“THIS is truly a huge step in the right direction,” said Edward Dela Cruz Jr., vice president of the Northern Marianas Professional Firefighters Union-International Association of Fire Fighters-Local 5335.
“It’s been at least three years since the NMPFU IAFF-Local 5335 was established in April 2021. The global Covid-19 pandemic had slowed down progress toward the goal of establishing a collective bargaining agreement [or CBA] between the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the CPA-Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters, but in September 2023 NMPFU made great strides in communicating with both agencies to initiate the CBA process,” he added.
“CPA-ARFF has shown its willingness to commit for the overall betterment of its employees while DFEMS refuses to act,” Dela Cruz said.
On behalf of Local 5335, Dela Cruz thanked CPA Executive Director Leo B. Tudela “for showing great character, true leadership, and utmost professionalism at the highest level in officially agreeing to mutually meet with the NMPFU on Sept. 10” to discuss a CBA for CPA-ARFF.
Dela Cruz also thanked CPA-ARFF Fire Chief Frederick A. Pangelinan “for supporting our members and their cause to discuss a wide range of critical and important areas that pertain to and affect labor and employee relations and issues involving his firefighters who, as collective bargaining unit members, will be covered under this agreement.”
“The CBA will ultimately materialize a very professional, well disciplined, highly qualified, and fully equipped firefighting workforce that will provide for a safe and healthy working environment that leads to a better quality of life for its employees,” Dela Cruz said.
DFEMS Commissioner Juan Pua earlier informed Local 5335 President Paul Sasamoto that he, Pua, has no legal authority to recognize the NMPFU IAFF-Local 5335 as the exclusive bargaining representative for the union members.
“As a result, I am unable to engage in collective bargaining negotiations based on the proposed collective bargaining agreement. However, I can set up a date and time … to meet with you at the office to mutually discuss benefits, pay, equal opportunities, health and safety, and other remedies on improving the DFEMS organization,” Pua added.
On Aug. 27, 2024, CPA accepted Local 5335’s request to mutually begin CBA negotiations in the meeting room of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport on Sept. 10, 2024 at 2 p.m.
The CPA negotiation team will include Executive Director Leo Tudela, ARFF Fire Chief Frederick Pangelinan, CPA legal counsel Gregory P. Cenac and CPA comptroller Sheryl Sizemore.
“CPA recognizes the necessary services that its ARFF employees provide to the airports of CNMI, and we hope to have a satisfactory meeting that benefits both parties,” Tudela said.
IAFF resolution
In related news, during its 57th annual convention in Boston, Massachusetts on Aug. 28, 2024, the International Association of Fire Fighters adopted Resolution No. 1 to include the CNMI in the IAFF’s constitution and bylaws as the newest member in District 10, which includes California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii.
