Federated Fire Fighters of Wyoming President Receives High Honor

September 26, 2012 – Federated Fire Fighters of Wyoming (FFFW) President and member of Cheyenne Local 279 Joe Fender was awarded the 2012 Wyoming State AFL-CIO Labor Leader of the Year Award during the annual Wyoming State AFL-CIO Convention.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by the state AFL-CIO in this manner,” says Fender. “The award was a great surprise and I am truly humbled.” Among the other Local 279 members to receive the award is former IAFF 9th District Vice President Keith Henning.

FFFW President Fender and other FFFW officers and members have worked tirelessly to protect collective bargaining and pensions in recent months. However, Fender has a long history of service to the labor movement.

Since becoming a member of Local 279 in 2000, he has either served on its Executive Board or as president of the FFFW. As a labor leader, Fender has advocated for fire fighter safety and staffing and protected health benefits, pension benefits and collective bargaining rights for Wyoming fire fighters.

Fender is currently running for Wyoming state House of Representatives.