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TOTAL REPRESENTATION

What a Fire Fighters' Union Must Provide Members in Today's World

The facts are clear: today's world is characterized by insecure employment. Fire Fighters need the highest possible level of job protection. Their union must provide total representation. It must be armed with complete service capacity and a dedicated staff of highly qualified professionals who deliver these services to the membership in a timely and coordinated manner:

All members must be assured:

• Maximum appropriate pay for the work they perform.
• The best possible employment benefits, including pension and medical insurance.
• Protection of all employees' rights, including the highest standards for working conditions, as established by law.
• Top-quality labor legal expertise.
• Direct availability of professional assistance in matters of financial, insurance and retirement planning.
• Political clout: the strongest possible collective voice in communicating needs, opinions and positions to lawmakers.
• A communications program which keeps everyone in the organization fully informed, which serves as an interconnection between the membership and the organizational leadership and which informs the public about the organization's position on major issues.
• A leadership structure which represents the membership's interest and goals in the creation and implementation of the organization's operating policies.

Total representation means delivering full service:

• The Michigan Association of Fire Fighters is, in every sense of the term, a full service public safety union.

The Labor Relations Staff

Unequaled experience, expertise, achievement

MAFF's team of labor relations' professionals is acknowledged as number one in experience and proven expertise in the State of Michigan.  It has earned this recognition by achieving an unequaled record of success in all phases of union representation.

The staff's wealth of experience in public safety labor relations has been built through many years of performing highly specialized work.  Its expertise is a product of total familiarity with every phase of a complex field of knowledge.  The esteem in which it is held by other professionals reflects unsurpassed respect throughout Michigan's labor relation's community.

Most of all, the excellence of MAFF’s labor relations staff has been established by its unparalleled record of achievement.  This is what ultimately pays superior dividends to members.

Fred Timpner, a former president of the Southfield Police Officers' Association (SPOA) has more than three decades of experience as a law enforcement labor leader.  Within a year of joining the department in 1971, he was chosen as a shift steward for his local association.  Soon afterward he was elected vice president.  A subsequent election made him president of the 100-member group.

Timpner's obvious leadership qualities and rapidly demonstrated talents in labor relations made him a high-profile candidate for a new career as a law enforcement union professional.  Fortunately for the many hundreds of officers who since have benefited from his negotiating and advocating skills and knowledge, he decided to enter the field.  Armed with his considerable natural abilities, his valuable local association experience and a full complement of college-level labor relations studies, he became a full-time union service professional just a few years into the modern era of the law enforcement labor movement.

From that beginning, Timpner has earned an enviable reputation as an expert in contract negotiations, grievances and grievance arbitrations.  His tremendously successful record has been highlighted by negotiating two "breakthrough" contracts:  the agreement in Sterling Heights which for the first time brought base wages of over $70,000 a year to officers in Michigan and the pact which, years previous, smashed the $30,000 a year barrier in the state.  Just as important, Timpner is established as one of an elite few professionals who are experienced in presenting Act 312 arbitration cases.

His credentials are such, in fact, that the former outstanding student of the discipline has been called upon to teach college courses in labor relations.

Ronald Palmquist is a veteran of 21 years as a Southfield police officer with an ideal background.  He was a union steward in the early 1970's, became his POA's secretary by 1980 and served as its president during the '80's.  After he was promoted to sergeant in 1986, he was elected the Southfield COA's wage negotiator, which meant he was the chief of the bargaining team.  After retiring in 1991 he came to work full-time for the Union.  Since then he has gained immeasurable experience negotiating contracts and handling grievances through arbitration for member units.

He has good background experience in dealing with employers and has a first-hand knowledge of what officers need and how to help them get it.  He possesses exclusive knowledge in health care and pension plans.

“The proof is in the pudding” as the old adage says, and if it is, one has only to look at some of the collective bargaining contracts negotiated by Ron.  They are some of the best that are in the public sector.

Ed Wertz brings many years of experience to the members of MAFF, having served with the Detroit Police Department for 32 years and a member of the prestigious Mounted Police Section for 28 years. He served on the DPOA Executive Board for 20 years, chairing their Finance Committee and By Laws committee, as well as having served on their election committee. He has personally handled over 100 grievances and was instrumental in providing the goals and direction for the membership in the collective bargaining process.

Ed has also served members of the Retired Detroit Police and Firefighter Association as Vice President for two years and also as their President for three years. In addition, he served the Detroit Police employees as a board member for the Police Benefit and Protective Association.

He volunteered his time as a member of the Detroit Police Athletic League, earned his degree from Henry Ford Community College, and continues to be involved with the Knights of Columbus.

The Michigan Association of Fire Fighters is pleased to introduce Ed and welcome him as one of our Labor Relations Specialists. He has always taken his responsibilities seriously and will represent our members well.

James Steffes served 26 years with the Sterling Heights Police Department, retiring as a Sergeant. He was active for eight years with their Grievance Committee and was involved in the Association activities relating to them. He served a full career in a Department that, with the help of Fred Timpner, broke many statewide barriers in wage and benefit packages. He has been serving MAFF since 2008. His personality and disposition, along with many years of experience in successfully handling difficult contract situations, lends itself to success.

Donnell Reed began his police career with the Washington DC Metro Transit Police after honorably serving our country in the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Pontiac Police Department, and was elected to his local Association’s offices of Steward and Chief Steward. He then served on the Executive Board as Secretary, and then became their President, serving in that capacity for three consecutive two-year terms. He brings with him experience in contract negotiations and handling grievances. Believing in fighting a good fight for what’s best for the membership leads him to the personal philosophy of “If it’s worth having, it’s worth working for.” Donnell has been with the MAFF staff of Labor Relations Specialists since 2008.

Joe O’Connor spent 31 years with the Sterling Heights Police Department: Eight years as the Patrol Officers and nine years as a Sergeant. As their Grievance Committee Chairman, he reviewed all complaints and attempted to resolve the issues at the lowest possible level. As a member of the contract negotiation team, he represented his group and was instrumental in settling multi-year Collective Bargaining Agreements. He brings valuable experiences to MAFF in representing members in Disciplinary Hearings and Contract Negotiations. His unique perspective from specialized Internal Affairs training is also an added benefit to our members.

Joe comes from a Union family. His father was a Committeeman for the United Auto Workers, and having grown up in a Union household, Joe attended UAW meetings with his father since he was 10 years old. It’s this kind influence, experience and background that lead Joe to using a diplomatic approach in resolving issues. But make no mistake; Joe is not afraid to take a hard-line stand when necessary. Joe always fights to do what’s right for our members.

Joe has served as a Labor Relations Specialist for MAFF since November of 2009 representing members from each of our three Associations. We are proud to have Joe as part of our professional family.

John Haase We are pleased to welcome Labor Relations Specialist John Haase as the newest addition to our staff. John comes to us with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Management from Eastern Michigan University and years of experience as a commercial airline pilot with significant union experience. He began working with the Airline Pilots Association in 2002 and represented the pilots of Northwest Airlines on their Negotiating Committee during Northwest’s bankruptcy process as chairman of the committee during their merger with Delta Airlines. His most challenging assignment, and one of the accomplishments he is most proud of, was the joint Northwest/Delta post-bankruptcy contract. John was able to secure significant improvements for the membership, as well as solving pilot seniority merger issues in a fair manner. John also has extensive grievance handling experience.

John’s track record and success in a highly regulated industry like the airlines naturally transfers over to representing governmental employees. In these times of a poor economy, John’s experience in minimizing concessionary agreements is critical. “My method with the Pilots Association was to mine the existing contracts and look for any and all violations, concentrating on those that could bring us the highest dollar amounts and provide us the most leverage. I plan on extracting contract improvements at the earliest opportunity and get back benefits that have been cut, including jobs. Job protection is a high priority for me, as well as mitigating the downside in the economy and the concessionary agreements that are being proposed by employers. I am looking forward to meeting the membership and going to work for them.” John will be representing members in all three of our association groups.

LEGAL SERVICES

A Topflight Staff of Attorneys

Expert, specialized legal representation is an essential service element for any public safety professional union in the modern era. A complex body of laws and regulations governs the relationship between workers and their employees. Importantly, the protection afforded by law and regulation is only as effective as a union's legal talent makes it.

The following firms perform MAFF's labor legal work:

Hoekenga and Associates. Senior partner Dan Hoekenga, who has represented law enforcement officers and fire fighters in all types of labor matters for many years, handles much of this vital work. All of Mr. Hoekenga's Associates provide a formidable combination of highly-respected talent and years of experience in successfully handling precisely the kinds of matters that are most relevant to members.

Farrell & Associates P.C. M. Catherine Farrell is the principal in Farrell & Associates P.C., a law firm specializing in Labor and Employment Law.

Ms. Farrell was managing partner of Hoekenga & Farrell P.C., and was a senior partner and former managing partner of the law firm of Levin, Levin, Garvett & Dill P.C. which specialized in labor and employment law and transactional matters.

Ms. Farrell is also an active arbitrator. She serves as a member of both the commercial arbitration panel and employment law arbitration panel for the American Arbitration Association in the Detroit Region.

Ms. Farrell holds a B.A. from American University, a M.S. from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a J.D. from St. Louis University.

The unique relationship between the Michigan Association of Fire Fighters and these highly skilled legal professionals is as important to the union's members as the firm's talent base. Over the years, the attorneys have teamed with MAFF's labor relations' specialists in literally hundreds of cases of all kinds providing representation that is unsurpassed by any other union.

LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS

Professional Lobbyists Provide Members With Clout

Public safety officers have more of a stake in which laws are passed - and which are not - than virtually any other class of professionals. They are, for example, directly concerned with legislation that:

• Helps them do their jobs more effectively.
• Protects such rights as Public Act 312 arbitration and non-residency.
• Grants them workers' rights, both as individual employees and as union members.

In order to properly represent its members, a fire fighters union must maintain close, effective working contacts with lawmakers, MAFF members are represented in Lansing by a team of veteran, highly-regarded legislative liaisons who keep the organization fully updated regarding political developments that can affect fire fighters. At the same time, they provide lawmakers with detailed information about MAFF's positions and opinions on all relevant legislation.

FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES

Pre-Retirement Counseling, Insurance Information

Preparing for the future is essential for today's fire fighters, particularly in an era when they are able to retire younger than ever before. That is why the Michigan Association of Fire Fighters offers its members, without charge, pre-retirement counseling emphasizing pension maximization.

Professional financial planning is offered at no cost to all members via a professional relationship with expert Keith P. Harrington, account vice president of PaineWebber, Inc. He assists MAFF members in such vital areas as pre-retirement planning.

Similarly, MAFF members receive complete, cost-free insurance consultation services from Jordan Raider and his associated professionals at the Raider-Dennis Agency.

THE MAFF OFFICE CENTER

A Headquarters Building Designed for Efficiency

The location and the resource structure of a union's central office combine to have a significant impact upon the organization's ability to serve its membership.

The headquarters should be centrally situated in order for labor relations' professionals to have rapid access to all members. It should be in the closest possible proximity to the offices of the union's other service providers, such as its legal specialists. It should have the capacity to host large and small-group meetings, to house the modern hardware that is essential to a sophisticated business operation and to provide the kinds of functional accessories that create a setting of which all members can be proud.

MAFF's central office is located at the heart of the network of expressways interconnecting Michigan's cities. The labor relations' staff thus is within swift driving range of points throughout the state. The office is literally "down the hall" from the organization's retained labor law firm. It boasts excellent meeting and conference facilities and contains all of the state-of-the-art machinery, including a complete computer data system that is necessary to a modern union operation. It has a comfortable, functionally attractive design of which members are, indeed proud. And, just as important, it is kept working at peak efficiency by a highly qualified support staff that includes a research assistant.

Efficiency is both the objective and the result of the headquarters office design - the kind of efficiency that makes certain all members' needs receive immediate and full attention.