The New Jersey State Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association has just

recently concluded a vote to assess every one of its members a onetime

$100.00, payable over a period of time. I am proud to announce that the overwhelming

majority of members supported this proposal and in fact embraced it.

We are admittedly in the worst economic crisis of our lifetime, maybe for several

lifetimes. Threats to our most junior member’s job security are at an

unprecedented level. Layoffs once considered unheard of in the fire service,

have become a negotiating strategy.

As an organization dedicated to its members and an organization that promotes

and emotes the concept of “brotherhood” we are faced with a decision.

Staring economic crisis in the face we could do nothing, hope for the best and

pay lip service to members as they lose their jobs, or we could prepare financially

to support members in their time of greatest need. I am happy to report

we overwhelmingly chose the latter.

This gesture of support and “brotherhood” was not achieved without the obligatory

gnashing of teeth, however. Anytime an organization asks its members to

contribute additional money you can expect reservation and sometimes even

anger. To make such a request in a difficult economy is that much more challenging.

When you consider some of the following, I hope all members would

conclude this gesture to be not only proper, but rather requisite.

In an economy where loss of work is so common, we are blessed for the most

part with vital, necessary and relatively secure employment. Our salaries have

grown at an encouraging rate to the extent that one hundred dollars paid over

several pay periods has minimal impact to our overall compensation.

As we recognize these difficult times and consider concessions to local government

and some acknowledgement toward realities with business administrators,

councilman and mayors, we should acknowledge at least some of that reality

to our labor union and its members’ needs. Therefore while governments ask

us for thousands, consideration for far less to assist our own should be far more

acceptable.

If any clear thinking member understands fully the magnitude of the NJFMBA’s

most recent court victory regarding furloughs, this assessment becomes a nobrainer.

The FMBA’s defeat of the “staggered layoff” rule change, this past

month, has and will continue to save each member tens of thousands of dollars

for the life of his or her career and well into retirement. This reality, as well as

the removing of a government negotiation weapon (furloughs), which may lead

to layoffs as an option, supports the concept of an Emergency Relief Fund.

Finally, the concept of “fraternal”, or “benevolent” or “brotherhood” demands

some action, some gesture and or preparation to protect our most vulnerable of

“brothers”. The use of such words is admittedly far too cavalier.

I wish to thank all members who supported this creation of an “Emergency

Relief Fund”, as well as those who did not agree with it but will financially support

it none-the-less. I trust that all members will rest assured that these funds

will be strictly dedicated for one purpose and one purpose only to support members

who fall victim to a reduction in workforce.

This exercise will not only be remembered as a financial assessment but

more importantly, I hope, be remembered as an assessment of the character of

the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association and its members.

An organization during the most challenging economy of our lifetime that

said yes to “brotherhood”, yes to “Fraternity”, and yes to the “benevolence”

toward our own.

“The strength of the team is each individual member... the strength of each

member is the team” _ Phil Jackson