Next up in our series, which takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates, is the Fire Fighters.
Name of Union: International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
Mission: To be a strong representative for our members through collective bargaining; to maintain their health and safety; to provide them with education, training and resources to do their job; and to be politically active in campaigns and legislation in order to make a difference in who gets to have the power that drives the decisions that affect members and the work they do.
Current Leadership of Union: Harold A. Schaitberger serves as the ninth general president of the IAFF. He was a local president and state president before coming to the IAFF to create its political and legislative operation. He was first elected president in 2000. Schaitberger began his professional career as a firefighter in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Edward A. Kelly serves as the IAFF general secretary-treasurer, hails from Boston and was elected in 2016. The IAFF is also represented by 16 district vice presidents who together form the IAFF Executive Board. The union conducts its convention every two years.
Current Number of Members: 316,000.
Members Work As: Firefighters and paramedics.
Industries Represented: Fire and emergency services in the United States and Canada.
History: Founded on February 28, 1918, delegates representing 24 locals met in Washington, D.C., and held their first IAFF convention. In the following 100 years, the IAFF expanded the role it plays for its members in the political, health, safety, financial and technological arenas.
Throughout its first 100 years, the IAFF has been the leader in improving the health, safety and careers of its members. It has worked to pass legislation that takes care of the families of fallen members and has advanced the fire service forward through health and safety improvements.
The IAFF takes great pride in developing the services it offers its members. From opening its members-only behavioral health facility in 2017 to having a robust disaster relief program on the ground supporting members in the aftermath of our worst natural disasters, the IAFF strives to provide the best value possible for the investment its members make.
And as the IAFF enters its second century, the resources and value it provides to members continues to grow. With the creation of its very own Financial Corporation, the IAFF now provides opportunities for its members to not only improve their financial well-being, but to improve their union. A great example of this is E-18 Media, the IAFF’s multimedia production company. Founded in 2013, E-18 is part of the IAFF’s rapid response team tasked to repel attacks against members by creating and editing videos, making online ad buys and producing educational content from its state-of-the-art, in-house studio at IAFF headquarters.
Take a deeper dive into the history of the IAFF.
Current Campaigns: The IAFF’s Southern Strategic Organizing Initiative to increase membership has seen a 30% growth in membership across the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
Member trainings include the Affiliate Leadership Training Summit, Communications Training Academy, Fire Ground Survival, FIRE OPS 101, HazMat, the Partnership Education Program, Peer Fitness Trainer Certification, Peer Support, the Political Training Academy (U.S.), Occupational Medicine Resident Program and an Online Learning Center.
Other activities driven by the IAFF include: FIREPAC, the IAFF App, the Media Awards Contest, Fire Fighter Quarterly Magazine, the IAFF Foundation, the IAFF Motorcycle Group and a series of scholarships to advance the education of our members and the children of members who have died in the line of duty.
Member Efforts: Health and safety resources for IAFF members include: the Behavioral Health Program, Burn Injury Assistance, Cancer Awareness and Prevention, the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery, Line-of-Duty Death Resources, the Presumptive Health Initiative, Suicide Awareness, the Wellness Fitness Initiative and the World Trade Center Health Program.