Brothers,

The URFA will join the fight for the COLA legislation this session.
It is not what we deserve but it is all that is out there.
The URFA has to make sure that retired Firefighters are included in the Bill.

As you will read in the attachment, it’s the same bill as last year, which didn’t
go anywhere. The bills will be introduced again this session by Senator Gournardes
and Assemblyman Abbate. You will also read what the State RPEA is doing for their
members. We must do the same.

This effort will require our URFA membership to play an active role in emailing
both Gournardes, Abbate and all Senators and Assembly members. A list will
be provided when the new bill numbers are posted. It will take some time to put
these lists together.

Right now, as the bill is being readied, the RPEA “is well poised to have this bill
ready when the Legislature reconvenes”. The URFA member groups must make 
sure that the new bill includes firefighters. 

This email is not sanctioned by the URFA, at this time. I resigned as 1st VP a few
months ago. My group is, of course, still a member of the URFA and I will ask that
the Board accepts my return as 1st VP, so I can help in this fight for a COLA.

The following is the old bill. The new bill will have additions, as you will read in
the RPEA newsletter:

STATE OF NEW YORK