxpayers. We are asking the community to join us in calling on the New Hampshire Retirement System to continue funding the retirees’ medical subsidy established in New Hampshire law.”
Media Contacts: Laura Hainey, President, New Hampshire AFT-NH, 603-661-7293 David Lang, President, PFFNH, 603-437-0035 Bradford Police Chief James S. Valiquet, 603-938-2522 Gary Smith, President, SEA of New Hampshire, 603-271-3411 Arthur Beaudry, New Hampshire State Permanent Firefighters Retirement Association, 603-622-3473 Rick Trombly, NEA - New Hampshire, 603-224-7751 Gerri Madrid-Davis, NPPC, 202-657-1549
Coalition of 70K Employees Forms to Protect Retirement Security
The New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition Unified on HB1645
New Hampshire Employees United in Call for Fiscally Responsible Approach for Retirement Funding and Ensuing Delivery of Vital Public Services
CONCORD, NH — More than 70,000 active and retired first responders, teachers and public workers have united to launch the New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition. The coalition is dedicated to ensuring New Hampshire workers who teach our children, police our streets, and fight our fires can depend on a stable and modest retirement income after a career of public service.
“The New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition believes that retirement is a shared employee and employer responsibility, and must be done in a fiscally responsible manner,” said Laura Hainey, president of American Federation of Teachers in New Hampshire (AFT-NH). “We are committed to continuing to work with the legislature and Governor John Lynch toward retirement security for New Hampshire’s public servants.”
The coalition is supportive of efforts to maintain defined benefit pension and health care benefits for retired public employees provided by the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) and to ensure the long-term viability of the plan for current and future public employees. These benefits are essential tools for recruiting and retaining a skilled and qualified workforce—educators, first responders, and other essential public servants—to provide vital services for the citizens of New Hampshire.
“Taxpayers can’t afford to lose a high quality, experienced workforce that carries out vital services such as educating our children, protecting our streets, firefighting, disaster response and providing for homeland security,” said David Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire (PFFNH).
Taxpayers rely upon the public servants represented by the coalition to provide vital services such as emergency and first response including medical aid, 911 and disaster response, police protection, administration and investigation, and firefighting, as well as healthcare services, child welfare protection, health inspections, forensic investigations, education for children in grades K-12 and college, and prison & correctional services.
The coalition is also announcing its opposition to House Bill 1645 as introduced. This legislation will impair future retirement security of workers; will result in increased costs to taxpayers, and put public services at risk, according to the newly formed group.
House Bill 653, enacted last session, provided a first step to put the NHRS on track toward improved funding. It required shared responsibility by both employees and employers. The coalition remains committed to this legislation, as it is a fiscally responsible solution for improving plan funding.
According to the Coalition, HB 1645 will not solve the issues facing the retirement system. Rather than improving funding, it fails to address employers’ responsibility to fund the system’s $2.7 billion obligation. The legislation fails to address the misguided practice of lowering the appropriate contribution rate necessary from employers to fund the core of the pension, the medical subsidy and cost of living adjustments. HB 1645 will serve to increase costs to taxpayers and puts vital public services at risk.
Additionally, it does not reflect the Majority Report issued by the Pension Commission. This legislation will undermine the Retirement Board structure and the important positive role that trustees serve. The Coalition does not support an employee-only contribution to fund supplemental allowances in the future.
“For the past 26 years, New Hampshire public workers have faithfully made continuous and on-time contributions to the retirement fund – nearly 21 percent of the assets in the system,” said Bradford Police Chief James S. Valiquet, a coalition member and member of the House Bill 876 Study Commission. “And, because the retirement benefits are pre-funded and invested under direction of trustees, some 64% of retirement benefits are paid with investment earnings. The coalition simply is asking that the Legislature keep its commitment to pay their 15% promised portion into the fund for workers who often are in high risk, lower paying jobs.”
Valiquet concluded, “HB 1645 should be heavily amended to focus more closely on the intent of the commission.”
The study commission met over 5 months in late 2007 and conducted a comprehensive review of the Retirement System's funding, benefits, and investment results as well as its current financial status, governance structure and future challenges culminating in a series of recommendations included in its final report dated January 2, 2008.
Member organizations of the New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition include:
American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 93
American Federation of Teachers – New Hampshire
NEA - New Hampshire
New Hampshire AFL-CIO
New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs
New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police
New Hampshire Association of Retired Law Enforcement Officers
New Hampshire Police Association
New Hampshire Retired Educators Association
New Hampshire State Permanent Fire Fighters Retirement Association
New Hampshire Troopers Association
Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire
State Employees Association of New Hampshire – SEIU Local 1984
House Bill 876 titled, “establishing a commission to make recommendations to ensure the long-term viability of the New Hampshire retirement system, and making an appropriation therefore,” will have their first meeting on Friday, August 17th. The 21 members of this commission are as follows. For more in-depth information on this and other legislation tracked by the PFFNH please click on “Legislative Updates” and then “PFFNH 2007 Legislative Summary.”
Public Members
Chair –William (Bill) Bartlett, former NH Senate President
Lisa Shapiro, Gallagher Law Firm Economist
Dennis Logue, Dartmouth Professor
Dr. Edward MacKay, Vice Chancellor Treasurer UNH
Group I
Rick Trombley, NEA NH
Mark McKenzie, AFL-CIO NH
Gary Smith, SEIU 1984 SEA NH
Group II
David Lang, PFFNH
Dean Crombie, Police Chief Somersworth, NHRS Trustee
Lou Copponi, NH State Troopers Association
Municipal
Dean Michener, NH School Boards Association
John MacLean, City Manager Keene
Pamela Brenner, Town Administrator Peterborough
Senate
Harold Janeway, (d) Senator, NHRS Trustee
Michael Downing, (r) Senator, Retired NH State Trooper and Salem Police
House of Representatives
David Smith, (d) House Finance
Marjorie Smith, (i) House Finance
John Reagan, (r) House Executive Departments and Administration
New Hampshire Retirement System
Charlton MacVeagh Jr, Chairman NHRS Board of Trustees
Retired Group I
Barbara Doyle, Retired Portsmouth Teacher
Retired Group II
1. James Valiquet, Retired Police Chief Newbury, Police Chief Bradford
Most influential players in the New Hampshire primary
N.H. firefighters
The firefighters union, including union president David Lang, has earned a reputation as the most respected, often bipartisan, and hardest-working union in the state for its candidate. In 2004, it stuck by John Kerry (left) in his dog days and helped lift him out of a slump by hosting one firehouse chili feed at a time. A recent meeting of firefighters in Portsmouth drew every presidential candidate except Barack Obama, who appeared over video and blamed his staff for the faux pas.
President Dave Lang said " This honor is a testiment to the hard work of each of the individual members of our proud Union"
Through interviews with key impartial players and drawing on his own experience of five years covering the daily ins and outs of New Hampshire politics, Globe Correspondent James Pindell offers a partial list of the most important players in the upcoming New Hampshire presidential primary.
Actuary cautions about fiscal dangers of this “intentional policy”
Concord, NH – On Monday, February 25, Thomas Lowman of actuarial firm Bolton Partners provided to the New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition his actuarial opinion that the practice of “double-dipping” is setting the state up for greater costs down the road. He included numerous reasons why employers who either hire more part-time positions than full time, or encourage full-time employees to retire and then hire them back part-time, are negatively impacting the overall state retirement system and the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability.
“Encouraging employees to ‘retire’ sooner will cost employers more as the unfunded liability would be spread over a smaller number of people,” said Diana Lacey, President of the State Employees Association. “If employees are retiring earlier than the actuarially-projected age, those projections become skewed, increasing the total cost of the plan.”
Employers are required to pay pension costs for each full-time employee beneficiary of the retirement system, which per RSA 100-A:1 consists of employees, teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
“This simple provision in the statute is allowing an opportunity for employers to avoid paying pension costs,” said Scott McGilvray, President of the New Hampshire National Education Association. “This practice creates a disparity among employers and downshifts costs to those communities that play fair.”
Lowman suggests solutions such as lowering the number of hours allowed for part-time work – currently 32 hours; having the NHRS track all employees and payroll, and identify those positions that have traditionally been full-time covered positions that are being reduced to part time; and legal ramifications for employers who engage in this practice.
“Tom Lowman’s letter calls attention to this serious and growing problem of double-dipping and supports our desire to see this practice tracked,” said TrooperFirst Class Marc Beaudoin, Representative of the New Hampshire Troopers and Sergeants. “Legislation calling for such tracking has failed to gain ground, but we need a solution before these costs are passed on to even more future generations.”
Members of the NH Retirement Security Coalition:
New Hampshire Retired Educators Association
NE Police Benevolent Association
Teamsters Union Local 633
New Hampshire Troopers Association
American Federation of Teachers – New Hampshire
NH School Administrators Association
State Employees Association of New Hampshire – SEIU Local 1984
Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire
New Hampshire AFL-CIO
American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 93
PFFNH Fights Back for Taxpayers, Employees and Retirees on Health Care
August 24, 2012 – The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire (PFFNH) has a positive resolution to its decade-long legal fight with the New Hampshire Local Government Center (LGC), a nonprofit organization that manages health insurance pools for public workers and retirees in the state. The PFFNH was the union that took legal action (three times to the state supreme court) against the LGC over suspicions that it violated state statutes by keeping unused insurance money, using collected health insurance premiums for purposes other than health insurance and not returning unused money to the insured. R Read more here
Fire Instructors and Officers Association of NH along with the City of Manchester will be hosting the 2nd Annual 9-11 Stair Climb on September 9th, 2012. This event will be held at 1000 Elm Street in Manchester The Brady Sullivan Tower. Participants will climb 110 stories as individuals or as a team. 100% of the registration monies will go to the families of those lost on that tragic day 9/11/01. Last year there were almost three hundred climbers!
Tickets can be purchased by February 23rd at the Kingston FD -
148 Main St. / (603) 642 3626 or from your Local's District Vice President. Donations can also be made to the Kingston Fire Department PO Box 302 Kingston, NH 03848
Brother McLellan is fighting Kidney Cancer and needs help covering his medical expenses.
William O'Brien: Bringing more jobs by curbing union power
William O'Brien
Published May 22, 2011 at 3:00 am (Updated May 21, 2011)
The New Hampshire Republican Party Platform promises New Hampshire that, “in an effort to expand the market both at home and abroad and develop productive employment with safety, rewards and dignity for workers of all ages, (Republicans) will work to … support the “right to work” by adopting legislation necessary to ensure this principle for all workers.” The national Republican Party Platform goes on to say, “We affirm both the right of individuals to voluntarily participate in labor organizations and … states to enact Right-to-Work laws.”
Has New Hampshire been economically undermined because it isn't a Right to Work state? Rep. Will Smith, R-New Castle, believes it has, which led him to sponsor the legislation to make New Hampshire the 22nd state in the country to join the Right-to-Work ranks.
Over the past 30 years, there have been numerous attempts to pass so-called right-to-work legislation in New Hampshire. In the past, each time this type of legislation had been introduced in the Legislature, it had been quickly defeated - by both Republican and Democratic majorities
The state House of Representatives bid to push the Right to Work bill (HB 474) into law over the dismissive veto of Gov. John Lynch is going right down to the wire. Unless there’s a brand new breed of House attendees showing up on Wednesday, House Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, needs to convince about 15 of his GOP caucus to either change their minds or take a walk.
Published May 21, 2011 at 3:00 am (Updated May 20, 2011)
CONCORD — House and Senate members negotiating changes in the state retirement system did agree on one thing Friday — to use the House's contribution rates for police and firefighters. After more than an hour-and-a-half of talk about how to determine an employee's pension benefit and how to deal with system retirees who take part-time jobs for cities, towns, school districts, counties and the state, negotiators quickly agreed on how much police and firefighters should contribute to the retirement system beginning July 1.
The New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition was pleased to see The Telegraph’s May 11 editorial, “Time to reform ‘double dipping.’” We agree there needs to be real reform on pension plan abuses, and that is why the coalition has been trying to work with legislators this session to come up with legislation that would end the practice of double dipping.
When you voted for State Senator and State Representative last election, did you think you were voting against New Hampshire’s working families and lowest paid employees?
Well it seems the new legislative leadership in Concord thinks you did. So far, less than a month since they were sworn in to office, these newly elected leaders have promoted an agenda that undermines public servants, minimum wage workers and hard working union members in our state.
The so called “Right to Work” bill that has been defeated time and again in New Hampshire since the 1980s, is back again. New Hampshire has been smart to keep this job killing law off the books because workers in the states that have adopted this law make less money, have more on-the-job accidents (and deaths), are more likely to go without health care and have a better chance of becoming a statistic in higher poverty rates.
In addition, Republican senators are sponsoring legislation to eliminate our state’s minimum wage, pulling the rug out from our lowest paid workers and their families, many of our neighbors and friends.
Yet another bill will take away protection from our public service employees, removing a New Hampshire statute that maintains negotiated contracts between employers and employees until another negotiated contract is in place.
Please join me in contacting your elected representatives and senator and telling them to vote against these mean-spirited attacks on working people in our state.
Shaheen, Ayotte Praise Firefighters Heroism for Fighting USS Miami Fire
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With the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as their backdrop, U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, praised the more than 100 firefighters who battled the USS Miami nuclear submarine fire on May 23.
Party will be held at Bill’s House / 62 Farm View Lane Gilford, NH on Saturday July 21st starting at 2 p.m. Cook-out style food including Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and sides will be provided. There will be beer provided, but feel free to bring whatever you prefer to drink.
Tickets are $20each
Please Contact Rick Hewlett at (603) 944-0283
Or Laconia Fire Central Station at (603) 524-6881 for tickets.
On Thursday February 16, 2012 President Dave Lang testified in front of the NH House Labor Committee against an amendment for HB1645: prohibiting all public employees from participating in collective bargaining. In his remarks President Lang stated, "Collective Bargaining agreements are like the Personal Protective Equipment for our Families." Click below to view his entire testimony.
NECN: NH protesters rally in support of union rights
(NECN: Lauren Collins - Concord, NH) Four thousand people converge on the New Hampshire capital to protest a budget they call unfair. "It's drastic," said Jayme Collins from Keene.
Read more here
N.H.
Professional Fire Fighters of NH run radio spots for the public to attend the rally for NH, click to play the two ads that are running state wide.
Download: IAFF NH Rally3.mp3
,
NHContract3.mp3
Insurance pool should return excess surplus
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Local Government Center, which operates an insurance pool for cities and towns to achieve favorable health insurance rates, should return the millions dollars of surplus funds which are in excess of what it needs to pay out claims. It should do so willingly and promptly.
Government center accused of misusing tax money
By GEORGE F. WILL
MANCHESTER – The president of a statewide firefighters union and the head of the Local Government Center went toe-to-toe Wednesday over whether the center misused money intended for health care by directing it to other programs it offers.
Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer on October 9, 2007. At the time she was also 36 ½ weeks pregnant with twins. Twelve hours after her diagnosis the twins were born making a family of seven. While it wasn’t easy, Sarah fought through the many challenges and treatments that cancer brings and beat the odds returning to work in January 2009. Just over a year later Sarah developed a pain in her hip which was discovered to be cancer. Sarah, her husband Matt, and their 5 children and extended family are faced with the fight against cancer once again.
Sarah’s fight is ongoing and we want to remove the financial strains that come with the battle. Sarah’s Ride is being hosted in an attempt to raise funds to assist Sarah and her family to help them during this challenging time.
Date: September 11th, 2010
Location: Staging area and start/end of the ride will be at Seacoast Harley-Davidson located at 17 Lafayette Road, North Hampton, NH 03862 [603] 964-9959.
Time: 0800 ~ 1400 [Kick Stands up at 10:00 and ride will end at 2:00].
Ride Registration and Waiver Form:All riders and passengers will be required to register for Sarah’s Ride and sign a Liability Waiver. On-Line Registration begins on August 1st, 2010 and will continue until September 5th, 2010. Click Here to register on-line. On-Site Registration: On-Site Check-in and registration will start at 0800 at Seacoast Harley Davidson. If you do not pre-register for the ride, you will be able to do so the day of the ride. However, it’s requested that all riders and passengers register on-line in order to assist in the planning of the ride and ensuring that everyone has a great time.
The Ride: The ride will start and end at Seacoast Harley-Davidson. New Hampshire, is a treasure trove of great scenic motorcycle rides. The Granite State lives up to it's name as being rocky, and is also generally hilly (home to the highest peak in the northeastern US, Mt. Washington, at 6,288 ft), densely wooded, boasts 1,300 lakes and ponds, and is blessed with a small but beautiful 13 miles of Atlantic coastline. Our ride will no doubt hit some of the highlights of the Seacoast and surrounding area.
Motorcycle Rentals: [Click Here] or Call Seacoast HD [603] 964-9959.
President Dave Lang was this year's recipient of the First Amendment award given annually by the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. Below are his remarks:
Lang was selected as this year's winner of the prestigious award for his decade-long effort to open the Local Government Center's books to the public. His series of Right to Know requests directly resulted in an order that $52 million be refunded to public employees, retirees and communities that bought the LGC's health and/or property liability insurance.
Listen here to President Lang on the NH Today talk show with Charlie Arlinghaus and Joshua Elliott-Traficante from the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy discussing pensions.
President Lang on Rebuild Radio with host Jeff Santos, Revolution Radio Boston AM 1510 discussing why unions are important, workers rights, collective bargaining rights, protecting workers' pensions, and more.
Today at Merrimack Superior Court the PFFNH as a member of the New Hampshire Retirement Security Coalition filed suit, to block implementation of this law by asking the Court for a preliminary injunction and a temporary restraining order, from this bill taking effect. Together with our partners at the NHRSC a press conference was held announcing the lawsuit.
Watch some footage from when State Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and State Sen. Nancy Stiles, R-Hampton, met with Group I and Group II employees at Portsmouth City Hall on May 17th, 2011 to discuss proposed changes to their benefits.
PORTSMOUTH — A controversial bill promoting changes to the N.H. Retirement System took center stage at City Hall on Tuesday night as more than 100 people turned out to hear from the person responsible for the legislation: state Sen. Jeb Bradley. Public employees ranging from police officers to school teachers packed council chambers during the information session with Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and state Sen. Nancy Stiles, R-Hampton, who didn't speak much after introducing Bradley. While discussion remained civil for the most part, people in the crowd at times shouted and interrupted both senators.
Lots of discontent at state retirement system seminar in Portsmouth
By Jennifer Keefe
jkeefe@fosters.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
PORTSMOUTH — Discussion on changes to the state's retirement system produced a range of emotions Tuesday night, especially regarding increased employee contributions and the definition of "vested." Wolfeboro Republican Jeb Bradley, Senate majority leader and the prime sponsor of SB 3 — a bill aimed at making comprehensive changes to the retirement system — fielded a plethora of questions from concerned police, fire and state employees in City Hall Council Chambers.
Editor's note: The writer is a retired Portsmouth firefighter responding to events at a protest and counterprotest held Monday when House Speaker Bill O'Brien visited the city.
Not in my lifetime, after a 30-plus-year career in the fire service, did I ever think that I would have my brothers, my sisters and I being labeled as "public enemies." Last I knew, firefighters, police officers and teachers were considered dedicated public servants and taxpaying citizens, too.
SHE IS KNOWN as “Portsmouth's Bravest.” Number 173.
But Sunday saw Portsmouth firefighter Sarah Fox honored at the Fisher Cats doubleheader against the Binghamton Mets for perhaps her most important role: Mother. The gutsy 39-year-old is trying to shatter the genetic bracelet that has her in a death grip. Fox inherited a metastatic breast cancer gene and hopes she can change its lethal course.
“My mom died at 46 from breast cancer. Her mom died of breast cancer. And, very likely, my daughters will one day say my mom died of breast cancer,” Fox explained.“I would like to change that story,” she said of her efforts to promote research, education and awareness.
Groups leave meeting still at odds over insurance money
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By Jennifer Keefejkeefe@fosters.
Democrat Josh Hansen, right, a candidate for state representative, and Brian Rapp, left, dress Hansen’s dog Rada in a Firefighters for Kuster T-shirt while campaigning outside polls at Claremont Middle School yesterday. Valley News - James M. Patterson Album ID: 1076837Photo ID: 31551681
Tilton/Northfield L-4659 is hosting the First In: Fireground Leadership, Tactics & Strategies seminar on March 19th, 2012. It will take place at the Tilton Prep School from 9am – 5pm. To register contact Vice President Ian Mercaldi at (603) 630-6886.
At the request of Representative Jack Flanagan the pictures of him have been removed from this video. Rep. Flanagan called our office to let us know that he did not eat any food at our barbecue. Although the original video did not say that he ate any food, we obliged to his request and removed the photos. President Lang has offered to take him out to lunch.
'Shame on you' shout protesters during House Speaker's visit
By Joey Cresta
jcresta@seacoastonline.com
May 16, 2011 11:55 AM
Retired Portsmouth firefighter Vassilios Pamboukes shouts, "Shame on you" to N.H. House Speaker Bill O'Brien and his supporters during a protest on Monday morning, May 16, 2011.Deb Cram photo
PORTSMOUTH – The Portsmouth Democratic Committee organized the protest to show opposition to the legislative agenda of O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, and the Republican House majority. Organizers estimated as many as 70 people turned out with signs reading “Stop the assault on the middle class,” “GOP budget kills jobs” and “NO'BRIEN.”
Thank you so much to all the members who came to Concord today to make a stand. Those who showed up today made us proud, your families proud, and your Brothers and Sisters proud. Stay tuned for next week...
"Report: LGC must pay millions" read a recent headline in Foster's Sunday Citizen.
The story, penned by Elizabeth Dinan of the Portsmouth Herald/N.H. News Exchange, went on to explain the success David Lang has had in challenging the Local Government Center's use of health insurance money paid by New Hampshire municipalities.
Lang, as president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Hampshire, used the state's Right to Know Law to challenge the LGC's money management practices. As a result it appears that participating communities could be in line for upward of $40 million in refunds.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Insurance pool owes money back to towns
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BACKGROUND: The state Bureau of Securities Regulation has determined that an insurance cooperative serving New Hampshire’s cities and towns amassed twice the amount of necessary reserve funds in 2009.
'Double dip' retirees drive public costs: Reform measures eye retirement age
By Elizabeth Dinan
edinan@seacoastonline.com
December 12, 2010 2:00 AM
New Hampshire law allowing public employees to retire, collect pensions, then work other public jobs needs reform, said Democratic state Rep. Laura Pantelakos.
Like many, she calls the practice "double dipping.
Local Government Center, Firefighters Group Meet
Firefighters Challenge Center Of Health Insurance Management
POSTED: 11:00 am EST November 17, 2010UPDATED: 6:51 pm EST November 17, 2010
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CONCORD – Republican nominee for governor John Stephen defended endorsing a pardon for a convicted arsonist who contributed to multiple Stephen campaigns.
State prosecutors accused Edward J. Socha of wanting legal forgiveness to get out of having to pay $1.6 million in restitution for his crimes.
Socha, 69, of Auburn, gave $1,000 to Stephen’s campaign July 17.
In 2004, Stephen was the first name listed on seven pages of supporters to grant a pardon to Socha for 1991 convictions on one count of conspiracy to commit arson, one of theft by deception and two counts of witness tampering.
“In 2004, I knew the family, and he had served his time,” Stephen said of the pardon endorsement during a telephone interview.
Socha spent three years in prison for his role in the 1984 arson of his home. He admitted illegally cashing in on a $1 million insurance policy and later urged employees who set the fire to keep quiet and paid money for one to leave the area.
Socha’s wife and other family members also donated to Stephen’s congressional campaigns in 2002 and 2008.
“I don’t see any problem with accepting a contribution from Ed Socha,” Stephen said. “Ed Socha has served his sentence, and since then, he has been an upstanding member the community.”
Gov. John Lynch’s campaign condemned Stephen’s actions and claimed it discredited Stephen’s tough-on-crime stance and attacks on Lynch’s controversial new law to reduce prison recidivism.
“It is unbelievable that John Stephen would accept a donation from a convicted arsonist and even support a pardon for this individual so he could duck out from having to pay $1.6 million,” said Pamela Walsh, Lynch’s campaign manager. “This raises the question whether John Stephen would give pardons to his political donors and friends.”
Stephen said if he was elected and Socha renewed his pardon bid, Stephen would not take part in it.
“He has every right to request a pardon,” Stephen said. “I’d have to recuse myself because I know him.’”
Stephen said there was no excuse for Socha’s actions.
“I don’t condone his actions, and I find arson a reprehensible crime,” Stephen said. “I prosecuted arson cases in my career as a prosecutor.”
The Executive Council never voted on Socha’s bid because then-Gov. Craig Benson yanked it from the July 2004 agenda.
“I have paid enormously for the mistake I made 20 years ago,” Socha wrote in his application. “I would like to finally be able to put my crime in the past.”
While in state prison, Socha helped on construction projects and the state accepted this assistance as payment of a $100,000 fine he owed.
“To this day, 20 years after the fire and 14 years after my arrest, I am ashamed embarrassed and profoundly sorry for what I did,” Socha wrote.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Gallo argued Socha got a lighter punishment than those who set the fire and was undeserving of a pardon.
“In the 10 years since his release, the petitioner has apparently pursued his own financial interests in the construction business and has offered scant evidence in his petition of contributing to his community in any way,” Gallo wrote.
The state prosecutor and insurance company lawyers maintained a pardon could permit Socha to file for bankruptcy and escape the $1.6 million he owed at the time to U.S. Fire Insurance Co.
“As I understand it, a pardon would essentially forgive the restitution order in this case, and I am therefore gravely concerned that the application for pardon by Mr. Socha attempts to vacate this contractual obligation,’” wrote Robert Whaland, a lawyer for the fire insurer.
At the time of the blaze, Socha was one of the city’s wealthiest landlords having built and owned many single-family and apartment house developments. The home burned down was a renovated, 100-year-old mansion and Socha owned an 87,000-acre ranch in Montana.
Stephen said his father, former Manchester Democratic state Sen. Bobby Stephen, remains close to Socha and Stephen’s own family is close to Socha’s son, Will.
A former mayor once gave Socha a key to the city. Socha donated to many GOP campaigns and served on many nonprofit boards, including of the NorrisCottonCancerCenter after one of his children died of a rare disease in 1980.
Socha’s backers for the pardon included many contractors he worked with, friends and other political associates like Manchester Democratic state Rep. Barbara Shaw and C. Arthur Soucy, a longtime Manchester Democratic activist.
The sentencing judge in the case, Douglas Gray, supported Socha’s pardon request.
“I will say that of the many offenders who have appeared before me over the years, Mr. Socha is probably one of the most deserving of a pardon,” Gray wrote. “He was forthright about his conduct and was very ashamed of himself and honestly so.”
Back then, Stephen was state health and human services commissioner.
In 1998 after his release, Socha asked that his deferred sentence be suspended and the insurance company supported the request.
Back then, Stephen was assistant safety commissioner. Stephen did not sign on in support, but Socha’s supporters included Stephen’s wife and father.
The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire voted unanimously to endorse Governor John Lynch for re-election at their September 15th
Bi-Monthly State Meeting
Professional Fire Fighters of NH Endorse Gov. Lynch
For Immediate Release Wednesday, September 15
LONDONDERRY – Applauding his commitment to public safety and New Hampshire’s working families, the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire today endorsed Gov. John Lynch for re-election.
“Each and every day New Hampshire counts on us, the firefighters of this state,” said David Lang, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. “Our members know they can count on Gov. Lynch to stand up for public safety, to stand up to protect workers, and to stand up and help families. We are proud to be here to support Gov. Lynch’s re-election.”
Gov. Lynch welcomed the support of fire fighters and paramedics from across the state.
“I am proud to have the support of New Hampshire’s Professional Firefighters. These brave men and women make a difference in their communities every day – responding to fires, medical emergencies, car accidents and natural disasters. We all depend on you to keep us safe, and I can’t thank them enough for their work,” Gov. Lynch said.
“As Governor, it is my highest priority to make sure we are doing everything we can as a state, to be prepared for, to respond to, and recover from, any emergency situation. And the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire are strong an important partner in that effort,” Gov. Lynch said.
The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire represents over 2000 paid professional fire fighters, paramedics and retirees from across the state.
House bill would leave employees at the mercy of employers
Washington, D.C. – The New Hampshire legislature has stepped up its war against workers with a proposal to dramatically roll back collective bargaining laws and put employees at the mercy of employers.
The GOP-dominated House Finance Committee approved an amendment to the state collective bargaining law that would turn all state workers into at-will employees after a contract expires. The measure would give employers unprecedented power to drive down wages and benefits for state workers.
“This is yet another example of cynical ‘blame-the-worker’ state legislation. It’s happening all across the country from Wisconsin to New Jersey and now in New Hampshire,” IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said. “Giving employers even more power won’t fix New Hampshire’s fiscal problems. Instead, it will force employees to work even harder for less wages and benefits.”
This measure is just the latest in a string of outrageous proposals to emerge from the New Hampshire State Legislature to slash workers’ rights. Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill that would make it illegal for employers and employees to enter contracts that require nonunion-member participation. Lawmakers also are pushing to dramatically cut pension benefits for fire fighters.
“It is becoming clear that this legislative session has become more about settling political scores and disenfranchising certain groups than working to solve the real challenges facing our state,” said David Lang, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire.
It is now up to the New Hampshire State Senate to inject some sanity and fairness to the legislative process. Senate lawmakers can begin by rejecting this bill and all others that rob employees of their rights.
The IAFF, headquartered in Washington, represents more than 298,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics. The IAFF is the leading advocate in North America for the health and safety of first responders. More information is available at www.iaff.org
N. Hampton workers blast LGC, town administrator's involvement
Misuse of insurance funds source of anger
North Hampton Fire Fighters IAFF Local 3211 President, Mike Tully, is surrounded by active and retired town employees on the steps of the town hall to protest distribution of tax payer money.Deb Cram/dcram@seacoastonline.com
NORTH HAMPTON — Approximately 20 representatives of the town's police, fire and teacher unions gathered Monday to voice their dissatisfaction with — and anger at — the Local Government Center over what was found to be the misuse and redirection of health insurance funds.
They also took aim at Town Administrator Steve Fournier, a member of the LGC board.
"We are disappointed by our town administrator's blind faith in an organization that is under investigation by the secretary of state, whose preliminary report showed that we have reason to be very concerned about the LGC's financial operations," said Michael Tully, president of the North Hampton Fire Fighters Local 3211. "We are talking about taxpayer money, and we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars."
Fournier rejected the accusation that he put the LGC — the company that acts as a pool for securing lower-cost health care benefits for the employees of cities and towns across the state — ahead of the town for which he works. He indicated he will ask the LGC to return to the town money used by the nonprofit to pay its workers' compensation costs.
"Once the secretary of state's report is finalized, North Hampton will be one of the first to ask for its money back," Fournier said.
The town administrator noted there are two pools of money being investigated by the secretary of state. The LGC is accused of using money given by towns to fund a health insurance pool for municipal and school workers to instead pay for its own workers' compensation costs. It is also alleged that town funds were wrongly used to pay for the LGC's purchase of land, construction of a new center and other expenses, such as lodging.
"I wasn't on the board (when the decision to fund workers' compensation costs using municipal contributions was allegedly made)," Fournier said. He indicated it was his understanding that, at that time, "the director and (LGC legal) counsel were advised that it was appropriate to use the money for that purpose."
As for the use of health care payments to fund other expenses, Fournier said he stands behind the accounting procedures used to allow those payments.
Fournier said he chose to become involved in the organization to allow it to continue to keep a surplus to help reduce the impact of future health care benefit rate hikes. The secretary of state's report indicates that money from that surplus was used to fund some of the LGC's questionable expenses.
"The LGC used to give the (surplus) money back as a rebate, but the towns didn't want that money back because, under the state budgeting law, it couldn't be used for health care that year," the town administrator said.
That explanation did not satisfy Tully.
"As with every city and town in our state, North Hampton is struggling in these tough economic times," Tully said. "We believe there is an obligation on the part of our town administrator to explore all options that would improve the finances of our town — and that includes exploring the amount of North Hampton taxpayer money that the Local Government Center has been overcharging for health insurance and then misusing for other purposes."
Teachers' union President Andrew Gushie agreed.
"Employees and employers around the state have been hamstrung by the cost of health care," he said. "There are very few people untouched."
Better path for pension systems
By David Lang / For the Monitor
July 24, 2010
In the Concord Monitor July 16 editorial, "We must get serious about pension reform," the editors gave three options for how troubled pension systems can come back from the brink of insolvency: employee contributions must go up, benefits must be cut, or retirement ages must increase
Court shoots down Manchester tax cap
By LYNNE TUOHY
The Associated Press
CONCORD – The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned a cap on taxes and spending in Manchester in a ruling that opponents of the cap said could have ramifications in other communities that have adopted similar measures.
WOLFEBORO — Yesterday a Carroll County Judge issued an injunction prohibiting the Town from implementing a plan to null and void the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town and Local 3708.
Once again this small Local who had to fight to get recognized by the voters at town meeting, twice, proved that they are still willing to do what is necessary to protect thier membership.
Attorney Jake Krupski, of Molan Milner and Krupski has won another important injunction for our Locals.
Please review the attached decision and look for more updates on future hearings on this case.
The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 on Aug. 4 to rescind recognition of the union representing members of the Wolfeboro Fire-Rescue Department. By rescinding recognition of the union, the board also repudiated the current contract between the union, Professional Firefighters of Wolfeboro, NH Local 3708, and the town.
The move was the town's final response to three years of failed negotiations over health insurance benefits.
The legal basis for rescinding recognition was that the RSA cited in Warrant Article 19 in 2002 authorizing the town to recognize the union, RSA31:3, had been superseded in 1975. The superseded RSA allowed a town to recognize a bargaining unit of as little as three members. The current law, RSA 273-A:8 states that "in no case shall the board certify a bargaining unit of fewer than 10 employees with the same community of interest without the prior approval of the governing body of the public employer," meaning Town Meeting. Since Article 19 did not cite the proper RSA, it was invalid. Current membership of Local 3708 is nine members (three lieutenants and six firefighters).
The real issue was the refusal of the union to accept terms for health insurance in line with all other town employees. In 2007 the town undertook a review of the total compensation of town employees, including benefits as well as wages and salaries. According to Selectman Chair Linda Murray, "the town needs to control increases in the cost of benefits and shift the emphasis on to salary and away from benefits." To accomplish this, the town reduced the number of health insurance plans offered from six to three, and offered to add the cost difference between an employee's current plan and a lower cost plan to the employee's salary, less their contribution to the plan. The town also offered an opt-out payment to employees who opted out of health insurance from the town (usually shifted to a spouse's plan). In all cases this meant a higher wage or salary but a lower benefit cost. The share of the insurance cost to employees also rose to seven percent.
Murray said the town saved $82,441 as a result of nonunion employees, ASCME employees and police accepting the town's proposal and switching plans. Firefighters did not accept the proposed changes in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
She said the town had a pay and classification study done by Thornton and Associates in 2008 that looked at total compensation (pay and benefits) for all town positions. The study led the town to make adjustments, including pay increases for some positions. Murray said that ASCME came prepared to negotiate the changes for the town office positions it represented, but the firefighters union was not prepared to make any concessions or change health insurance plans.
"Not recognizing the union is the only way to resolve this," Murray said. Town Manager Dave Owen said that the firefighters would be placed under the town's personnel plans as of the first pay period of October, and during the month of September there will be an open enrollment period for firefighters.
Selectman Sarah Silk said, "During difficult times, ASCME and nonunion employees have made concessions. I am very disappointed that we have not been able to move forward [with the firefighters] after three years."
Selectman Chuck Storm asked how Wolfeboro compared to other towns in health insurance. Owen said he has read about towns going to 18 percent and 25 percent employee contributions to health insurance vs. seven percent for Wolfeboro town employees.
"Firefighters pay no share, plus they get differential pay as well," he said.
Murray added that the current family plan costs the town $3,950 more for firefighters than for any other town employees.
Selectman Marge Webster moved to rescind recognition of the union, stop negotiating and bring the firefighters into line by October. The vote was 5-0 in favor.
NH Retirement System Offers Online Account Information
Personal Account Information for Members and Retirees Now Available 24/7New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) members and retirees may now access their personal account information online
Firefighters expose shadowy LGC practices
var isoPubDate = 'November 10, 2010'
Opinion
November 10, 2010 2:00 AM
By shining a light into the dark corners of the Local Government Center, the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire has performed a great service for the state's taxpayers, public workers and retirees.
New Hampshire Fire Fighters Surprise Sick Fire Fighter With Special Gift
July 20, 2010 – Portsmouth, NH Local 1313 fire fighter Sarah Fox recently came back from a family vacation to find her backyard unrecognizable. Her children’s old swing set had been removed, a new and improved one built in its place, flowers had been planted and two walkways had been built
PORTSMOUTH — “Disgraceful, dirty politics” is how Steve Arnold of the New Hampshire Police Benevolent Association described a Tuesday night vote by the House Finance Committee to approve legislation which would turn public union members into employees-at-will after their contracts expire.
As announced at the State Meeting, we now have the ability to send text alerts to members. Please sign up to receive these important messages and to get the latest updates from PFFNH. This will be a useful tool when it comes to the upcoming battles we will be facing in the legislature. It is imperative to stay connected, especially when it comes to the tough road ahead. Simply, click the link to the right and fill out the form to get started!
Firefighter Appreciation Night.pdf
This scholarship is available to any graduating high school student that will be attending a fire science or paramedic degree program in the fall of 2012, or any student currently attending one of those programs.
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On Thursday, December 23rd 
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Is your local participating in a pink campaign? Many of the IAFF Locals across the US and Canada are exchanging their regular duty shirts for pink T-shirts to help raise breast cancer awareness. At the 2010 IAFF Convention, delegates passed a resolution for the IAFF to recognize, support and encourage its affiliates to participate in campaigns to honor women fighter cancer. Specifically, the resolution recommends IAFF locals create union-made pink duty shirts to wear on duty in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The resolution further encourages affiliates to donate 50 percent of the funds raised to women's cancer organizations, and to use the remaining funds for fire fighters and their families engaged in their own battles with cancer. If your Local is planning to participate please contact the State Office. Look back for photos as the shirts are unvailed and the public is made aware.
Sarah's Ride Full Interview.mp3
HB 1436.doc
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I have pink wristbands for sale that are in support of our dispatcher Jenn Cahill. 
