An Important Message From:

Waterbury Fire Fighters, Local 1339

Members of Waterbury Fire Fighters Local 1339 have been in Hartford lobbying legislators to change Legislative Bill 01-1. Legislative Bill 01-1 is the bill that created the State Oversight Board (S.O.B.) that would over see the City of Waterbury's finances.

As you may be aware, the state had previously taken over the finances of the cities of Jewett City, Bridgeport, and West Haven. The legislation that created the S.O.B. in the City of Waterbury had the strongest labor language yet. The S.O.B. has the ability to "arbitrate" contracts at will, which they have taken full advantage of. The municipal employees in Waterbury have been stripped of their rights of collective bargaining, and binding arbitration.

The reign of terror is set to end at the end of 2006. But it may not be gone forever. Through the use of certain triggers (ie. if the City's budget is 1/2 of 1% in the red, the S.O.B. is back for 5 more years), S.B 01-1 left the door open for the S.O.B. to come back.

We are looking for your help. Over the coming months, we are asking that you contact your legislators and ask them to support R.S.B. 20 (Raised Senate Bill). This bill is the same as S.B 1111 (proposed in '05) and would remove the strong labor language in S.B. 01-1.

On Tuesday, February 21, 2006, there will be a public hearing at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, to discuss R.S.B. 20. We are asking that each Local be represented with as many members as possible.  Buses are welcome. It is requested that the uniform of the day is your department Class A uniform.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

 This is not simply a Waterbury Fire Fighters issue. It is a labor issue.

 Local 1339's web sight will be up and running soon. Please look for us at:

     www.waterburyfire.org