Contents SPECIAL EDITION 2011 JOURNAL of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION of FIRE FIGHTERS FEATURES Special Insert Wave of SAFER Grants Keeps Fire Fighters Working
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INTERNATIONAL contents SPECIAL EDITION 2011 JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS FEATURES Special Insert Wave of SAFER Grants Keeps Fire Fighters Working Punching Back IAFF launches powerful response to political attacks ..................8 Ohio fire fighters march to State Capitol Silencing Fire Fighters State lawmakers go after collective bargaining ..........................12 Right to Work Gaining Traction States push legislation to curb union membership ....................16 Paycheck Deception Laws Aimed at Unions Lawmakers want an end to dues payroll deductions ..................18 Politicians Target Public Employee Pensions Politically motivated attacks threaten retirement security ...........22 Oklahoma fire fighters rally to protect collective bargaining A New Threat Anti-labor lawmakers attack pensions ........................................28 On the Legal Front IAFF joins legal fight against anti-union law ..............................30 Threats Head North of the Border U.S. political tactics migrate to Canada ......................................32 Fighting Back on the Frontlines ........................................34 Maine fire fighters take fight to Capitol Hill General President’s Message Special Report ..............................................................................3 On The Cover Goodbye Vincent J. Bollon IAFF affiliates rise to challenge Legendary IAFF leader leaves a powerful legacy ........................5 the cynical attacks on fire fighter pensions with coast to coast protests and powerful grassroots activity. General Secretary-Treasurer’s Message Anti-Union Attacks Like Never Before ..................................................6 Retirees ..................................................................................40 In Memoriam/Last Alarm ....................................................46 2 Special Edition 2011 From the General President Special Report he IAFF has always published a In Florida, lawmakers in the House want to every one of you magazine that covers all aspects of gut unions by curbing their ability to collect reading this will T our operations — from stories about dues through automatic paycheck pay more in health and safety issues to features and deductions, forcing them to get written income taxes than engaging pieces in Local Scene about our permission from each member before that members across two countries. making political contributions and calling multi-national But extraordinary times call for for unions that fall below a certain level of company. extraordinary measures. I don’t have to tell membership to be stripped of collective Corporate any of you that fire fighters and paramedics bargaining rights. Missouri has a variation America is doing are under attack all across North America. of this proposal, suggesting that unions be fine. Working Since the first of the year, the stories have charged an $8 per month per member fee Americans are been splashed across your newspapers and for the privilege of payroll deduction. not, and the Harold A. on the channels of your local broadcast news Our members are facing attacks from coast politically Schaitberger and cable news programs. And even though to coast — there are pension reform motivated attacks we’ve all seen the stories and it seems like proposals in California, attacks on on workers ensure we’ve been living this hell for months, the bargaining in Oklahoma and Nebraska, that any recovery we experience in this battle is far from over. Right to Work battles in Maine and Indiana. country will be limited to the very rich. So I decided that this issue of our No state or community is safe or immune. At our 2011 Legislative Conference last magazine must be focused exclusively on the The end game of these anti-worker month we dedicated a substantial portion of challenges that our members face and the politicians is simple. They want to cripple the agenda to the political and legislative battles we are waging. This is an public employee labor organizations. These threats in the states. It was an overwhelming unprecedented approach to our magazine, are politically motivated attacks. success. Our speakers were both engaging but these politically motivated attacks are Anti-worker lawmakers claim they are and informative. This issue of the magazine unprecedented. acting out of concern for state budgets. But is just as provocative. You need to stay Brothers and sisters, collective bargaining, these fights aren’t about balancing budgets informed. You need to keep up with our dues check-off, wages, pensions, union — this is about shifting the balance of battles through our Fighting Back web site at security, benefits and the right to have a power. Their real goal is to weaken unions www.IAFFFightingBack.com. voice in the political arena all are under and silence us. You need to be an active participant in attack. We all watched the frontal attack by Across the country, the IAFF and other these fights because the threats aren’t going Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin. In unions have stepped up to the plate and are away. Ohio, Governor John Kasich and a working to deal with deficits and the harsh We have worked hard to identify these GOP-controlled legislature followed suit, economic reality. threats and respond to them. We are in the passing a law to eliminate bargaining rights On the federal level, we are battling to fight unlike never before. that have been in place since 1983. In protect our Staffing for Adequate Fire and At a recent rally, I quoted that great Michigan, Governor Rick Snyder’s allies Emergency Response (SAFER) program, revolutionary war hero, Admiral John Paul have introduced dozens of bills attacking which has saved the jobs of thousands of Jones, who said, “I have not yet begun to labor. Now our members and the rest of IAFF members. Please read our special insert fight.” That is the rallying cry of this great labor must wage an expensive referendum in this issue of the magazine for more IAFF, and it must be the rallying cry of campaign to beat back this attack. information on what SAFER has done for every one of our members. Let’s fight back, Just weeks ago, the New Hampshire House our members. and let’s fight hard. n of Representatives voted to eliminate Targeting those of us who work for a living collective bargaining. In Michigan, the is misguided and malicious. At the same anti-worker governor signed a bill into law time, corporations continue to get a free giving emergency financial managers the ride. Nothing makes that more obvious than authority to eliminate collective bargaining the news last month that General Electric, and essentially put local governments under which earned billions of dollars last year, a trusteeship. didn’t pay federal income taxes in 2010. The In Alabama we’ve filed suit to contest a company earned $14.2 billion in profits, but paycheck deception law that the state’s former governor signed into law before he left office. In Tennessee a cabal of Remembering Vinnie anti-worker lawmakers has introduced numerous laws to silence workers. One bill want to extend my thanks to everyone meant a lot to Linda, Vinnie’s wonderful would make it illegal for any labor who traveled to New York to attend the wife. And it meant a lot to me. organization to contribute to a political Iservices and funeral for IAFF General Vinnie will always hold a special place in candidate. Another would prohibit labor Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus Vincent J. the hearts of IAFF members. His organizations from using dues for political Bollon April 4. longevity and his body of work are action. Yet another piece of legislation While it was difficult to say goodbye to unparalleled. His friendship and proposes making it illegal for labor such a dear friend, it was heart-warming to dedication were unrivaled. organizations to deduct dues from the see the overwhelming turnout by our Rest in peace, Vinnie. paycheck of a member. members from both countries. I know it International Fire Fighter 3 INTERNATIONAL Harold A. Schaitberger General President Harold A. 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