Happy 91st Anniversary, IAFF

February 28, 2009 – It was 91 years ago today that 36 delegates from 24 professional fire fighter unions affiliated with the American Federal of Labor (AFL) came together in Washington, DC to form the International Association of Fire Fighters.

In 1918, many fire fighters were working as many as 84 hours a week for less than 30 cents per hour. There was virtually no safety gear, presumptive benefits, pensions or line-of-duty death benefits for families.

With the official formation of the IAFF, fire fighters could use their strength in numbers to fight for better wages, improved safety and greater service for their communities. In the years since, the union has been the driving force behind the development of standards for safe fire ground operations and important health and safety laws that keep fire fighters safe on the job.

READ ENTIRE POST:  http://www.iaff.org/09News/022809Anniversary.htm

President-elect Obama Says 'Don't Cut Fire Fighters'

January 12, 2009 -- In a speech from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, on January 8, President-elect Barack Obama called on Congress to act quickly on his economic package which focuses on investing in priorities like energy and education, health care and a new infrastructure.

"...[T]he overwhelming majority of the jobs created will be in the private sector, while our plan will save the public sector jobs of teachers, police officers, fire fighters, and others who provide vital services," he said.

Click here to read the transcript of his remarks.


 

WE SHALL

NEVER

FORGET 9/11

343

 http://www.firehouse.com/hotshots/slideshow/2001/worldtradeattack/index.html