1969-1978

The IAFF contends that U.S. President Richard M. Nixon may be the strongest single unifying force for American labor in years.

The IAFF joins the Coalition of Public Employee Organizations to form an action program with an emphasis on legislation, legal problems and increased political involvement during the national election year.

The IAFF holds it 31st Convention in Los Angeles, California. IAFF Secretary-Treasurer Al Albertoni  decides not to run for a fifth term of office. Albertoni promised his wife and family at the IAFF Convention in Toronto in August 1968 that he would stand for re-election one more time and then relinquish this office for a less complex life in retirement. Frank Palumbo  is elected IAFF secretary-treasurer. Delegates debate a record 189 resolutions.

List of All IAFF Conventions →

U.S. President Richard M. Nixon names IAFF Secretary-Treasurer Al Albertoni as one of five new members to the Board of Vocational Education. He is the only representative of organized labor on the nine-member Board.

U.S. President Richard M. Nixon signs the Hazardous Duty Retirement Bill , PL 92-382, for federal fire fighters into law.

The IAFF petitions the Pay Board and the State and Local Government Committee of the Cost of Living Council for justice and fair pay for fire fighters.

The Department of Labor’s Public Employment Program agrees to major policy changes requested by the IAFF related to overtime pay, including deletion of the 10 percent limitation on recalls in the revised Public Employment Program (PEP) Handbook and allowing Program Agents to reduce hours to a reasonable minimum of 40 hours per week since fire fighters generally worked more hours than other public employees. Hours worked over and above 40 hours per week may be considered overtime, even if they are not compensated as such, since the normal work week in public service is 40 hours.

A new television series, “Emergency,” premieres. The show is set against background operations of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s innovative paramedic rescue squads.

History of Fire-Based EMS →

June 17, 1972

Nine Boston, Massachusetts, fire fighters die June 17 as a wall collapses without warning during a seven-story hotel fire, burying the men in a mountain of rubble. Eight other fire fighters were injured, one seriously. The cause of the blaze and building collapse were undetermined.

IAFF members raise more than $100,000 for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

MDA and the IAFF →

Two Little Rock, Arkansas, fire fighters die battling a fire in a three-story apartment building when a wall collapsed, and seven others were injured. The fallen men were on the right side of the fire truck when the interior floor collapsed, causing the wall to explode outward, hurling debris across the street. The $65,000 aerial truck was crushed by the weight of the wall.

Cooperation and coordination between the IAFF and the U.S. Department of Labor leads to the development and adoption of the National Apprenticeship and Training Standards for fire fighters.

Federal workers in the United States lag far behind their Canadian counterparts when it comes to collective bargaining rights.

September 11, 1972

The IAFF moves to its new headquarters at 1750 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

December 25, 1972

Three New Orleans, Louisiana, fire fighters are killed battling a Christmas Day blaze when an old brick wall and a wrought iron balcony collapsed with more than one dozen New Orleans fire fighters on it, killing three and injuring 14. A backdraft from the rear and an explosion of accumulated gas caused the wall to fall forward. Four of the seven abandoned buildings in the block were burned out and in the process of being demolished when the fire began.

The U.S. Department of Labor rules that fire service captains must become part of collective bargaining units as they are not supervisors.

The IAFF makes a new 10-carat gold ring available to members for $56.