Political Action in Local Elections Pays Off in British Columbia

IAFF Local 905 in Nanaimo was one of several British Columbia locals that were politically active in municipal elections held across the province Nov. 15.

December 3, 2008 --  IAFF locals across British Columbia are poised to reap the rewards of vastly improved relations with their city councils in the wake of extremely successful local political action campaigns conducted in conjunction with municipal elections held across the province November 15.

In cities large and small, British Columbia fire fighters helped elect fire-friendly mayors and councillors in record numbers -- mayors and councillors who have a fresh education on fire fighter issues and who have in many cases made important commitments to IAFF affiliates on fire protection and other local matters.

The success is being credited to the strategic use of FIREPAC Canada funds and the IAFF’s tried-and-true brand of political action: identifying candidates who are prepared to support fire fighter issues and working hard to help get them elected.

Vancouver, the province’s largest city, pulled out all the stops in its support of a labour-friendly slate of candidates, which included a labour-friendly mayor and 10 council candidates. Candidates were interviewed thoroughly about their views on local fire fighter issues, and once the endorsements were selected, Vancouver Local 18 announced its picks to the public with billboards in prominent locations around the city.

The result of the local’s political action was an astounding 10 of 11 endorsements elected, including mayoral pick Gregor Robertson. Vancouver Local 18 President Rod MacDonald is ecstatic about the results and excited about the advent of a new era of open doors at city hall. “This is a major, major turnaround for us,” he says. “It was an emotional night.”

Under the previous city government, Vancouver fire fighters were too often stonewalled by city administration -- the minority of fire-friendly members of council too small to turn the tide. Now, virtually all council members’ doors will be open to fire fighters, MacDonald says, emphasizing that the union followed the IAFF’s nonpartisan philosophy and backed candidates from three different factions.

MacDonald notes that the commitments council candidates made during the endorsement process have been recorded, and will be followed up on during their terms in office.

In Penticton, a city that responds with just two fire fighters in each of two fire stations, Penticton Local 1399 had been fighting for years with a city council that refused to address public safety shortfalls despite numerous consultants’ studies showing the need for increased fire department resources.

This time, with assistance from the IAFF Canadian Office, Local 1399 conducted a prominent political action campaign and successfully made public safety a top election issue.

As a direct result, the local is now confident that the mayor and all eight councillors elected November 15 understand the importance of responding with four fire fighters from each firehall and are committed to moving forward on fire protection.

“It was very hard work, but it certainly paid off,” says Local 1399 President Mike Richards, adding that the political action campaign “really brought our membership together.”

Richards added that the local’s public relations campaign also had a positive impact on the local business community, which has a new understanding of fire protection as a key element of public safety.

In Powell River, Local 1298 used FIREPAC Canada funds in support of a successful council election bid for a former local member, Maggie Hathaway. “Our local was with her every step of the way, either by pounding signs, attending all-candidates meetings or wearing our ‘Elect Maggie Hathaway’ shirts,” says Local 1298 President Terry Peters.

“Maggie ran a ‘community proud’ agenda and openly expressed that she would fight to increase our local’s staffing,” Peters says. “She knows the heartache we have gone through over the years.” Hathaway also serves as a constituency assistant to a New Democratic Party member of the provincial legislature, giving the local extra value for its efforts.

Nanaimo Local 905 saw six of the seven candidates it endorsed elected to council. While a former local president who was among the council candidates it endorsed fell just a couple of hundred votes shy, Local 905 President Mike Rispin reports that he is comfortable overall with the new council. The local’s mayoralty pick was also unsuccessful, but the local has a good rapport with the new mayor-elect due to previous political action initiatives. “The election was a good success for Local 905,” Rispin says.

Surrey Local 1271 scored a perfect nine out of nine elected endorsed candidates, while Vernon Local 1517 helped elect seven out of nine fire fighter-friendly candidates to its city council. These two locals had achieved landmark collective agreements earlier this year through political action at the local level. Langley Township Local 4550, one of Canada’s newest IAFF locals, elected eight of nine endorsements.