President Barack Obama, with General President Harold Schaitberger in attendance, outlines an aggressive plan to provide more than $1 billion to hire and keep fire fighters on the frontlines, while giving preference to jurisdictions for hiring veterans after returning from their tours of duty abroad.
President Barack Obama signs a bill that transfers 10 megahertz of broadband spectrum – or D block – to be used solely by first responders in emergencies.
The IAFF testifies before the federal Standing Committee on Health in Ottawa in support of priority influenza vaccinations for fire fighters and medical first responders. Meanwhile, the IAFF launches a new infectious disease online resource to provide information on occupational infectious diseases that can affect the health and safety of IAFF members and their families.
More than 2,300 delegates, alternates and guests attend the IAFF 51st Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The theme is “Fighting Back for a Stronger Union.” General President Harold Schaitberger and General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Miller are re-elected by acclamation.
The IAFF endorses President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for re-election. The president and vice president take the IAFF 51st Convention as an opportunity to thank the IAFF and its members for their support and promise to continue to champion labor issues.
The IAFF achieves an 87 percent winning percentage in gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and U.S. House races.
The IAFF launches a fire prevention and safety project designed to increase awareness and encourage active fire service involvement in developing and passing new building and fire codes, as well as promoting enforcement.
The IAFF introduces a four-day IAFF Fire Ground Survival Train-the-Trainer program featuring comprehensive, well-researched survival curricula developed to make the fire ground safer.
The IAFF supports Firefighters Coats for Kids, a branded program in collaboration with Operation Warm designed specifically for the IAFF and its members. The program provides brand-new, made-in-the-USA winter coats to needy children and their families.
IAFF members raise $28.6 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the Labor Day Telethon.
Two Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fire fighters die in the line of duty while fighting a vacant warehouse fire. Four men were inside the furniture store when part of the warehouse collapsed, trapping the fire fighters inside. Fellow fire fighters were able to rescue two of the men, but could not reach the other two in time.
The IAFF continues to implement its “Fighting Back Campaign,” helping affiliates in the U.S. and Canada remain on the frontlines, unwavering in their determination to beat back politically motivated assaults.
The IAFF succeeds in easing normal retirement age regulations with the Internal Revenue Service, a significant victory for the IAFF, capping a five-year campaign to protect fire fighter plans. The proposed regulations would have created significant problems for many public-sector pension plans. Under the original regulations, public sector pension plans would not have been allowed to define retirement based on years of service or a combination of age and years of service.
IAFF members respond in force to Super Storm Sandy. The IAFF establishes Disaster Relief operations and processes more than 800 disaster relief checks for members in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The IAFF sends members new membership cards that include a bar code to make it easier to pull up members’ information and respond to requests.
Proponents of a nationwide broadband network for public safety have long touted its establishment as a means to achieve nationwide operability. The IAFF expresses concerns to congressional and other administration officials that the costs to use the network, as well as costs to equip and train first responders, could be prohibitive for many fire departments.
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.
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.
Thomas H. Miller (2010-2016)Following the retirement of General Secretary-Treasurer Vincent Bollon, then-8th District Vice President Thomas H. Miller was elected by the IAFF Executive Board to serve out the remainder of Bollon’s term. He was re-elected at the 2012 Convention.
After serving in the military, Miller followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the Indianapolis Fire Department and quickly became involved with Indianapolis Local 416. He served as trustee and vice president before being elected president of the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana (PFFUI) in 1978.
In 2000, Miller was elected 8th District Vice President, a position he kept until he was elected General Secretary-Treasurer in 2010. As secretary-treasurer, Miller oversaw efforts to find revenue sources outside union dues. During his tenure, non per capita revenue went from $2.4 million to $19 million.