To All PFANJ Members:

It is time to Rally again in Trenton. The legislature is pushing on with
legislation that will directly affect you and your family’s future. Our
March Rally of Fire Fighters and Police Officers apparently has lost its sting. It’s time to sting again but this time stronger.

ALL LABOR UNIONS in New Jersey are converging on Trenton, Thursday June 16th for:

LABOR UNITY DAY
9:00am at The State House (inside and out)
Our message is simple:
“SAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING”

We are asking all members who are off duty and our members families to join all the labor unions from across the state of New Jersey, for a Demonstration Rally that will be held THURSDAY- JUNE 16th at the State House in Trenton.

Governor Christie and Senate President Sweeney have crafted legislation that will affect our pension system, eliminate COLA, and circumvents our contracts by mandating Health Insurance premium sharing. It will also mean that you take that premium sharing into retirement. It also appears that Assembly speaker Oliver is wavering under pressure.

The legislation would guarantee that your yearly pension would be worth less year after year.

It’s time to remind those legislator’s that “joined” our rally that they
stood with us and they need to continue to stand with us.

THE LINE IS DRAWN IN THE SAND!

If they legislate what should be negotiated, then they are against LABOR, and labor will be against them.

Get the word out that everyone needs to be in Trenton on Thursday June 16th!

Together as one we will prevail.

See you all Thursday.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Englewood fireman responds to F.A.S.T.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Last updated: Thursday December 9, 2010, 1:26 AM

BY JOHN ESCOBAR

Northern Valley Suburbanite

VIEWPOINT

This is in response to the outlandish lies being told by the Englewood “FAST” group.

From 1998 to 2007, local governments were given an unprecedented and lucrative opportunity to skip, reduce and defer their required payments into the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). At the height of the Pension Holiday from 2001 to 2004, local governments contributed only 12 percent of their required PFRS pension contributions. When the time came for municipalities to own up to their responsibility, they began to cry poverty claiming that it was the greedy public worker that was at fault, not their own fiscal irresponsibility.

As a New Jersey Firefighter, I have never received a pension holiday. The “FAST” group would lead you to believe that our pension is free money. However, 8.5 percent of every paycheck has been deducted every two weeks since I was hired and put towards pension obligations. The fact that New Jersey’s governors stole our pension money and used it for everything except our retirement benefits is criminal. Continue reading →

It is with deep regret and sorrow to announce the death of Firefighter Darius Hunt. FF Hunt a 15-year Veteran died on Sunday April 4, 2010 in a tragic motorcycle accident. FF Hunt was married with two children. Visitation and services will be held on Thursday April 8 between the hours of 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Location will be Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium on the Campus of Dwight Morrow High School 274 Knickerbocker Rd

Repast FF Darius Hunt immediately after FD services:
Enlgewood American Legion
151 W Forest Ave
Englewood, NJ

Darius Hunt began his service with the City of Englewood in 1994 as a member of the city’s Department of Public Works. He transferred to the Fire Department in 1995 where he has served as a firefighter for the past 15 years. Firefighter Hunt was a member of the departments Hazardous Material team, Special Operations unit, and the Mid Bergen Hazardous Material team.

During his career FF Hunt received a Unit Citation in 1999 for his actions during tropical Storm Floyd, a Heroism award in 2000 for his rescue of residents trapped by floodwaters during the storm, and a Heroism Award in 2004 for assisting with the rescue of a firefighter who became trapped in a house fire while conducting interior fire suppression operations.

In addition, FF Hunt served in the United States Navy from 1987 until his honorable discharge in 1992. During his term in the Navy he was assigned to the USS Iowa and was cited for bravery during the 1991 explosion and fire which occurred on board the vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico.

“Firefighter Hunt was a dedicated member of the Englewood Fire Department and community, who, on more than one occasion placed himself in extreme danger to rescue city residents and fellow firefighters at emergency incidents. His devotion to his duties, his fellow firefighters, his family, and his friends will be truly missed”.