Labor Management;

Fire Chiefs in Trouble

Pitfalls for Fire ChiefsPitfalls for Fire Chiefs

• Never being wrong/no apologies

• Refuse to respect labor

• Not establishing a personal relationship

• Not taking input prior to decisions

• Being a “willow in the wind”

• Talking down to labor

Pitfalls (cont.)Pitfalls (cont.)

• Not educating labor on issues and the LM process

• Not setting ground rules

• Getting the “Mad Cow” disease

Starting WellStarting Well

Must establish a good relationship• Establishing trust• Take input and listening• Agreeing on the rules of the game• Establishing personal relationships• Meet on a regular basis

Fixing a Bad RelationshipFixing a Bad Relationship

““Who You Gonna Call?”Who You Gonna Call?”

The LMI ProgramThe LMI Program

• LMI - Labor Management Initiative

• Joint Program of the IAFC/IAFF

• Started circa 1999

• Can do a lot to establish or fix a relationship between Labor & Management

LMI BenefitsLMI Benefits

• Improves interpersonal communications • Increases involvement and cooperation• Gain an increased focus on the goals that will

benefit your organization and its members • Minimizes the number of grievances and other

adverse actions • Introduces new ways to work through obstacles

to accomplish more for the fire department and the community

Four Day Program Four Day Program

• Part I – Educational issues, establishing a relationship and looking for solutions to current challenges

• Part II – Shared goals, leadership, relationships & status of accomplished items

Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

• Two day session for the Chief, President and other designated members of their teams

• Two facilitators – one from the IAFC, one from the IAFF

• Customized to the issues at hand, assisting with feasible solutions

LMI ConferenceLMI Conference

• Conferences every other year

• Next Conference is January 2013

• Encourage bringing both Management and Labor

Miami to Miami-DadeMiami to Miami-Dade

Miami to Miami-DadeMiami to Miami-Dade

Look who’s come to visit?Look who’s come to visit?

•

Moving from Miami to Miami-DadeMoving from Miami to Miami-Dade

• What I left in the MFD

• The Environment I stepped into MDFR– Open contract– Pay Cuts looming – 11%– Terrible Labor Management Relationship– 60+ pending grievances and arbitrations– Low morale

Corrective ActionsCorrective Actions

• Plan of Action– First priority - establish a working relationship

with the Local– Negotiate a Labor Agreement– Pull our management team together– Steps to improve morale

• The first two helped• Establish relationships and communication• Push our principles – professionalism, work ethic,

pride

Corrective Actions (cont.)Corrective Actions (cont.)

• Re-establish LM meetings

• Put together a great staff for top management

• Ensure new Officers receive training

• Change the disciplinary philosophy and procedures

Most Recent IssueMost Recent Issue

• Facebook post by MDFR Captain concerning the Tryvon Martin issue

The EndThe End