Military Firefighters (MSEA-SEIU 1989) Back Bill Address Employee Retention

MSEA-SEIU 1989 members who work as military firefighters for the Maine Air National Guard Fire Department at Bangor International Airport are asking the Maine Legislature to enact LD 1236, An Act to Address Employee Retention of State Employees Who Are Firefighters at Bangor International Airport, and for it to be funded as part of the Governor’s proposed Supplemental Budget (LD 2212).

The military firefighters’ retirement plan requires them to serve 25 years and reach age 55 before they can retire without penalty. The age requirement in the military firefighters’ retirement plan is the chief reason for their department’s recruitment and retention problem, they said, noting that other fire departments provide for retirement after 25 years of service regardless of age.

“In this department, I have responded to car accidents and structure fires, out in the surrounding towns and in the city. Just here at the airport, we all have responded to various calls on both civilian and military aircraft like fuel spills, assisting medical aircraft, medical calls on diverting aircraft, diverting aircraft with mechanical issues just to name a few,” explained MSEA-SEIU Member and Maine Air National Guard Fire Capt. Ryan McGuire, in testimony before the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, and the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. “In the past six months, I have responded to two separate fatal plane crashes at Bangor International Airport. During the last incident, we were on scene doing our jobs without hesitation in less than two minutes. These calls will last with us first responders for a lifetime, and beyond in the community.”

Continuing, Capt. McGuire said, “To hire firefighters, we must have similar retirement plans with area fire departments. To continue to provide high-quality fire protection to the Maine Air National Guard and the Bangor International Airport, we ask that you support DVEM firefighters at Bangor International Airport by funding LD 1236.”

MSEA-SEIU Member and Maine Air National Guard Fire Capt. Nicole Loupe spoke of the dangers of her profession. “On average, our life expectancy is 10 years less than the general population, and due to being exposed to an abundant variation of toxins, including Class B foam, we have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer. Our job is also high stress, resulting in sleeping and eating disorders, mental health issues, respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease,” Capt. Loupe said. “Most of us have the ‘25 years of service AND 55 years old retirement, which is outdated, having been enacted in 1998. Due to the negative impact on our health, and lack of recruitment and retention, we ask that you prioritize funding LD 1236. This would allow those who are employed as firefighters at BIA to retire after 25 years of service without penalty.”

Capt. Michaud added that not only is the Maine Air National Guard Fire Department having fewer applicants, but the department also lost several employees to neighboring departments with better retirement packages – “employees that we have invested a lot of time and resources training. The Maine House and Maine Senate already have passed LD 1236; now it’s just a matter of the Appropriations Committee providing the $500,000 in one-time funding needed for its implementation. The funding request in LD 1236 comes as state legislators are deciding what to do with the State’s current $250 million state budget surplus. All expenses for salary, benefits and equipment are 100% federally funded with zero expense to the State of Maine.