MAINLINEDecember 2009 - San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Letter From the Director
Danny Gracia, Director
December 2009
“…it was the best of times, it was
the worst of times”
Charles Dickens
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Season’s Greetings. I am starting
my correspondence this month with
a quote from A Tale of Two Cities, a
classic by Charles Dickens, because it
seems appropriate and relevant to our
situation in the SFFD.
We are all aware of the fortunate
position that we as members of the
SFFD (both active and retired) are
in at this time (if you are not, you
should be). When I say fortunate, I am
referring to wages, benefits, schedule
flexibility and an extended family that
often times is better than one’s issued
family. We are also all aware of the
economic strife that people all over our
country are experiencing at this time.
Here in San Francisco, the budget
deficit seems to be never-ending, along
with the unending deficit seems to be
the unending attempt of some in City
government to balance the budget on
the backs of City employees.
YES, we are doing well these days,
however, things can change. It took
years of negotiating, fighting and
educating politicians and the public as
to why we receive the benefits and pay
that we do. The City signed an MOU/
Contract with 798 and it sailed
through City Hall. Yet now, when
their continued mismanagement of tax
dollars and failed programs continue to
cause the deficit to escalate, they look
to us to repair the damage. We have
always stepped up to help, but it is
becoming habitual and I am concerned
that the City will just expect us to give
back, defer, etc. whatever they want
from here on out (not a good position
to be in).
As I said earlier, things change. No
one knows what’s on the horizon;
it could be wage freezes, a budget
emergency declaration by the City,
anything’s possible. I hope that the
economy comes back sooner than
later, but I just don’t think that we as
members should be threatened with
firehouse closures, rolling brownouts,
and increased work week hours just
because we are currently doing well.
When the City is doing well, do they
contact us and say “…here’s 2% more
for your members?”….No, they do
not, and we don’t expect them to. That
is why we negotiate a contract in good
faith. Rest assured that in the future
we are going to have to fight harder
than ever to keep what we have and
improve benefits and wages for the
future.
8 www.SFFDLocaL798.org
Enough seriousness. The Bocce
Tournament was great. If you don’t
believe me, just check out the letter
from the Marin Bocce Federation
Executive Board. Unfortunately it
does not look like we will be allowed
to use their facility again. The fact is
most of the reasons stated in their letter
were either blown out of proportion or
factually incorrect. I certainly hope
no member from 798, either active
or retired, had anything to do with us
not being allowed usage of the site for
future events as this benefits our 798
Cancer Prevention Foundation.
The Toy Program is in full North Pole
mode. Please get out to old Station 30
and volunteer for our great program.
The 2009 Softball Season finally ended
on October 27, 2009. Congratulations
to Station 1 on their back to back
championships and congratulations
to Station 7 on the runner-up spot.
Hopefully our 2010 Softball Season
will be bigger and better (see Rules
and Regulations in this issue regarding
Softball).
Happy Holidays to You and Yours.
Hope to see you soon.
DG