r/firelookouts • u/seloki • 11d ago

Consider joining your union

All US federal lookouts are represented by our Union, the National Federation of Federal Employees.

But did you know you can actually be a part of the Union? Dues are only $35.32 per pay period. That may seem like a lot, and that you may not get that investment back. I understand, it’s hard to give someone your money without any guarantee that you’ll get anything back from them.

Let me tell you about something the Union has done for me lately. This season, our lookouts got per diem for being at our lookouts. That’s $40.80 a day. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s $500+ per pay period. The Union was instrumental in getting this benefit for us, so $35.32 for $500+ is a fantastic return on investment.

Also, please be active in your Union. We’re starting a newsletter to let our members know what our Union has been doing. So many of our members don’t understand the work that is done on their behalf that it’s important to get the word out.

I hope that all my fellow USFS lookouts are already members and active in their local, but if not, here is a link to learn more

https://nffe.org/

31 Upvotes

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5

u/Botany_Dave 11d ago

Wait, what? What was the process used to get per diem?

4

u/seloki 11d ago

It involved changing our duty station. It used to be our lookout, so when we were at our duty station we didn’t get per diem. Now our duty station is the Ranger district office, so now we’re basically assigned to a remote station. We’re entitled to per diem because we’re not at home, or at our duty station.

It may be important to point out that none on my lookouts are accessible. You wouldn’t go home after shift. You live at your lookout, and get resupplied (with food you bought) every 3 weeks.

2

u/Botany_Dave 11d ago

What does it take to get to/from your lookout?

5

u/seloki 11d ago

I have three lookouts on my district. The easiest to access is a 2 hr drive and then a 3.6 mile/3500 vertical foot hike.

The next is a 2.5 hour drive, and a 5.4 mile/4800 vertical hike.

My lookout is a 20 mile hike from the nearest trailhead, though it’s only 11.5 miles from the nearest airstrip/guard station. I get flown to the guard station and my gear gets packed in by mule since it’s wilderness

3

u/Botany_Dave 11d ago

Nice. The one my wife is working at is about 1.5 hours from the ranger district.

4

u/Rude_Pay8098 11d ago

I’m 77, and considered retired but my vision remains 20/20 and I’m able to work a lookout however, as a forest service annuitant I was told I’m not eligible to work again because I would be considered “double-dipping”. What benefit could I possibly foresee if I joined the union?

2

u/Botany_Dave 11d ago

Can you even join the Union if you aren’t working for the USFS?

1

u/I_H8_Celery 10d ago

NFFE is only feds but they cover many agencies. The majority of members are in the land management agencies with most of those members being firefighters.

3

u/Longjumping-Two-6226 11d ago

Amazing! Thank you for sharing !