To make a $10 donation, text DISASTER to 50555*
Click donate now to make an online donation
More than 500 IAFF members are located in the path of the massive tornados that devastated Moore, Oklahoma and a number of other Oklahoma cities, as well as several communities in Kansas.
The IAFF remains in communication with IAFF District Vice Presidents and state and affiliate leaders whose members are affected by these storms. Together, we have begun damage assessments, and the need for relief to IAFF members affected by the storm is substantial.
“The IAFF already has resources on the ground to assist members in immediate need,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The most important thing our members can do right now is to donate to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund so that we can ensure that all of our members affected by this disaster receive financial assistance as soon as possible.”
“With utility lines down and so many of our members out in the field, communication is still limited,” says IAFF 11th District Vice President Sandy McGhee. “As conditions improve, we expect to have a better understanding of the scope of our members’ needs.”
To help speed the assessment process and begin distributing resources, Tulsa Local 176 President Chad Miller is working in conjunction with Oklahoma City Local 157 President Phil Sipe and 16th District Service Field Representative Mike Cordell to assess damage and establish a command center at the Local 157 union hall located about 10 miles from Moore.
Donate now to assist your IAFF brothers and sisters who need your help.
In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has dispatched several Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, including teams of IAFF members from Colorado, Texas, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Since 1992, the IAFF Disaster Relief program has provided financial assistance to thousands of members experiencing catastrophic losses following major disasters.
One additional note: Please do NOT self-deploy to the tornado affected areas.
The immediate need is for donations to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund.
To make a $10 donation, text DISASTER to 50555*
Click donate now to make an online donation
Please also share this information with your friends and followers through Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you for your generosity and support for IAFF members devastated by these tornados. The IAFF will continue to assess members’ needs and provide email and web updates.
Last Friday, March 29, the IAFF reached an agreement with the Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct a new election for 5th District Vice President.
The Agreement was based on the investigative findings by DOL following the complaint filed by Local 311 President Joe Conway regarding the election that was held at our 2012 Convention in Philadelphia in July of last year.
As the DOL letter indicates, the investigation found that some locals did not properly notify their members of the election of delegate(s). It also found in a few cases that local union elections for delegates were not conducted by secret ballot.
The new election will be held between Tom Thornberg and Joe Conway prior to August 2013 under the election rules that will be developed by DOL and the IAFF.
Click here for the letter/notice to the affiliates in the 5th District that explains DOL’s findings and the process for the special election.
DOL representatives will be contacting you shortly to gather information and to begin the process, where necessary, for assisting you in properly electing delegate(s) for purposes of conducting this special election. I urge you to cooperate with DOL representatives and to download these two important documents. These will also be sent to each local union president by U.S. Mail.
At the request of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), I want to remind the affiliate officers of the 5th District of federal law pertaining to campaigns for International office in the IAFF. Many affiliates will be conducting special elections for delegate(s) who will be authorized to vote on behalf of their membership in the 5th District special election that will take place later this summer. With respect to the contested delegate races, and with respect to the race for Vice President, federal law restricts any funds received by way of dues, assessments, or similar membership levies from being applied to promote a candidacy.
Affiliate funds may be used for notices and other expenses necessary for the holding of an election. Officers and employees may not campaign on time that is paid for by the union, nor use union funds, facilities, equipment, stationery, etc., to assist them in such campaigning. However, campaigning that is incidental to regular union business is not a violation of federal law and is permitted. This could include participation as an officer, delegate, or representative in conferences and state conventions and visits to local meetings, where such participation is part of regular union business.
In the course of these elections, candidates may request to make campaign speeches at local meetings or state conventions. Unless all candidates involved are afforded equal access to make similar campaign speeches, this may be a violation of Section 401(g) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). Equal access to a forum, meeting, or event, upon the request of a candidate, can cure a violation of Section 401(g).
I am confident that all affiliates in the District will continue to ensure a fair dialogue, and open and equal access to the candidates throughout the course of this election process.
On April 30, 2013 the U.S. Department of Labor issued the following communication regarding the Ruling for a new Election for the IAFF 5th District Vice President, International Association of Fire Fighters.
Almost a year and a half ago the De Pere City Council, under the direction of the Mayor’s budget, approved a plan under which Fire Department Employees received a two day mandatory furlough. Although the Firefighters were under a closed Collective Bargaining Agreement and never agreed to the days off, the members of the De Pere Local were forced to receive a reduction in pay equaling a total of 48 hours. We met with the city on a couple of occasions in order to resolve our differences, but it became very clear nothing reasonable was going to be reached and talks stalled.
The De Pere Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for a reduction in hours for one of three reasons: 1) a shortage of funds 2) lack of work 3) a change in organization or duties. Both Local 141 and the City agreed that items 2 and 3 were not violated, which left Local 141 to prove that the City did not have a shortage of funds. Many hours were spent consulting with then IAFF 5th District Vice President Joe Conway, former 5th District Service Representative Patrick Kilbane, and Local 141 Attorney Tim Hawks. We clearly determined that this was a battle that had to be fought, not just for our members in De Pere, but also for the members of the PFFW and the 5th District.
The City of De Pere’s main argument was that they had incurred a financial hardship due to a reduction in shared revenue to the tune of $220,139, loss of transportation aid by $115,000, and a cut to a recycling grant in the amount of $50,404. However, the city has a fund called an unassigned reserve fund, which most municipal entities have to ensure a positive bond rating. In the city of De Pere, that fund had a balance of $3,235,934 at the end of 2010 and at the end of 2011 the fund had grown to $4,726,093, an increase of $1.49 million or a 30.33 percent of general fund expenditures, which was a key to the Local 141 grievance argument. Also, prior to the furlough implementation, the City of De Pere had signed an agreement with Ashwaubenon to provide ambulance service to a part of their village. The City of De Pere received $13,500 as a payment in return for these services and these funds could have been utilized to offset some of the furloughs, but they were not. Then, on March 1st, while still placing employees on furlough, the city was notified that it would receive a $284,500 grant that was written by local 141 De Pere Representative Tom Nelson. These funds had already been designated in the budget process, were now freed up, and could have been used to pay the furloughs.
In the end, the arbitrator sided with Local 141 because the Local proved that the City of De Pere had not proven a shortage of funds, lack of work, or a change in organization or duties. As a resolution the members of the De Pere Local will be made whole for the wages lost from the City’s furlough decision. This is a precedence setting case that shows you can’t just claim financial hardship… it must be proven.
I would like to Thank:
Tom Nelson – De Pere Local 141
Mike Wos – Oshkosh Local 316 and former IAFF 5th District Field Representative
Joe Conway, Jr. – President Madison Local 311 former IAFF 5th District Vice President
Partick Kilbane – Former IAFF 5th District Service Representative
5th Vice President Joe Conway addressing California Professional Firefighters Special Convention. VP Conway discusses the anti-labor attacks in Wisconsin and exhorts California Firefighters to fight hard against Paycheck Deception.
Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation
The Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation promotes knowledge, awareness, and advocacy for the Fire Fighter diagnosed with cancer.
“The IAFF already has resources on the ground to assist members in immediate need,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The most important thing our members can do right now is to donate to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund so that we can ensure that all of our members affected by this disaster receive financial assistance as soon as possible.”
