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Message from the Director
By Fred Timpner, MAFF Executive Director
The anti-union sentiment spreading across this nation seemed to take hold in the U.S. Supreme Court, which 
recently ruled workers can decide if they want to pay dues in a unionized workforce in the Janus vs. AFSCME case. Yet “free riders” enjoy better working conditions, hours, wages and benefits thanks to the same union they refuse to support.
Unions exist to protect employees’ rights to fair working conditions, reasonable hours and wages. When MAP, MAPE and MAFF members band together to advance their concerns with Employers through collective bargaining, positive changes occur. In fact, unions have been so successful at the bargaining table that some Employers are working hard to weaken them.
The “right-to-work” campaign focused on individuals rights to choose whether to pay dues. When it was implemented in Michigan, proponents wanted workers to believe they were benefitting by having a few extra dollars in their pockets. But free riders not only cost the union money, they cost themselves money in the long run. When you refuse to support the union representing you and your co-workers, it takes away needed funds to protect worker rights, benefits, and jobs.
29th Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing
Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing - June 13, 2019 at Links of Novi.
Click here for more information on event.
Dems propose slashing insurance premiums, Right to Life launches petition drive, civil asset forfeiture law signed
After Gov, Gretchen Whitmer threatened to veto separate bills recently passed by House and Senate Republicans to reform the state’s no-fault auto insurance, House Democrats rolled out their own plan that would mandate an across-the-board cut of at least 40 percent in total premiums paid by Michigan drivers; Right to Life of Michigan has filed paperwork with the Department of Secretary of State to launch a petition drive in an effort to bypass Gov. Whitmer’s promise to veto legislation to ban dilation and evacuation abortions; Gov. Whitmer signed into law bipartisan legislation, SB 2, HB 4001, and HB 4002, forcing law enforcement to return confiscated goods to suspected drug dealers and others who were never convicted of a crime; Attorneys for Michigan Republican lawmakers have filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend the April 25 judgment of a federal court panel ordering the state legislature to redraw legislative and congressional districts in Michigan by Aug. 1. Under the ruling, if that date is missed, the court will draw the new maps; The Department of Treasury is balking at lending support to the eight bill online betting legislation pending in the House because of fears it would negatively impact the state’s i-Lottery, thus costing the State School Aid Fund (SAF) revenue. For more information about these and other legislative issues, click here for the May 2019 Karoub Report.
Area departments mourn loss of longtime K9 handler, MAFF Labor Relations Specialist Rich Heins
By Jennifer Gomori, MAFF Editor
Several area police departments were represented by their Officers and K9s during a May 6 memorial service honoring Sterling Heights Police K9 Officer Rich Heins, who passed away after developing serious infections.
Heins began working full-time as a MAFF Labor Relations Specialist after vacating his longtime MAP Executive Board President seat due to his March retirement from Sterling Heights PD. He died April 28, 2019 at the age of 54, following six weeks in intensive care at Henry Ford Hospital.
Over 300 memorial attendees passed underneath a large American flag poised atop fire truck ladders at the entrance to Heins Field inside Baumgartner Park in Sterling Heights, where the service was held. The field was named in Heins' honor in late 2018 for his many years training K9s there. During his nearly 30-year career with Sterling Heights, Heins helped start the K9 program, becoming a handler in 1996 and K9 Trainer in 1998.
Honor Guard members presented his family with a large wreath, folded flag and performed a 21-gun salute. Speakers included family, friends and co-workers like MAP Executive Board Vice President Mike Kunath. Kunath took over Heins position as Sterling Heights Police Officers Association President, a position Heins held for 23 years.
MAFF Executive Director Fred Timpner spoke about Heins’ numerous fine qualities as a parent, a Police Officer and as a Union Representative at the luncheon that followed. “He was respected by all on both sides of the bargaining table,” Timpner said.
Heins leaves behind two sons, Josh, 25, a Marine Corps Sergeant currently assigned to Paris Island, South Carolina and Jacob, 23, a student in the accelerated nursing program at Madonna University, completing his post-graduate studies.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are being accepted for the Richard C. Heins Memorial K9 Fund, 1433 Lochridge, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48302 or by going to any branch of PNC Bank and asking to make a deposit to the Richard C. Heins Memorial K9 Fund. Funds will be used for Sterling Heights K9 Unit training needs and care of K9s on the force or retired. For more information, call the city of Sterling Heights at (586) 446-2489.
Heins passing a tremendous loss for MAFF, Sterling Heights and K9 community
By Jennifer Gomori, MAFF Editor
Michigan Association of Fire Fighters (MAFF) suffered a tremendous loss April 28 with the passing of former longtime MAP Executive Board President Rich Heins, who just began working as a MAFF Labor Relations Specialist.
Heins had just retired from Sterling Heights Police Department in March when serious infections set in following multiple foot and ankle surgeries. After six weeks in intensive care at Henry Ford Hospital, he succumbed to the infections at the age of 54 surrounded by his loved ones.
“He was a very fine professional Police Officer who was unselfish of his time and talents and he would help with whatever he could to improve the lives of law enforcement officers and their families,” said MAFF Executive Director Fred Timpner.
Heins broke his left foot and ankle during a K-9 training exercise in September 2017. He took a year off police work and went through many surgeries. Heins returned to light duty for a short time in 2018, but doctors recommended yet another surgery in early 2019. Suffering with pain and swelling, he decided to retire from police work.
Heins suddenly fell ill in mid-March and was admitted to the hospital. As his health deteriorated, doctors put him into a medically-induced coma. Sadly, he never regained consciousness.
“The nurses were so nice to him in intensive care. To cheer him up they would show him pictures of his dogs,” Timpner said. “But Chase (Heins recently retired K9) has been really missing him. He actually moves furniture around the house.”
So, when doctors realized Heins would be passing soon, the nurses wanted Chase by his side. “Henry Ford Hospital staff put a call out to the family to bring the dog down,” Timpner said. “Unfortunately, Sterling Heights Police sent a K9 Officer to pick Chase up, but before they could get down there he passed away. But I thought, ‘What a class move.’”
Road funding disputed, college funding programs on tap, task force focuses on justice system effectiveness
In response to House and Senate Republicans ranking road funding third on their 2019 session priority list behind auto-insurance reform and the budget, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she will not sign any Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 spending plan that doesn’t include the road-funding piece. House Judiciary Chair Representative Graham Filler (R-DeWitt) said, “…there is nothing in writing yet but ‘two or three’ plans are being kicked around that do not include Gov. Whitmer’s new formula for distributing new road dollars… and it is not going to include the 45-cent gas tax hike…” Based on a recent poll, it appears Gov. Whitmer’s statewide effort to garner support for a 45-cents-per-gallon gas tax increase to “fix the damn roads” is failing. Almost 75 percent of residents are opposed, according to a recent poll. Gov. Whitmer unveiled two tuition-free programs in her first State of the State address and budget proposal. One provides free community college for graduating seniors and those over 25 years old, earning good grades and completing the process in a timely manner. Another bases funding on grades and income and can be applied to a four-year degree. The three branches of state government are joining together in a state task force to focus on jail and pretrial incarceration, with the goal of improving the effectiveness of the front end of Michigan’s justice system, according to an executive order signed by Gov. Whitmer. Attorney General Dana Nessel has opined that the Line 5 (oil pipeline) tunnel law is unconstitutional, saying provisions go beyond the scope of what was disclosed in its title. The Michigan Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for July 17 to consider the House and Senate’s requests for an opinion on whether the Legislature can amend two citizen-initiated laws during the same session they were adopted in, after the Legislature did that to the minimum wage and paid sick time ballot proposals. For more on these and other legislative issues, click here for the April 2019 Karoub Report.
Northfield Township Paid-on-Call Fire Fighters
CONTRACT
“The biggest thing in the contract is we’ve got a section talking about negotiating for full-time. To be able to negotiate and create some full-time positions for the department would obviously be huge for the department. We were not able to staff 24/7 because of the retention crisis so we had to bring in auxiliary,” said Lt. Brad Rennells, Northfield Township Fire Fighters local union Vice President. “I’m happy we did make it easier for an Officer to get a bonus. You had to make 30 percent of runs to get a bonus. They weren’t rewarding you for your extra duties. If you have a full-time job and a family, 30 percent can be difficult at times, especially when you only need 20 percent to keep your job. We got (the Chief) to agree to a tiered system. As long as you make the department minimum of 20 percent of the runs, you can get a bonus.”
“There was discussion back and forth trying to reach agreeable language that dealt with union security,” said MAFF Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor. “The Chief is looking at hiring some people full time. If the Chief wants full-time Fire Fighters, we’ll have to negotiate their wages, hours, and terms of employment. We agreed to meet with the Employer and try to negotiate full-time positions.”
Contract Duration: 3-year agreement, ratified August 2018, and effective 7-1-18 to 6-30-21.
Wage Increases:
POC - $20.50 effective July 1, 2018, $21 effective July 1, 2019.
Duty - $15.50 effective July 1, 2018, $16 effective July 1, 2019.
Training - $13 effective July 1, 2018, $13.50 effective July 1, 2019.
Probationary II - $13 effective July 1, 2018, $13.50 effective July 1, 2019.
Probationary I - $10 effective July 1, 2018, $10.50 effective July 1, 2019.
Wage Reopeners for all Employees July 1, 2020.
Govenor's budget calls for billions for roads, million plus for schools, pension tax relief
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget calls for increasing the gas tax by 45 cents under a three-part phase-in starting Oct. 1 of this year and ending Oct.1, 2020 that would raise about $2.5 billion in new annual revenue for roads. This would be deposited into a new Fixing Michigan Roads Fund and allocated to the most highly traveled and commercially important roads at both the state and local levels. Gov. Whitmer is also asking for an additional $507 million to increase K-12 funding in her Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget including up to $180 more per pupil. Revenue sharing will increase 3 percent for counties, cities, villages and townships. Whitmer has called for eliminating the so-called “pension tax” and proposed paying for it by taxing “pass-through” businesses at the same 6 percent rate as the existing Corporate Income Tax. Budget recommendations also include funding for a new trooper recruit school with the anticipation of graduating 50 new troopers to keep the Michigan State Police enlisted strength at about 2,100. For more information on the Governor's Fiscal Year 2020 budget, please click here for the March 2019 Karoub Report and also visit Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's website.
Van Buren Township Fire Fighters
CONTRACT
“We got 8 percent (wage increases) spread over four years and we were able to get percent increases for command officers,” said Marc Abdilla, Van Buren Firefighters Association President. “The Employer increased their percent into our retirement by 2 percent. We got the only full-time employee’s information to mirror other full-time employees in the area ... with time off and tuition reimbursement. They increased his banks and his ability to cash out three days per year. We went from four employees to five every shift (adding) one supervisor per shift. Jerald (James) did a great job and MAFF did a great job for us. We appreciate it.”
Contract Duration: 4-year agreement, ratified Dec. 14, 2018, and effective 1-1-18 to 12-31-21.
Wage Increases:
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2018.
3% increase effective Jan. 1, 2019.
1% increase effective Jan. 1, 2020.
1% increase effective Jan. 1, 2021.
• Plus Step Increases by Title:
Sergeants receive 1% additional increase above Fire Fighters.
Lieutenants receive 3% additional increase above Sergeants.
Captains receive 5% additional increase above Lieutenants.
Battalion Chiefs receive 8% additional increase above Captains.
• Signing Bonus of $300 for full-time Employees and $250 for Paid-on-Call Employees.
Good luck 2019 scholarship applicants
Good luck 2019 Carl Parsell Scholarship applicants! Thank you for your submissions. Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2019-20 school year.
In March and April, the Scholarship Selection Committee begins the selection process which is completed in May. Scholarship recipients will be notified of their status on or before June 1, 2019. Carl Parsell Scholarship winners will be formally recognized during the 29th Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing on June 13, 2019.
Carl Parsell Scholarships may be used to cover a portion of educational expenses, including tuition, living expenses, and other required fees during the 2019-20 school year. Scholars may use the award to attend any United States accredited university, college, community college, junior college, two- or four-year accredited degree-granting institution, or vocational training institution that grants a certification or license. Scholarship candidates must have completed a high school education or its equivalent, on or prior to June 30, 2019.
Funds derived from The Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing determine the number of scholarships to be awarded annually. The maximum award available per student is $2,500. In July and August, The Carl Parsell Scholarship Fund mails Scholarship checks to each Scholar’s college or university.
Free retirement planning offered to MAFF dues paying members
By Jennifer Gomori, MAFF Editor
While it’s true our experiences in life impact our financial decisions, having a plan for retirement isn’t something anyone should go without.
That’s the message Stuart Raider and Peter Mendler recently shared with MAFF members. The Raider Dennis Agency President and Vice President encourage all members to come in for a free financial analysis and thorough retirement plan, so they are ready when it’s time to retire.
“This is something that is available to all MAP, MAPE and MAFF members that are dues paying,” Mendler said.
Raider’s father, Jordan, was only 7-years-old when his own dad passed away unexpectedly. “He learned about financial and emotional hardship,” Raider said.
Those hardships inspired Jordan to build a successful financial planning business, thus inspiring Stuart to follow in his footsteps with the business and get a college education at Michigan State University. “It taught me a lesson about responsibility for my clients,” Raider said.
Mendler experienced a similar upbringing to Raiders’ father. A former IRS Agent, current attorney and financial planner, Mendler was only 5-years-old when his parents divorced. His dad passed away when he was 12. “I went to live with my grandparents,” Mendler said. “I felt like a charity case. I learned what it was like to feel needy, vulnerable. I’ve worked my whole life to never feel like I’m in that position again.”
His grandfather inspired his financial career. “My grandfather instilled in me the value of saving,” Mendler said. “As we face retirement, we don’t want to run out of money.”
Both partners in the Raider Dennis Agency are fiduciaries. They are held to a higher standard of education, knowledge and responsibility to provide individuals with financial plans that will see them through retirement. “A fiduciary is legally bound to act in your best interests,” Mendler said. “Stuart and I are fiduciaries. We take it very seriously to uphold that trust we’re held up to. Not every financial advisor is a fiduciary.”
Governor's executive order rejected, state withdraws from federal cases, hands-free legislation introduced
The Michigan Legislature has rejected a Governor-issued executive order for the first time in 42 years.The Republican-led Legislature passed HCR 1, rejecting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2019-2, which would have reorganized the Department of Environmental Quality and abolished three oversight panels created by the Legislature. Attorney General Dana Nessel continues her efforts to withdraw the state from federal cases. In recent weeks, she has withdrawn the state from more than a dozen federal cases. The latest are four cases involving civil rights and two involving transparency. After Gov. Whitmer’s call in the State of the State address for “hands free” legislation, Representative Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) has introduced HB 4181 to prohibit drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving unless it is in a “voice-operated or hands-free mode” and the driver doesn’t have to use his or her hands to operate it. Making 9-1-1 calls are exempted. The sale of a former state prison in Ionia for construction of a $35 million private immigration detention center has been scrapped by the governor. A judge has denied an agreement reached between Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters brought a lawsuit against the Secretary of State prior to Secretary Benson’s Administration over the Republican-drawn redistricted maps after the most recent census. Writing on behalf of the three-judge panel, U.S. District Judge Eric Clay said Secretary Benson “lacks the authority to enter into the proposed consent decree” which would have seen 11 of Michigan’s 110 House districts redrawn for the 2020 election. Click here for the February 2019 Karoub Report for more details on these and other legislative issues.
