President George W. Bush signs the Hometown Heroes Act into law, expanding the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) to cover victims of heart attacks and strokes. The IAFF is the only fire service organization present when Bush signs the measure into law in the White House.
General President Harold Schaitberger campaigns for U.S. presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry , in Iowa, urging fire fighters to vote in the caucuses.
The U.S. Department of Labor issues revisions to Section 541 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The new regulations protect overtime for fire fighters. This is the first major overhaul of FLSA in nearly 50 years.
Two Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, fire fighters die in the line of duty battling a church fire when the roof and the floor collapse simultaneously.
The collective bargaining rights of Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees, including approximately 3,200 IAFF members, remain secure in 2004. The DoD delays the implementation of the new personnel system until 2005, when it intends to eliminate the collective bargaining rights of all DoD civilian employees.
President George W. Bush announces his plan to cut homeland security funding in 2005 by $700 million, and an additional $250 million in 2006. He also announces that he will cut FIRE Act funding by 33 percent, and opposes any federal dollars for the SAFER Act. The IAFF works to prevent these cuts.
In the closing days of the 108th Congress, the IAFF wins two important legislative victories: funding for the new SAFER program and amendments to the FIRE Act to increase the size of grants for larger fire departments. Congress votes in favor of the SAFER Act, authorizing nearly $8 billon to hire 75,000 new fire fighters over a seven-year period.
The IAFF 47th Convention is held in Boston, Massachusetts and is the largest in the union’s history with 2,645 delegates, alternates and guests in attendance. Senator John Kerry, a 2004 presidential candidate, speaks to delegates about his long-term commitment to professional fire fighters. General President Harold Schaitberger and General Secretary-Treasurer Vincent Bollon are unanimously re-elected for another term.
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The IAFF raises concerns about the “3/30 Rule” released by the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM), contending that certified chemical protective equipment must be available to all first responders whether or not they expect to encounter dangerous materials.
The IAFF offers members baseball caps showing support for Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign for a $20 contribution to FIREPAC.
The IAFF initiates Project HEROES – Homeland Emergency Response Operational and Equipment Systems – in partnership with the IAFC, NIOSH and other groups. The team is pursuing a two-track development involving the selection of ensemble materials for the garments, gloves, footwear and hood, combined with the design of ensemble element interfaces, to afford protection consistent with both NFPA 1971 (structural firefighting protection) and NFPA 1994 (chemical/ biological protection).
Mattie J.T. Stepanek, 2004 MDA National Goodwill Ambassador, dies at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, after a lifelong struggle with mitochondrial myopathy, a form of muscular dystrophy.
The year 2004 marks a 50-year partnership between the IAFF and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Since 1954, the IAFF has raised nearly $220 million for MDA. In 2004 alone, affiliates raise $20.3 million.
The IAFF has more than 2,900 affiliates representing 265,000 fire fighters and emergency medical personnel in more than 5,500 cities, towns, counties and communities in every state in the United States and across Canada.
The FIREPAC Check-Off Program begins in Canada with Whitby, ON Local 2036 being the first in the nation to allow for political contributions to be made via payroll deductions.
More than 8,600 fire departments have received in excess of $695 million in FIRE Act grants since June 2003.
The IAFF conducts a healthcare benefits survey that recognizes the unique differences between the Canadian and U.S. health care systems and medical benefit provisions.
General President Harold Schaitberger is named one of the top 10 nonprofit lobbyists on Capitol Hill in a special report, Kings of the Hill.
Samuel A. Fink (1919-1919)Samuel A. Fink took office in May 1919 and served through September of that year. He spent his entire fire service career in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and with Pittsburgh Local 1. When the IAFF was organized in 1918, Fink was elected 1st Vice President. One year later, as president, Fink focused on growing the membership, organizing 96 new locals. Fink resigned during the latter part of 1919 due to family obligations.
William D. Buck (1957-1968)William D. Buck was first elected secretary-treasurer by delegates at the 23rd IAFF Convention in Montreal, Canada. Less than a year later, he was elected by the IAFF Executive Board to serve as acting president after the untimely death of President John P. Redmond. As president, he set increasing membership as a priority, successfully growing the ranks by 50 percent to 115,370. He retired from his position as president in 1968 after celebrating the IAFF’s 50th anniversary.
Buck began his career as a fire fighter with the St. Louis Fire Department in 1930 and soon became an active member of Local 73. He served as a vice president for the local and was also a member of several committees.
Buck was elected 2nd District Vice President in 1940. During his tenure, he was credited with forming three state affiliates, including the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada and the Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters.
William D. Buck (1956-1957)William D. Buck was first elected secretary-treasurer by delegates at the 23rd IAFF Convention in Montreal, Canada.
Buck began his career as a fire fighter with the St. Louis Fire Department in 1930 and soon became an active member of Local 73. He served as a vice president for the local and was also a member of several committees.
Buck was elected 2nd District Vice President in 1940. During his tenure, he was credited with forming three state affiliates, including the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada and the Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters.
All members from the youngest age to the oldest are taken regardless of occupation, nationality or locality, without a medical examination. New members under 50 years of age will be automatically added upon notice without a medical examination after the original group closes March 15, 1921. No member over 50 will then be accepted for insurance.
The IAFF played a vital role in Kerry’s ascent to the Democratic Party’s nomination – from the grassroots activities of members and strategic role in promoting the “Fire Fighters for Kerry” effort – and in ultimately securing labor’s support and endorsement. John Kerry embraced the issues of professional fire fighters throughout his career. On issues that impact working families, he had a 91 percent lifetime labor voting record. Kerry was the only candidate from either party to have ever used fire fighters and their issues as a major component of his campaign and platform.
Harold A. Schaitberger (2000-present)General President Harold Schaitberger was elected by acclamation in 2000. Under his leadership, he has ensured that the IAFF is at the forefront in addressing health issues in the fire service, including cancer and behavioral health, devoting resources to preventing and treating cancer, as well as push for presumptive protections. He has also led efforts to help members struggling with post-traumatic stress and other behavioral health issues, including opening the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery.
The IAFF’s political influence has increased considerably since Schaitberger was elected. The IAFF’s political action committee – FIREPAC – has grown by more than 600, raising and contributing more than $16 million to federal candidates and their campaigns.
One of the greatest challenges to face the union came soon after Schaitberger took the helm – the September 11 terrorist attacks. The IAFF committed its full resources to help members and the families of the fallen, including raising and distributing more than $160 million for the families of the 343 FDNY fire fighters killed in the line of duty and worked tirelessly in the efforts to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act establishing the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund to provide health monitoring, treatment and compensation for 9/11 responders and survivors in all 50 states.
In his first term, he formed the IAFF Financial Corporation (IAFF-FC) to provide financial services and quality insurance programs at a minimal cost to IAFF members.
Schaitberger began his career as a professional fire fighter in Fairfax County, Virginia. He quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant, organized and served as president of Fairfax County Local 2068 and was elected president of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters – all before he had seven years on the job. Before being elected General President, he headed the IAFF’s political and legislative operation for nearly 25 years.
Vincent J. Bollon (1988-2009)Vincent J. Bollon was elected General Secretary-Treasurer in 1988.
Bollon joined the Fire Department of New York in 1959 after serving in the military and immediately became a member of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) of Greater New York Local 94, where he served as company delegate and secretary-treasurer before he was promoted to lieutenant and became a member of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Local 854. There, he served as a lieutenant representative before being elected president.
Bollon served alongside General President Al Whitehead and General President Harold Schaitberger.
He retired in 2009 due to a lengthy illness and died in March 2011. In his honor, the Affiliate Leadership Training Summit was renamed the Vincent J. Bollon Affiliate Leadership Training Summit by IAFF Convention Resolution in 2012.