THROUGH SOLIDARITY California Professional Firefighters at 75

Volume 22 | No. 1 First Quarter 2014 California Professional Firefighters STRENGTH THROUGH SOLIDARITY California Professional Firefighters at 75 The job of a firefighter in the early years of the 20th Century advocate, Albertoni partnered with the California Labor Federation and the IAFF to win enactment was often brutally difficult. Salaries were meager, hours were of the Firefighters Right to Organize Act, the first punishing, protective equipment was non-existent and nobody legislation in California to offer an explicit right for any public employee to join a union. even thought much about retirement or health care. If a firefighter was killed – whether in a fire, from smoke, from a A RENEWED COMMITMENT Through the 1960s, Federated Fire Fighters of Cali- heart attack, or toxins – it was “next man up.” fornia continued to have an influence, helping to win passage of a new 2% at 50 retirement standard for n 1938, a collection of ten California affiliates day: the California Heart, Lung and Hernia presump- public safety, as well as increasing maximum pension of the International Association of Fire Fighters tion law and Labor Code 4850, allowing firefighters to caps. It helped to enact the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (IAFF) came together in Bakersfield with a sim- continue receiving a salary while recovering from job- of 1968, a major step toward collective bargaining. ple mission: work together to make life better related injuries (payments referred to as “4850 time”). The FFFC also provided logistical support as its local for firefighters, their families and the communi- Through World War II, labor-management strife affiliates went on strike in Vallejo, San Diego and ties they protect. More than 75 years later, the was on the back burner, but after the war, the activism Sacramento in 1970. Iorganization they created – California Professional of local firefighter unions in California expanded. In As the organization became increasingly active, it Firefighters – has become one of the most respected 1947, one of those affiliates – Long Beach Firefight- began to run into financial difficulties. The financial and influential labor voices in California, as well as ers Local 372 – won a groundbreaking state Supreme woes grew worse in the early 1970s, eventually creating a powerful and effective advocate for firefighters and Court case affirming firefighters’ vested pension rights a massive debt and prompting a number of prominent their families. (the “California Rule”). Often, affiliates sought local locals to withdraw. In 1972, a special convention unan- ballot propositions to reduce hours and increase pay, imously voted to ask the IAFF to temporarily take over BUILDING THE FIRE LABOR with decidedly mixed results. Federated Fire Fighters. Trustee Hank Kershner got MOVEMENT In 1956, the state association – now renamed Fed- a handle on the books and a four-member advisory Barely a year after its formation, CPF (then known erated Fire Fighters of California – began an intense panel that included future IAFF General President as International Fire Fighters of California) and its organizing campaign under the guidance of President Al Whitehead rewrote the constitution and bylaws. founding President Milton Terry were involved in the Al Albertoni, who would go on to become the IAFF’s At its 1973 Convention , coincidentally in Bakers- creation of two protections that still resonate to this secretary-treasurer. Doubling as the FFFC’s legislative field, the reborn Federated Fire Fighters elected Continued on page 4 PRESIDENT’S CPF POLITICAL 2013 PHOTO DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE ENDORSEMENTS CONTEST REPORTS Page 3 Page 9 WINNERS Page 14-21 Pages 12-13 STATE LEGISLATORS FEEL THE HEAT AT FIRE OPS 101 ore than 40 California State “We do these so the legislators know what we Legislators and staff members do on a daily basis so when they make policy participated in California in the Capitol, they have a better understand- Professional Firefighters' Fire ing of our needs.” Ops 101 held March 5th on the More than 60 off-duty firefighters from Mwest steps of the Capitol. several departments volunteered to staff the As part of the demonstration, participants all-day event and made sure the decision mak- were escorted through a burn trailer for a fire ers got to experience and learn about the real attack with charged hoses while wearing full challenges firefighters face every day. turnouts and SCBAs. They climbed to the top "I’ve always respected the work of the fire- of a 105-foot ladder for breathtaking views of fighters,” said Assemblymember Isadore Hall. the Capitol and downtown Sacramento, and “But when you get in there you can see how got to handle chain saws during roof ventila- your life can technically be on the line at any tion simulations atop the burn trailer. moment – you can fall off a ladder, you can “This is the only Fire Ops of its kind in the fall in the fire – your respect has heightened country,” CPF President Lou Paulson said. 1000 percent.” 2 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Standing Strong STANDING TOGETHER Lou Paulson s firefighters, one of • The “California Rule,” establish- similar to those faced by CPF and In the final analysis, these traits – as the first things we ing vested pension rights, was its members throughout our history. important as they are – all take a back learn in training the result of a legal case brought Workplace safety, retirement security, seat to that central value at the heart of is about the spe- by Long Beach Firefighters Local health care, bargaining rights, disciplin- our profession: solidarity. cial importance of 372; ary protections … the list goes on. None of the accomplishments of the being “first in.” The company • The first law giving any public that is first on scene employee group the right to orga- identifies the extent of the incident, nize in unions without reprisal was For three quarters of a century, determines whether lives are in immi- sponsored and pressed to passage Anent peril, establishes the initial line by CPF (then known as Federated of attack, and assesses what additional Fire Fighters of California); California Professional Firefighters resources are needed. Lives and homes are saved because • The inexorable link between our and its affiliates have been “first in” the people who were “first on scene” did work environment and cancer was their jobs well. established in CPF-sponsored leg- As important as it is to get there fast, islation creating the nation’s first on some of the most important there is an even more basic cornerstone cancer-presumption law; of our training and values as firefight- events in the labor movement. ers: working together. When the alarm • CPF was the earliest and strongest voice to protect the right to freely rings, we don’t head out one at a time. participate in politics through We go out as a unit; a team. your union. In meeting these challenges, the past – or those of the future – happen These two central values – working past can’t be a template, but it can be because of one or two individuals. They fast and working together – have been These landmarks, and many others instructive, particularly in zeroing in happen because we all came together brought home to me over the past year represent an impressive legacy by any on the leadership and values that have and had each other’s back, in keeping as California Professional Firefighters measure. They are especially impres- helped CPF stand out over these many with the values and traditions of our has marked 75 years as the state council sive considering our relatively small decades. The foresight that helped envi- profession. Firefighters don’t just stand for the IAFF. size compared with the rest of labor in sion the cancer presumption law will be up. We stand together. It is in that soli- For three quarters of a century, the U.S. just as important as we work to protect darity that we draw our strength. California Professional Firefighters and Over the past year, we’ve been com- and refine that law. The shared commit- I am immensely proud of the role its affiliates have been “first in” on some piling pictures, stories and artifacts ment that has built the California Fire California Professional Firefighters has of the most important events in the labor from these past 75 years, and a book Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee played in creating a better life for our movement. documenting CPF’s history is coming will certainly serve us well in our fights state’s first responders and their fami- soon to a fire station near you. But while against outsourcing, fiscal downsizing lies. It is an honor to be a part of the • The first presumption law of it’s been enjoyable reflecting on the and attacks on our pensions. The tenac- history of this fine organization … an any type in California – the accomplishments of the past, my main ity that brought the Firefighters Bill of organization that has made a difference 1939 Heart, Lung and Hernia charge is to work to improve your lives, Rights into law after a 30-year battle will not just for firefighters in California, Presumption Law – was a topic and those of your family, in the present surely be tested as we push back against but also for all firefighters and work- at the founding meeting of CPF and in the future. the overreaching power grabs of groups ing people in our country. a year earlier; Many of the challenges ahead are like the League of California Cities. CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 3 entire public pension system, including that for firefighters – even the widows and orphans of fallen firefighters.

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