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

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/16/this-miracle-brought-to-you-by-americas-unions/