Following an opening invocation by Father Jim Schutte of the St. Leo Church, the Convention resumed the agenda of business, some of which had been displaced a day earlier by the roll call vote on Resolution 7.
Resolution Action
Substitute Resolution 22, offering assistance to members terminated from their jobs due to union activities, to be financed through a 6-cent increase to per capita. was adopted without opposition from the floor.
Resolution 20 was offered to recognize the extraordinary service of Joe King of Pittsburgh, PA Local 1 for his many years of service to the union and his legacy of leadership on worker issues. With a resounding “Aye,” the resolution was passed and delegates stood in tribute to Brother King and applauded long and loudly.
Substitute Resolution 34 was introduced opposing any legislative efforts, either federal or state, that impede the regulation of flame retardants and toxic chemicals that contribute to the danger of cancer, especially under the influence of heat. Exposure to these dangers is deemed a major contributor to the fact that 56 percent of fire fighters who have died in the line of duty are cancer victims. Yet corporations continue to produce these materials and lobby against their regulation. The resolution also directs the IAFF to do further research on the impact of these toxic chemicals and retardants and to seek additional measures to prohibit the use of these materials. With no opposition voiced by delegates, the resolution passed unanimously.
Resolution 29 proposed taking the legislative and /or political actions necessary to consolidate all existing federal fire entities, which currently employ some 10,000 employees, into one agency that affords adequate levels of staffing, safety, pay and retirement. There was no opposition, and it passed unanimously.
Resolution 30 called on the IAFF to pursue collective bargaining rights for those workers providing fire fighting and EMS services for the tribal lands of Native Americans. The resolution passed unanimously.
Resolution 31 called for strong support for the Federal Fire Fighters Flexibility and Fairness Act, which would grant federal fire fighters with presumptive rights they currently do not have. It was passed without opposition.
Resolution 32 also proposed support for Federal Fire Fighters Flexibility and Fairness Act, which would grant federal fire fighters rights that are currently available to many other fire fighters under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It was unopposed and passed unanimously.
Resolution 33 called on the IAFF to actively pursue legislation and policies that deal with a flaw in the federal retirement system that prevents federal fire fighters with less than 20 years of service from retaining their earned benefits when they leave the service because of occupation illness or injury. It passed unanimously.
Resolutions 1, 7, 19, 35 and 22 resulted in a total increase in per capita of 57 cents for active members and 29 cents for active retirees.
The session concluded with a presentation of a video showing the communications capabilities of the IAFF’s new E-18 Media production facilities.
