Resolution No. 7 – The Expanding Role and Increased Responsibilities of District Vice Presidents Deserve to be Reflected with a Pay Increase

Resolution No. 7
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Constitution & By-Laws
Re: The Expanding Role and Increased Responsibilities of District Vice Presidents Deserves to be Reflected with a Pay Increase – Adopted

1	WHEREAS, since the founding of our great
2	International Union in 1918, the District Vice
3	Presidents have provided leadership in establishing
4	the policies, the mission and priorities of the IAFF;
5	and
6	Whereas, for many years, the role of the
7	District Vice Presidents was exclusively to function
8	as the governing board of the IAFF, meeting four
9	times a year to provide strategic vision for the
10	organization, in the same fashion as a corporate
11	board of directors; and
12	Whereas, this policy role was universally
13	recognized by IAFF affiliates and rank and file
14	members; and
15	Whereas, for many years most IAFF District
16	Vice Presidents served as active members of their
17	fire departments and/or officers of their respective
18	local unions or state/provincial associations in
19	addition to their function as a District Vice President
20	of the IAFF; and
21	Whereas, IAFF District Vice Presidents served
22	without any annual compensation, only receiving a
23	daily per diem when they attended meetings, and
24	without receiving any health care or pension benefits;
25	and
26	Whereas, as the IAFF grew in membership and
27	stature, IAFF affiliates and members demanded
28	greater service and assistance from the IAFF; and
29	Whereas, as a result of the growing demand,
30	the role of District Vice Presidents evolved from
31	being a part-time policy position to dramatically
32	expanding and morphing into being both a traditional
33	board member and a full-service-field operative to
34	the point where the position has become a full-time
35	responsibility; and
36	Whereas, the IAFF is the only major union
37	without a full-time organizing department with our
38	District Vice Presidents serving as the de facto
39	organizers for our union, and under this cost effective
40	model, the IAFF has grown steadily in membership
41	each and every year while other unions’
42	memberships have continued to decline; and
43	Whereas, District Vice Presidents serve as the
44	initial point of contact for all affiliates in their
45	respective districts for advice, counsel and to access
46	IAFF resources; and
47	Whereas, District Vice Presidents provide
48	direct servicing to our locals and supervise both the
49	District Field Service Representatives and Service
50	Representatives to provide additional services to
51	affiliates; and
52	Whereas, the District Vice Presidents provide
53	in-district education to their affiliates through the
54	delivery of IAFF educational modules at caucuses,
55	state conventions, meetings and educational
56	seminars; and
57	Whereas, District Vice Presidents serve as the
58	point of contact and advocate for Emergency Dispute
59	Funds, Guardian Policy coverage, Frontline
60	protection and PROP loans for their affiliates; and
61	Whereas, delegates at various conventions
62	have recognized the important and expanding role
63	and responsibilities of District Vice Presidents; and
64	Whereas, delegates at the 1968 Convention
65	determined that because of the service-related aspects
66	of the District Vice Presidents’ positions that they
67	should be elected by affiliates within their district
68	instead of at-large; and
69	Whereas, delegates at the 1986 Convention
70	deemed that because of the demands and scope of the
71	position that District Vice Presidents should be
72	provided with a $30,000 annual salary; and
73	Whereas, delegates at the 1992 Convention
74	determined that as the position expanded within the
75	International the District Vice Presidents shall be
76	afforded a pension benefit; and
77	Whereas, delegates at the 2002 Convention
78	recognized that in order to better concentrate on their
79	expanding duties and to conform with the terms of
80	office for the Principal Officers that the term of
81	District Vice Presidents shall be increased to four
82	years; and
83	WHEREAS, it wasn’t until 2004 that the District
84	Vice Presidents were finally provided health
85	insurance coverage through the IAFF; and
86	Whereas, IAFF District Vice Presidents
87	currently are paid far less than their counterparts in
88	comparable unions; and
89	Whereas, most IAFF bargaining union
90	employees covered under the collective bargaining
91	agreement with OPEIU Local 2 earn more than our
92	District Vice Presidents; and
93	Whereas, the only salary increase since 2000,
94	was by Convention action in 2006 which increased
95	the salary by $10,000 along with periodic COLA
96	adjustments allowed by the provisions in the
97	Constitution. Currently District Vice Presidents
98	receive a salary of $79,000, they do not receive any
99	per diem other than the $80 travel expense allowance
100	they receive for work done outside their home
101	domicile and $100 per week home
102	office/administrative allowance which is consistent
103	with IAFF policy; and
104	Whereas, our District Vice Presidents have
105	earned and are entitled to compensation
106	commensurate with their duties, responsibilities and
107	roles within this IAFF; therefore be it
108	Resolved, That effective October 1, 2014 the
109	District Vice Presidents’ annual salary will be
110	increased by $13,333 at a cost of 9 cents per capita;
111	and be it further
112	Resolved, That effective October 1, 2015 the
113	District Vice Presidents’ annual salary will be
114	increased by an additional $13,333 at an additional
115	cost of 9 cents per capita; and be it further
116	Resolved, That effective October 1, 2016 the
117	District Vice Presidents’ annual salary will be
118	increased by an additional and final $13,333 at a cost
119	of an additional 9 cents per capita.

Submitted by: General President, Delegate At-Large
General Secretary-Treasurer, Delegate At-Large
Cost Estimate: 9 cents on October 1, 2014; an additional 9 cents on October 1, 2015; an additional and final 9 cents on October 1, 2016

Resolution No. 7 – The Expanding Role and Increased Responsibilities of District Vice Presidents Deserve to be Reflected with a Pay Increase

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