2019

On their last session day of the year before the holidays, the House and Senate sent a 10-bill package of Internet and sports betting legislation to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is expected to sign them into law. The House and Senate also passed and sent to the Governor a deal between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Whitmer for the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. In addition to the $573.5 million in restored spending in two supplemental bills (SBs 152 and 154) Gov. Whitmer agreed to give the Legislature a 30-day heads up if the state Administrative Board attempts to move money around with departments (HB 5176). This notice gives the Legislature the ability to act pre-emptively. The Secretary of State is replacing 93 old kiosks with new user-friendly self-service stations and adding 57 more for a total of 150. New stations will be located in grocery stores, including Kroger and Meijer, where many customers already do business. Customers will pay a technology fee of $3.95 for every vehicle renewed at a self-service station. Gov. Whitmer is urging the Legislature to pass legislation to pause the implementation of Michigan Medicaid work requirements until the federal courts determine if they are legal. But Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey told the press, “Nope, not necessary.” Cameras could be added to school bus stop-arms through HB 5041, which would allow for school buses to photograph or video the license plate numbers of cars that pass illegally while students are loading or unloading. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist has signed into law SB 174, requiring producers to make sure all Michigan egg-laying hens are in cage-free systems. The law takes effect in December 2024.

For more information on these and other legislative issues, please click here for the December 2019 Karoub Report.

While lawmakers take their annual Thanksgiving/hunting break until Dec. 3, the supplemental budget will remain unresolved. Depending on the dollars Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed when she signed the FY 2020 budget, certain groups are beginning to seriously feel the pinch. Under legislation recently signed into law by Gov. Whitmer, Michigan’s 17-year-olds would no longer be automatically charged and treated as adults for any criminal offense under the 18 “Raise the Age” bills. If legislation overturning the Natural Resources Commission deer baiting ban reaches the Governor's desk, her press secretary has confirmed the Governor will veto it. The House passed a package of legislation that would legalize sports betting and internet gaming that comes after Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed similar legislation late last year. The Reproductive Health Act, a package of soon-to-be-introduced House Democrat-backed legislation, supported by Gov. Whitmer, would roll back all current restrictions on abortion in Michigan, including the statutory ban ruled inactive by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in Roe v. Wade. The Attorney General’s office has filed a brief asking the Michigan Supreme Court to instantly bypass the Michigan Court of Appeals and vacate the Court of Claims preliminary injunction stopping the Governor’s ban on flavored vaping products. Gov. Whitmer has signed into law legislation reducing the tax implications of installing solar panels on roofs of homes and businesses. Business owners and homeowners installing solar panels on their roofs will no longer see an immediate property tax bump on their biannual bill. For more information on these and other legislative issues, please click here for the November 2019 Karoub Report.

CONTRACT

“They added four Holidays so now they have a total of 10 that they get time and a half for if they responded to any runs on Holidays,” said MAFF Labor Relations Specialist Jim Steffes. “They also have a point system and it deals with the minimum response. They have to get 100 points per calendar year quarter. We modified the point system to make it less points for dayshift when they’re at their normal full-time job. They get more points for nighttime runs between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. They also have points for working a shift. It makes it easier to obtain their points and not fall into scrutiny by the Employer.”

“It was just an overall good experience,” said Local Union Stewards Peter Carolan of working with MAFF. “They’re professional and courteous. They assisted anywhere we needed direction or guidance. The Holidays were the most important and the raise was cost of living. Working the Holidays and having parity with the other departments, that way everyone had the same Holidays recognized. I patterned it off the full-time group just to have everybody on the same page. I think (call responses) were all adequate, but the department wanted to have a higher turnout in the evening. So, they offered to raise points as an incentive to increase response during those times. It helps motivate people to come out at night.”

Contract Duration: 4-year agreement ratified September 2019 and effective July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023.

Wage Increases:
1-1/2% increase for all classifications effective July 1, 2019.
1-1/2% increase for all classifications effective July 1, 2020.
1-1/2% increase for all classifications effective July 1, 2021.
1-1/2% increase for all classifications effective July 1, 2022.

• Wage increases were retroactive immediately following the prior contract expiration, effective July 1, 2019.

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State Rep. Elissa Slotkin recently wrote a letter to the International Association of Fire Fighters and MAFF expressing her support of legislation which designates all polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. This designation would direct federal resources to prevent the spread of PFAS chemicals and to clean up contaminated sites.

In the letter, Slotkin also discusses her support of two other pieces of legislation benefitting first responders and fire fighters.

Please click here to read Slotkin's letter.