April 29, 2005

Mr. Joe Stone

DeKalb County Human Resources

1300 Commerce Dr.

Decatur, GA 30030

Mr. Stone,

I am writing to you today to address a concern that involves a number of employees of the Fire/Rescue Department. These personnel are also members of various National Guard/Reserve military units. Our collective concern lies with their accrual of military leave. Currently, they earn military leave at the same rate as 40-hour per week employees. As you know, this means that they are entitled to (18) 8-hour days of military leave each year. That limit is increased to (30) 8-hour days if the Governor declares a state-of-emergency for the National Guard.

Most of the employees in Fire/Rescue Department are 53-hour per week employees. They accrue holiday and sick leave at a rate greater than 40-hour per week employees. They also face disciplinary action at a rate greater than the 40-hour per week employees.

Currently, there are number of employees who have been called to active duty. We are respectfully requesting that the military leave policy be amended to show a difference in the amount of leave time a 53-hour employee is entitled versus that which a 40-hour employee receives. The DeKalb Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 1492 proposes that 53-hour employees should receive military leave at a rate of (18) 10.5-hour days. This amount of time is consistent with the manner in which a 53-hour employee accrues other types of leave, versus the 40-hour employees.

Furthermore, we are requesting an addition to the military leave policy to include deployment on active duty for both the National Guard and the various Reserves. Essentially, we are asking that the (18) days per year be increased to (30) days per year when an individual is called to active duty. Any assistance you may be able to provide in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Joe E. Trimble

President

DeKalb Professional Fire Fighters

IAFF Local 1492

JET/jmd