To:      PFFM Executive Board, PFFM Locals & PFFM Members

From: Bob McCarthy, President

Subj:  Primary Election Day,  Tuesday, September 14, 2010 - Save the Date, "Boots on the Ground"

The primary election day for Brother Mike Coogan, President of the Fall River Firefighters will be here before we know it.  Less than a month away.  27 Days.  'WE NEED HELP ON ELECTION DAY.  WE NEED BODIES ON ELECTION DAY. PLEASE CANVAS YOUR RESPECTIVE LOCALS AND MEMBERS AND REQUEST THEIR PRESENCE AND ASSISTANCE ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 IN FALL RIVER TO SUPPORT OUR BROTHER MIKE COOGAN IN HIS QUEST TO FILL THE VACANT SENATE SEAT.  MIKE HAS WORKED HARD AND VICTORY IS IN OUR SIGHTS BUT WE NEED PEOPLE ON ELECTION DAY TO STAND AT THE POLLS., DRIVE VOTERS TO THE POLLS., WORK AT THE POLLS ETC., 3 HOURS OF WORK BY INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS WOULD BE HUGE.

I AM REQUESTING THAT WE SEEK AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS FROM EACH LOCAL TO SPEND PART OF ELECTION DAY WORKING FOR BROTHER MIKE COOGAN.  WE WILL HAVE A BOILER ROOM FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO MEET , GET THEIR ASSIGNMENTS, CONGREGATE AND RELAX.

We need that extra effort on primary day.  Please list the names of our members who will assist on that day and forward them to me.

Let's work to put another union firefighter in the Massachusetts Senate.  We can do it. A victory for Mike Coogan will be a victory for all union members and our families and will pay huge dividends.

"THE NEED IS THERE, THE CHOICE IS CLEAR, THE TIME IS NOW!!!!!!!  PLEASE GIVE US ONE DAY OF YOUR TIME FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.  SPREAD THE WORK, GET THE NAMES AND BRING A FRIEND.

'THANK YOU'

For the Complete list of PFFM endorsed Candidates for 2010 click the PFFM Endorsement Page

Budget Conference Committee

It is being reported that the Budget Conference Committee has finalized their deliberations on the House and Senate proposed budgets and has reported out favorably the final fiscal 2011 State Budget. It is also being reported that the Senate Amendment 417.1 allowing municipalities the unilateral imposition of "Plan Design" and or the transferring of active and retired  employees into the the State's Health Insurance Plans governed by the Group Insurance Commission without bargaining "Is Not included in the Fiscal 2011 Budget. It also appears that the Conference committee did not include the reduced staffing for paramedic ambulances as part of its budget.

We would like to thank Senate President Murray, Speaker of the House DeLeo and  the Budget  Conferees for their wisdom and understanding in regards to this issue.  We will continue to work with  legislators to reach consensus and agreement on a reasonable solution to the rising costs of health insurance without shifting all future costs on the participants and or the deletion of "collective bargaining"