Congress enacts the Motor Vehicle Liability Bill – officially known as Public Law 87-258 – which protects fire fighters who have an accident while operating apparatus or any other government vehicle from being sued for damage to property or for personal injury, including death.
Treatment of Retirement Income
IAFF Secretary-Treasurer John C. Kabachus testifies before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in support of H.R. 6371, which would re-establish the type of equity written into the 1954 Internal Revenue Service code for the treatment of retirement income.
Prerogatives of Arbitration
The IAFF writes to U.S. Representative James A. Burke of Massachusetts, asking Congress to adopt federal legislation to grant fire fighters the same prerogatives of arbitration granted other groups in organized labor and by Canadian fire fighters. Burke responds that in all probability, there would be constitutional problems involving states’ rights in any such proposed legislation.
87th Congress
The IAFF summarizes the actions of the 87th Congress affecting fire fighters, including Social Security, income taxes, manpower development and training, and DC fire fighters’ hours reduction, among others.
New Canadian Civil Service Law
The Canadian Parliament enacts a new civil service law that requires the Minister of Finance and the Civil Service Commission to consult with representatives of employee organizations and associations in connection with salaries and other terms and conditions of employment.
Canadian Workmen’s Comp
Workmen’s Compensation laws are broadened in five provinces in Canada.
26th IAFF Convention
The IAFF holds its 26th Convention in San Antonio, Texas. President John F. Kennedy sends congratulatory letter to leaders and delegates.
Members Demand 40-Hour Week
Rank-and-file members continue to take a strong stand that a 40-hour workweek for fire fighters is long overdue. An IAFF survey of 1,000 cities in the United States and Canada reveals that shorter working hours are gained by 98 IAFF locals and that wages are up in many cities.
IAFF Salutes Boy Scouts
The IAFF congratulates the Boy Scouts of America on its 52nd anniversary and notes that during the past year, members have assisted 75,000 scouts in earning their fire fighter merit badges. Since 1911, 1,410,000 scouts have earned these badges through the cooperation of professional fire fighters.
“Fire Rescue” on NBC
NBC-TV airs “Fire Rescue,” a dramatic film of the actual operations of New York Rescue Company One as part of its “Du Pont Show of the Week.”
Baltimore Fire Fighters Killed
Two Baltimore, Maryland, fire fighters are killed and one seriously injured when a violent explosion sweeps through a building and flames block their escape. Ten other fire fighters were blown out on to the street by the blast.
NY Fire Fighters Killed
October 26, 1962
Six fire fighters are killed in Queens, New York, while engaged in firefighting. Five others are injured seriously enough to require hospitalization. The cause of the fire was blamed on the carelessness of a worker who had been dismantling machinery with an acetylene torch.
Tax Increase Approved
Delegates to the 26th IAFF Convention approve an increase of 10 cents per month in per capita tax, effective September 1963. One benefit of this increase is that the International Fire Fighter will be mailed to every IAFF member’s home beginning in late 1963.
National Fire Academy
Discussions begin on the establishment of a permanent National Fire Academy, similar to the FBI Academy.
State vs. Local Income Tax
IAFF Research Director Rudolph A. Oswald argues that treasuries are helped by shared taxes and contends that is more practical for a state to levy a state income tax and share it with communities than for localities to attempt to raise revenue through municipal income taxes.
IAFF Explores Retiree Housing Program
The IAFF begins research on the feasibility of establishing a housing program geared to retired professional fire fighters, similar to the retirement housing development under construction by the National Association of Letter Carriers. The IAFF asks members how they feel about a housing program from both a personal and organizational point of view. The National Association of Letter Carriers’ community facilities include a 500-seat auditorium building, food market, drug store, barber and beauty shops, shoe repair and dry-cleaning facilities, laundry, library, infirmary, chapel and post office. Recreational facilities include hobby rooms, croquet courts, tables for cards, chess and bingo, shuffleboards, swimming pool and a sailing marina. The monthly rentals range from $69.50 for an efficiency to $84.50 for a two-bedroom unit.
Death Toll from Chicago Fire Rises to Nine
In Chicago, Illinois, the death toll increases from eight to nine fire fighters who are killed while battling a blaze and buried under a collapsed wall (see 1961).