Monthly News & Updates

Brothers and Sisters of CAL FIRE Local 2881, I am pleased to announce that we have successfully negotiated a new 2-year contract agreement with the State. This new tentative agreement, pending membership ratification, reflects this Union’s ongoing commitment to improving working conditions, benefits, and overall job satisfaction for all members. This was a long process and almost every article of the MOU was on the table. 

Read more from State Rank & File Peter Boctor HERE.

View the message below from President Edwards.

There is a lot of fire activity throughout the state. Stay safe, check in on one another, and take care of yourselves. We are in this together and the Union is here for you.

Have you created an account for the member side of the website? Check out the tutorial above. **You must use a personal email address to sign up, not your .gov email.**

Local 2881 membership includes access to resources from the IAFF like the flyer above. You can find more resources HERE.

L2881 Member Benefit: BSI Body Scan. If you have health insurance through our affiliation with PORAC, it's FREE! If you don't, you still have access to the scan at a discounted price. Schedule your scan now at one of these two locations: Ventura County DSA in August or CAL FIRE BEU HQ in September.

A Message from Retiree Director, Brian Burger

Nursing Homes & Long-Term Care Information

I often get asked questions about nursing homes and Long-Term Care (LTC). CalPERS also has its own optional LTC program. I signed up for this program in the early 90s when it was first offered. There were a few different plan options. CalPERS reps said the Cadilac Plan had inflation protection built in, and the rates would not increase. CalPERS later said this was not a true statement, but many I have spoken with remember this statement from presentations CalPERS made around the state.

Due to higher inflation, lower investment returns, and heavier plan use than anticipated, plan rates have gone up. A long-lasting lawsuit resulting from these promises was recently settled in Sept 2023, and those in the plan were offered the option of dropping coverage and having a percentage of their premiums paid returned with various settlement amounts offered to each member. Those that kept their coverage were offered $1000, and a waiver of premium increases until Sept. 2024.

At the June 2024 CalPERS Board meeting, the LTC fund was 90 % funded as result of the payouts and premium waivers. This may necessitate two additional rate increases of approximately 10% in 2025 and 2026 to bring the fund back to a 100% funded status. The fund is closed to new members. I noticed in an attachment that actuaries included a chart indicating projected cash flows and fund balance over the next 60 years. In 2083, there will only be 14-20 LTC members still living.

Here are two comprehensive articles to reference:

When California's Medi-Cal Will Pay for a Nursing Home, Assisted Living, or Home Care

How to Pay for a Nursing Home with No Money

Open Enrollment starts next month. Changes made during Open Enrollment go into effect in January 2025.

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