Schaitberger Launches IAFF Political Agenda at Legislative Conference

March 15, 2010 – IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger welcomed hundreds of delegates to the 2010 Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference at the Hilton Washington Hotel in Washington, DC. Despite the current rocky political climate, Schaitberger said the IAFF and it members must and will remain dedicated to issues important to fire fighters -- especially collective bargaining, understaffing, re-authorization of the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grant program, expansion of the Urban Search and Rescue Teams response system, continued funding for 9/11 responders medical monitoring and treatment programs and federal fire fighter pension reform.

Schaitberger also paid tribute to retired General Secretary-Treasurer Vincent J. Bollon’s years of dedicated service to the IAFF and its members. Additionally, he congratulated new General Secretary-Treasurer Tommy Miller and IAFF 8th District Vice President Paul Hufnagel on their recent elections.

Turning to the business at hand, Schaitberger emphasized the importance of the week. “I so strongly believe that our political and legislative work at all levels of government is vital to the lives and livelihoods of every one of you and every one of our almost 300,000 members.”

However, Schaitberger acknowledged that the work will be an uphill battle, even after the 2008 election saw many fire fighter supporters elected or re-elected to office. “With so many positive political signs more than a year ago, with so many friends in power, I would never have predicted that we would still be waiting for collective bargaining, our signature proposal,” he said.

The General President also expressed his frustration with the ongoing health care debate and how the IAFF has had to fight against a proposed excise tax which would tax IAFF member health care plans.

“We’re not going to reform health care on the backs of our members who fought for their plans over the last several decades,” said Schaitberger. “And we are not about to allow anyone to place the cost of health care reform at the feet of the hard-working men and women of this union.”

While Schaitberger had harsh words for some, he praised some congressional leaders, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and George Miller (D-CA), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Harkin (D-IA).

The General President also acknowledged Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for improving worker safety, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for helping make positive changes to the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbit for revising Airport Response Fire Fighting (ARFF) standards, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for addressing important wildand fire issues and Homeland Security Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for keeping the IAFF’s hazardous materials training program fully resourced and for continuing to support line-of-duty death investigations.

But, Schaitberger cautioned, the IAFF and its members must stay focused regarding important issues, including collective bargaining.

“We aren’t going anywhere, except to Capitol Hill, where we will keep on working, where we will keep on fighting, every day,” said Schaitberger. “Let’s get to work, let’s get the job done for those on the frontlines and for the men and women of this great union.”

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