FOR THE RECORD

FOR THE RECORD

The Fire Department's Emergency Medical Service Bureau may soon have its first retirees' association.

A group of retired EMS officers and rank-and-file members met May 22 to set up a fraternal organization to address the practical and emotional needs of EMS personnel after they leave active service.

"We're trying to get it off the ground. I think we're a special group of people and I think we have special concerns that other folks don't really have," said Peter Hosey, a retired EMS Chief. "That's one part of it - the other is to continue the mutual friendships that we've developed over many years on the job."

Because the unions representing EMS workers - Local 2507 for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics and Local 3621 for EMS Officers - fall under the umbrella of District Council 37, the bureau's retired members are expected to join DC 37's Retirees' Association, headed by Stu Leibowitz.

"Stu does such wonderful work for his members. We're not trying to undercut his organization," said Marianne Pizzitola, a retired member of Local 2507 and pension coordinator for Local 3621.

But she noted that many EMS workers who go on disability retirement are considerably younger - sometimes in their 30s and 40s - than the members of DC 37's Retirees' Association, and that the pension concerns of many EMS workers don't match those of the majority of DC 37 members.

Mr. Leibowitz said several locals have set up retiree organizations for members while remaining active participants in the DC 37 Retirees' Association that he heads. "I'm from Local 371 and am very familiar with its group. Local 375 has one too," he said. "I don't have any problem with locals setting up individual associations. God bless 'em."

The yet-to-be-named EMS group had about 20 members at its inaugural gathering, which was also attended by Local 3621 President Thomas Eppinger.

"I wanted to show them my support and see if there was any way we could help them get started. An organization like this could be really important, especially for educating newly-retired members and as a source of support for others as they try to adjust and work through the paperwork of drawing benefits and all that," the union leader said. "As we all know, information can fall through the cracks, so this kind of network is a crucial resource."

Retired EMS Chief Hosey said one issue members were eager to discuss related to the cost of living adjustments awarded to EMS retirees.

"I just got my COLA check in the mail and it was approximately 1 percent of $18,000 - that is not a big check," he said. But it was standard for EMS retirees who are bound to the DC 37 terms of COLA payouts, which peg the increase to a percentage of $18,000 regardless of how much a retiree is actually drawing. For most EMS workers, it's more than $25,000.

Many retirees were also surprised to learn that they had no say on the four-year contract recently reached between the Bloomberg administration and their union leaders. Since only dues-paying members in good standing can participate in ratification votes, retirees were effectively disenfranchised, even though those who retired after 2003 are eligible for the retroactive pay raises agreed upon in the deal.

"It behooves the unions to pay attention to our needs - this is just one example," said Chief Hosey. "We are retired, sure, but like I tell the union presidents, you're gonna be retired too one day. Won't you want to know what's going on?"

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The members of Engine Co. 315 and Ladder Co. 125 are holding a June 17 fundraiser for Firefighter Kevin Malone, who while responding to a subway fire March 2 suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak.

The event is being held from 2 to 8 p.m. at Mulcahy's at 3232 Railroad Ave. in Wantagh and there will be a $20 donation at the door. It will feature food and drink, raffles and prizes, and live music by The Squarerooters. For further information, call 718-380-5598.

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Our condolences to the family of Nan Gaon, longtime secretary to city Labor Commissioner Jim Hanley, who died May 26 after a long bout with cancer. A memorial service was being scheduled at presstime.