Vacation Access FAQ
Why is the system changing?
-As our department grows, existing rules for the amount of personnel allowed off every day has begun limiting our ability to use our earned time off. Labor and management identified the need to address that issue as we increase minimum staffing and total number of line firefighters over the next few years.
What is the 2018 PERC ruling?
– In 2018, additional personnel were hired as minimum staffing was increased to staff Station 25 with four firefighters. When fire admin was unwilling to open more vacation spots, a grievance was filed which ultimately resulted in a PERC ruling stating the city had to maintain our existing access to time off.
What does 115% access mean?
– The city is legally obligated to provide access to 100% of the time off benefits employees receive. When investigating the level of access we had during the 2018 PERC ruling, it was determined that our members had access to 114.7% of their earned time off. For example, in a given year, if the department earned 1000 hours of time off, the city had been providing 1147 hours worth of vacation slots.
How will I know if there can be 5 or 6 people off on vacation?
– The annual vacation bid matrix will highlight the dates in which six people can be off versus five. Telestaff will also be updated every year to reflect those dates, so if you try to add time off, it will tell you whether you’re over the appropriate amount of people allowed off.
In the past, if we only had 2 people off on Kelly, we could have up to 7
more people off on vacation. Aren’t we losing those spots?
– Those spots were accounted for when we ran the numbers from our
2018 PERC ruling. No spots are lost, just distributed in a different pattern.
Splitting the vacation/Kelly day total time off grants a more even
distribution of available time off throughout the shifts. For example, if B
shift had additional personnel for a given year, they would not only have
more people bidding vacation slots, but they would also have less access
to available slots because more Kelly day slots were filled.
How do we calculate the number of extra days off every year?
– January 1st, fire admin will calculate the total amount of time off earned
by our line firefighters. They will then multiply that many hours by 115%
and divide by the total days in the year. This year that number came out to
5.14. This means 5 slots available every day, and the .14 is distributed as
an additional 6th person off in a predetermined pattern throughout the
year.
Why isn’t all the extra vacation availability allocated in the summer?
Wouldn’t that be better?
– While that would be better, the Local understands the city’s desire for
spreading the days out equally per quarter and agreed to an even
distribution throughout the year. They will be distributed as follows: Q1 –
Working back from March 31, Q2 – Working back from June 30, Q3 –
Working forward from July 1st, Q4 – Working forward from Oct 1st. This covers a large amount of kids summer break and hunting season.
Are the rules for vacation picks changing?
– No, other than the split between vacation/Kelly days, rules for picking
vacation will remain the same.
What if we’re above minimums on a day I want off?
– Vacation tentative will come into play more during the summer if we
have minimal people on Kelly days. Throughout this year, we don’t see
that as a factor because each set is almost maxed out with people on
Kelly days. During that time, the union and admin will be working on
ways to improve the vacation tentative selection process.
Why are Kelly Days and Vacation days separate now?
– The union felt that by splitting those days, we would not only simplify
the vacation selection process, but also distribute vacation access more
evenly throughout the shifts.
Stronger Families and Kirkland Fire
Members, misc, NewsVacation Access FAQ
Members, misc, NewsVacation Access FAQ
Why is the system changing?
-As our department grows, existing rules for the amount of personnel allowed off every day has begun limiting our ability to use our earned time off. Labor and management identified the need to address that issue as we increase minimum staffing and total number of line firefighters over the next few years.
What is the 2018 PERC ruling?
– In 2018, additional personnel were hired as minimum staffing was increased to staff Station 25 with four firefighters. When fire admin was unwilling to open more vacation spots, a grievance was filed which ultimately resulted in a PERC ruling stating the city had to maintain our existing access to time off.
What does 115% access mean?
– The city is legally obligated to provide access to 100% of the time off benefits employees receive. When investigating the level of access we had during the 2018 PERC ruling, it was determined that our members had access to 114.7% of their earned time off. For example, in a given year, if the department earned 1000 hours of time off, the city had been providing 1147 hours worth of vacation slots.
How will I know if there can be 5 or 6 people off on vacation?
– The annual vacation bid matrix will highlight the dates in which six people can be off versus five. Telestaff will also be updated every year to reflect those dates, so if you try to add time off, it will tell you whether you’re over the appropriate amount of people allowed off.
In the past, if we only had 2 people off on Kelly, we could have up to 7
more people off on vacation. Aren’t we losing those spots?
– Those spots were accounted for when we ran the numbers from our
2018 PERC ruling. No spots are lost, just distributed in a different pattern.
Splitting the vacation/Kelly day total time off grants a more even
distribution of available time off throughout the shifts. For example, if B
shift had additional personnel for a given year, they would not only have
more people bidding vacation slots, but they would also have less access
to available slots because more Kelly day slots were filled.
How do we calculate the number of extra days off every year?
– January 1st, fire admin will calculate the total amount of time off earned
by our line firefighters. They will then multiply that many hours by 115%
and divide by the total days in the year. This year that number came out to
5.14. This means 5 slots available every day, and the .14 is distributed as
an additional 6th person off in a predetermined pattern throughout the
year.
Why isn’t all the extra vacation availability allocated in the summer?
Wouldn’t that be better?
– While that would be better, the Local understands the city’s desire for
spreading the days out equally per quarter and agreed to an even
distribution throughout the year. They will be distributed as follows: Q1 –
Working back from March 31, Q2 – Working back from June 30, Q3 –
Working forward from July 1st, Q4 – Working forward from Oct 1st. This covers a large amount of kids summer break and hunting season.
Are the rules for vacation picks changing?
– No, other than the split between vacation/Kelly days, rules for picking
vacation will remain the same.
What if we’re above minimums on a day I want off?
– Vacation tentative will come into play more during the summer if we
have minimal people on Kelly days. Throughout this year, we don’t see
that as a factor because each set is almost maxed out with people on
Kelly days. During that time, the union and admin will be working on
ways to improve the vacation tentative selection process.
Why are Kelly Days and Vacation days separate now?
– The union felt that by splitting those days, we would not only simplify
the vacation selection process, but also distribute vacation access more
evenly throughout the shifts.
Thank you from Bellevue Fire!
Charitable Events, Members, MemorialsHere is the Facebook post from our brothers and sisters in Bellevue, thanking us for helping their crews to attend the funeral for Officer Jackson.
Amendment to Union Meeting Minutes from July 7th
miscThe meeting minutes from July 7th have been amended to remove a specific member’s name as it was related to an Unfair Labor Practice filed against the City of Kirkland. There was never any intention to imply wrongdoing by that member; the legal action being filed is based solely on the actions of the City. The Local apologizes for any misunderstanding.
Peggy Henderson, Celebration of Life
Members, MemorialsSeattle Mariners Firefighter Appreciation Night
Charitable Events, MembersHeroes welcome.
Come out to T-Mobile Park with your friends, family and colleagues for the annual Firefighters Day to celebrate our Washington State firefighters! Enjoy a day of Mariners baseball plus, claim a limited-edition Firefighters Appreciation Day Mariners-themed item when you purchase through this special offer!
Deadline to purchase: Friday, July 22 – 5:00p.m.
https://www.mlb.com/mariners/tickets/specials/firefighter-appreciation
Mark Anderson: Celebration of Life
Members, MemorialsMark Vernon Anderson’s Memorial Website | Ever Loved
Info about Summer Union Camping Trip
Members, NewsLocal 2545 Summer camping trip at Camp Saturna, July 18-21.
Here is a powerpoint that gives a quick overview of the plans for the 2022 Local 2545 Camping Trip:
Camp Saturna
Also, here is a quick survey that will help the Local with logistics for this event. We would love to have everyone who plans to attend fill this out as soon as possible.
Camping Trip Survey 2022
Retired Fire Chief Bob Ely
MemorialsIt is with sadness that we inform you all that former Kirkland Fire Chief, Bob Ely, passed away the night of September 15, 2021.
Betty said that Chief Ely had been battling cancer and died with family by his side.
Chief Ely (#1) was the first hired career member for the City of Kirkland Fire Department in 1969. He served as Chief for 19 years retiring in 1988. Bob led the consolidation of the Kirkland Fire Department, the Houghton Fire Department and Fire District #41 in 1972 into the Greater Kirkland Department of Fire Services.
Thank you, Chief Ely, for setting the tone for our fire department and future generations of Kirkland firefighters.
IAFF Center of Excellence
Fitness & Wellness, NewsThe IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.
Care for your unique needs
If you’re struggling with post-traumatic stress along with co-occurring depression, anxiety or substance abuse disorders, you need treatment from professionals who understand the fire service culture and the unique pressures of your job. The IAFF Center of Excellence connects you to best-practice, evidence-based therapies delivered by clinicians who understand the types of trauma you experience on a day-to-day basis.
Completely confidential treatment
Center staff cannot discuss your treatment with anyone — your fire department, family or friends — unless given explicit permission by you. This applies before, during and after your stay at the IAFF Center of Excellence.
Our Partner: Advanced Recovery Systems
With seven treatment centers across the United States, the continuum of care provided by Advanced Recovery Systems is unsurpassed. The IAFF has partnered with Advanced Recovery Systems to provide members with specialized treatment for the everyday stressors that trigger PTSD, behavioral health disorders and substance abuse.
IAFF CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(301) 327-1955
www.iaffrecoverycenter.com