DFEMS firefighters form labor union

Firefighters with the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services have formed a labor union under the overall chapter organization, International Association of Fire Fighters.

Fire Captain Paul B. Sasamoto will serve as the president of the Northern Marianas Professional Firefighters Union IAFF-Local 5335, according to a document obtained by Saipan Tribune yesterday.

As of press time yesterday, Saipan Tribune was still trying to get more information from Sasamoto and DFEMS Commissioner Juan A. Pua about the union and how many of them are members.

Sasamoto, in a letter dated Sept. 4, 2023 addressed to DFEMS’ Pua, officially notified DFEMS that the NMPFU IAFF-Local 5355 is the sole and exclusive representative for all full-time employees who are bargaining unit members employed by DFEMS.

The Senate received a copy of Sasamoto’s letter on Tuesday afternoon.

Sasamoto said NMPFU IAFF-Local 5335 will be submitting a letter that will initiate a collective bargaining agreement process between the union and DFEMS that pertains to labor and employee relations issues between firefighters who are collective bargaining unit members of NMPFU IAFF-Local 5335 and are employed by DFEMS.

Sasamoto said on behalf of CNMI DFEMS firefighters who are members of NMPFU IAFF-Local 5335, they thanked Pua for his professionalism and support of this “historical endeavor.”