IAFF News

http://www.iaff.org/

• IAFF Scores Major Victory on Broadband Spectrum

  
  

  February 21, 2012– A national communications network dedicated to public safety took a giant step forward today as President Obama signed a bill that transfers 10 megahertz of broadband spectrum – or D Block – to be used solely by first responders in emergencies.

• One Week Left to Apply for a FY 2011 SAFER Grant

  
  

  February 17, 2012 — There is still time to submit an application for a FY 2011 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. Applications must be received by Friday, February 24, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Congress has approved $742.5 million in SAFER funding to rehire and retain fire fighters, in addition to hiring additional personnel. The SAFER program has already put more than 5,000 fire fighters back to work, giving a much-needed boost to public safety in countless struggling communities.

• Wyoming Fire Fighters Stop Anti-Collective Bargaining Bill

  
  

  February 17, 2012– The quick action of the Federated Fire Fighters of Wyoming (FFFWY) stopped an anti-collective bargaining bill – State HB 58 – before it moved through the legislature. The State House voted 42-18 to refuse to introduce the bill, which would have made collective bargaining illegal in Wyoming.

• San Francisco Fire Department Releases Line-of-Duty Death Safety Investigation Report

  
  

  February 15, 2012 — The San Francisco Fire Department has released the results of its internal safety investigation related to the line-of-duty deaths of Lieutenant Vincent Perez and fire fighter/paramedic Anthony Valerio at a fire on June 2, 2011.

• Enter the 2012 IAFF Media Awards Contest

• Presidential Budget Generous to Fire Fighters

  
  

  February 14, 2012 – President Obama has proposed nearly $3 billion for first responders in his budget for Fiscal Year 2013, including $670 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grant programs. In addition, the president’s budget proposes an additional $1 billion in immediate assistance for SAFER under a new First Responder Stabilization Fund.

• South Dakota Anti-Collective Bargaining Bill Squashed

  
  

  February 10, 2012 — Thanks to a positive messaging campaign led by the Professional Fire Fighters of South Dakota (PFFSD), HB 1261, a bill that would have ended collective bargaining for public employees in the state, was tabled by the State House Commerce and Energy Committee 13-0.

• IAFF Fights Bad Pension Bill That Will Hurt Federal Fire Fighters

  
  

  February 8, 2012 — The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has approved H.R. 3813 on a party line 22-16 vote. The misnamed Securing Annuities for Federal Employees Act of 2012 will devastate the retirement benefits of federal employees while also forcing them to pay more for those reduced benefits. General President Harold Schaitberger sent a scathing letter to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Darrell Issa (R-CA) blasting the ;egislation.

• President Obama Proposes Billions for New Jobs Initiative to Hire Fire Fighters, Preferences to Jurisdictions for Hiring Veterans

  
  

  February 3, 2012 — President Barack Obama, with IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger sitting close by, outlined an aggressive plan to provide more than $1 billion to hire and keep fire fighters on the frontlines, while giving preferences to jurisdictions for hiring veterans after returning from their tours of duty abroad.

• Watch the Opening Session at the IAFF Human Relations Conference

  
  

  January 26, 2012 – IAFF members from across the United States and Canada attending the 2012 Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 22-24, heard from IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis at the Opening Session on January 23. The 20th conference was designed to build solidarity among brother and sister fire fighters as they explored the differences that divide and unite them in the firehouse.

• Call for Nominations for Local Leadership Awards

  
  

  January 10, 2012 — The IAFF would not be where it is today without strong leadership — at all levels. Often, leaders are out front where we can see them, but sometimes they don’t get noticed — mainly because they’re too busy getting things done. That’s why the IAFF has established the Local Leadership Award to recognize and honor active and active-retired local officers (current and past) who have dedicated more than 15 years to their local. The Local Leadership Award was created by Convention resolution to champion the standard of leadership set by Dennis J. Murray, one of the longest-serving local presidents in IAFF history and the first recipient of the award at the 2008 IAFF Convention.

• Canadian Legislative Conference to Be Held April 22-25 in Ottawa

  
  

  January 9, 2011 — After a rare October appearance on the IAFF calendar last year, the IAFF Canadian Legislative Conference returns to its usual April timeframe in 2012. The 19th Canadian Legislative Conference will take place April 22-25 at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites and will feature an orientation session for new delegates, guest speakers, issues focus session, IAFF Parliamentary Reception and wrap-up session. Lobby Day will be Tuesday, April 24.

• IAFF Announces Media Awards Contest Winners

• IAFF Mourns the Death of Jack Layton

  
  

  August 22, 2011 — The IAFF is mourning the death of a great Canadian who was a tremendous ally to Canada’s professional fire fighters, Jack Layton, a member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth and leader of the federal New Democratic Party, died early Monday of cancer at the age of 61.

• FIRE Act Grant Application Opens August 15

  
  

  August 8, 2011 — The application period for Fiscal Year 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FIRE Act) program will begin August 15 and run through September 9, 2011. The IAFF encourages its affiliates to work with their fire departments to apply for these grants.

• Bill Clinton to Keynote IAFF Redmond/EMS Conference

  
  

  July 27, 2011 — The IAFF is pleased to announce that former President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address on Monday, August 15 during the opening session at the IAFF John P. Redmond Symposium and Dominick F. Barbera EMS Conference in New York City.

• Schaitberger Elected to NFPA Board of Directors

  
  

  July 12, 2011 — IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the world’s leading advocate of fire prevention and a leader in establishing codes and standards related to fire and life safety.

• IAFF Mourns the Loss of Union Leader Quentin Tabscott

  
  

  May 5, 2011 – The IAFF is sad to learn of the passing of former Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) President and Arlington County, VA Local 2800 President Quentin Tabscott. He was 72.

• Update: IAFF Members Affected By Southern Tornadoes

  
  

  April 29, 2011 – As communication lines open up, the IAFF is learning that several fire fighters have been affected by the tornadoes that killed at least 300 people across the nation’s south this week. While no severe injuries have been reported, 15 fire fighter homes in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee were significantly damaged by the deadly storm system.

• IAFF Fire Fighters Respond to Deadly Southern Tornadoes

  
  

  April 28, 2011 – More than 200 people have been reported killed as a result of a series of tornadoes across several southern states. IAFF leaders are currently reaching out to all of the IAFF locals along the path of the storm, but so far there are no reports of fire fighter injury or home damage.