IAFF Affiliates Defeat Anti-Labor Ballot Initiatives

November 5, 2008 – Election Day 2008 was an important day for IAFF members, and not only for the fire fighter-friendly candidates voted into office, but also for anti-union, anti-worker ballot measures that were defeated in Colorado and Arizona. An initiative in Colorado is still undecided.

In Colorado, the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters (CPFF) fought and defeated anti-union amendments 47 and 49. Amendment 54 is still yet to be decided.

"The clear wins regarding 47 and 49 were great victories for us,” says IAFF 9th District Vice President Randy Atkinson, president of CPFF. “Our fire fighters worked tirelessly to defeat these amendments."

Amendment 54 is still in play and may be decided in the courts.

Amendment 47 – or the “Colorado Right to work Amendment” – would have decreased fire fighters’ ability to collectively bargain with their employer. Amendment 49 would have eliminated the rights of labor organization members by preventing voluntary payroll deductions, such as union dues. Amendment 54, if approved, would prohibit any person or family member of anyone who works on a government contract from contributing to a candidate or advocating for an issue on any level.

Arizona fire fighters ran a successful campaign and defeated Proposition 105, an initiative that would have changed voting rules to require the majority of registered voters to approve state initiatives with a cost factor.

Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona (PFFA) President Tim Hill says the victory was the result of unity with other labor groups and a lot of hard work. “It was a valiant effort among the PFFA, the Arizona Education Association (AEA), Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AZHHA) and other labor groups,” states Hill.

“We also had a well-organized grassroots operation. Keeping on message was a major focus,” he adds.
 
Arizona fire fighters were concerned the measure could (1) be expanded to include referendums, making it difficult for ballot initiatives on the local level and (2) make it harder to pass important initiatives like pension protection.

In Oregon, Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC) successfully campaigned to defeat Measure 64, which would have limited fire fighters’ ability to work collectively and ban public employees from using payroll deductions to donate to any charity that engages in “political activity.”

OSFFC President Kelly Bach says, “I am very proud of all of the work the fire fighters did on this campaign. It was a very tight race.”