OPFFA Marks Achievement in Unity

November 18, 2009 – The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) is celebrating a historic milestone in unity after affiliation votes conducted by two IAFF affiliates.

In November, the 692-member Mississauga Professional Fire Fighters Association voted to re-affiliate with the OPFFA after a nine-year absence. The Mississauga vote followed a decision earlier this year by 80 members of the Pearson Airport Professional Fire Fighters Association, who voted to affiliate with the OPFFA for the first time.

The votes mean that the OPFFA represents all IAFF members and locals in Ontario for the first time since 1983, while bringing the OPFFA’s membership to nearly 11,000 members.
OPFFA President Fred LeBlanc welcomed the affiliations, which he says will help make the union stronger.

“Obviously it’s historic for the OPFFA, and the positives come from having all IAFF locals under one voice; solidarity is what makes us stronger. It will improve our ability to advocate effectively on behalf of all IAFF members in Ontario,” he says.

The OPFFA is conducted a special convention November 30 in Toronto in advance of its annual Legislative Conference to vote on a resolution for a six-month dues reduction, made possible by the sudden influx of a large number of new members.