Letter to City from R. Siwica (3/16/2021)
JOSEPH EGAN, JR. (OF COUNSEL)
TOBE M. LEV
ERIC J. LINDSTROM (OF COUNSEL)
HEIDI B. PARKER
RICHARD P. SIWICA
NICHOLAS R. WOLFMEYER
EGAN, LEV & SIWICA, P.A.
A TTO R N EYS A N D C OUNSELO R S AT L A W
EAST COLONIAL DRIVE
ORLANDO, FL 32801
POST OFFICE BOX 2231
ORLANDO, FL 32802-2231
TELEPHONE: (407) 422-1400
FACSIMILE: (407) 422-3658
March 16, 2021
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Louis Johnson Marcos Montes De Oca, P.E.
ljohnson@co.okeechobee.fl.us marcos@cityofokeechobee.com
County Administrator City Administrator
Ralph Franklin Herb Smith
rfranklin@co.okeechobee.fl.us hsmith@cityofokeechobee.com
County Fire Chief City Fire Chief
Wade Vose John J. Fumero
wvose@voselaw.com cityattorney@cityofokeechobee.com
County Attorney City Attorney
Re: Interlocal Agreement between Okeechobee County and the City of
Okeechobee for Fire Services
Gentlemen:
This firm represents Local 2918 of the International Association of Firefighters ("Local
2918" or the "Union"). Local 2918 represents the fire-rescue personnel employed by
both Okeechobee County and the City of Okeechobee (the "County," the "City" or collectively the
"Employers"). As you know, the Employers have a legally binding collective bargaining
relationship with the Union. Notwithstanding this legally binding relationship, and without
bargaining with Local 2918 and/or engaging the Public Employees Relations Commission, the
Employers have entered into an Interlocal Agreement for Fire Services which will substantially
impact terms and conditions of employment.
Without waiving the right to pursue unfair labor practice(s), grievance(s), or to otherwise
pursue litigation, the Union hereby requests bargaining and impact bargaining with both
Employers over the proposed change. The impacts would include, but not be limited to, seniority,
promotions, pension/retirement, temporary employee status, eligibility for transfer should the
change be implemented, compensation, paramedic certification, safety and training, compliance
with the respective agreement/status quo, and many other bargainable issues. Local 2918 reserves
the right to identify further and additional issues.
2
Please contact the Union to arrange for an initial bargaining date. We suggest that the
initial session be with both Employers; however, we are of course willing to work with the
Employers to structure bargaining in a mutually convenient way. Let me know.
In the meantime, and until the bargaining, arbitration(s), unfair labor practice(s) and/or
other litigation has been resolved, we respectfully expect the Employers to maintain the status quo.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Richard Siwica
cc: IAFF Local 2918 (via email)