January 1, 2025
Looking back on 2024 we have accomplished so much, none of which would be possible without the dedication and support of our members. As we enter 2025, I want to thank the executive board for their hard work and commitment to serving the membership for another two years. We all owe a special thank you to Director Thorson and former Secretary Brown for their hard work and dedication to the membership. For the first time in over a decade, we have nine returning board members, including a two-term elected president and a returning treasurer. This consistency in leadership is what we relied on to accomplish many goals during the formation of our local thirty years ago. That consistency in leadership will bring us significant increases in wages, hours, and working condition
2024 was another banner year for OC Firefighters. When this team took over in 2023, our membership was out of contract. Three months after taking office, we brought the membership contract. During those informational meetings, we promised to continue to bring side letter enhancements during the term of that contract. I’m happy to report we were successful in delivering on those promises. This year, we delivered: increased incentive pay for all specialties, converted PMI to a percentage, moved the effective date of years three and four of our contract to January, increased staffing in air ops, funding for 4-0 staffing on all our remaining three person engines, reduced health care costs for members, reduced mandatory contribution for HRA, re-opened negotiations for HCT, reduced monthly health care premiums for retirees and SA time for special event medics. All of these enhancements have resulted in more money in your pocke
These successes did not come without significant sacrifice and the understanding that we have more work to be done. Over the year, we lost active and retired members and experienced one of the most devastating accidents in OCFA history. The 241 incident injured many of our members. Thanks to the Fallen Firefighter Relief Fund, we were able to support our members and their families during this difficult time. As we work through the holidays, keep the Nichols family in your thoughts and prayer
2025 marks 30 years as an IAFF local. Our inaugural board set out to build something amazing in an area where most unions would have failed. That first executive board brought 3631 from the lowest paid to the highest paid fire agency in the county, changed OCFA from a training ground to a destination agency, built one of the largest firefighter non-profits, and developed a health care trust that continues to bring top tier benefits while reducing costs for our members. Those successes were only possible because they stood unite
January 4th at Rom Brewery in San Clemente will be our first event of the year. I hope to see everyone there to raise money for the Fallen Firefighter Relief Fund. I encourage you to like/share our posts and consider adding a small donation to your payroll deduction.
Stay safe and take care of each other,
Chris Hamm, President L3631
