Fire fighters serve increasingly diverse communities. Yet their departments do not always represent the communities they serve. Whether it needs to hire more women or minorities, fire departments can take a proactive approach toward targeting specific groups during the recruitment phase of hiring. Learn more about recruiting diverse first responders and retaining them once they’re on the job.

Affiliate leaders can gain more support for human relations initiatives by educating their members about the IAFF’s human relations efforts. This PowerPoint presentation is available as an educational tool for locals that want to raise awareness among their members, management, community and other interested parties.

The IAFF Human Relations Manual is designed to provide locals with IAFF policies regarding human relations matters and guidelines to assist them in making informed decisions on matters pertaining to diversity, discrimination and harassment. Locals will find guidance on tools and resources the IAFF offers to locals, as well as the appropriate steps for requesting IAFF assistance.

In principle and in practice, the IAFF stands unequivocally opposed to discrimination and harassment in all of its forms. This commitment is explicitly stated in the IAFF’s Constitution and By-Laws.

At the local level, local human relations committees help to build union solidarity and increase participation by all members. They also work with individuals to help manage human relations issues at the local or departmental level – before they become grievances or litigations This document provides guidelines for establishing a human relations committee within an IAFF local. Learn about the benefits of having a local human relations committee as well as the methods and procedures recommended by the IAFF for creating a successful and effective committee.

Knowledge goes a long way in preventing unintended sexual harassment in the workplace. Affiliate leaders can learn how to help their members understand the behaviors and actions that lead to claims of sexual harassment. For those feel harassed, affiliate leaders can show their support and commitment to a harassment-free work environment by guiding the individual through the steps for addressing harassment.

Fire fighters serve increasingly diverse communities. Yet their departments do not always reflect the communities they serve. Whether it needs to hire more women or minorities, fire departments can take a proactive approach to reaching specific groups during the recruitment phase of hiring. Learn more about recruiting diverse first responders and retaining them once they’re on the job.

The dangers of fire fighting affect both women and men. While the dangers may seem more pronounced for pregnant fire fighters engaged in suppression tasks, regular exposure to chemical agents and non-chemical hazards affect all fire fighters of reproductive age. Learn more about the research that has been conducted and contract language that may help locals frame their own policies.

The IAFF takes charges of discrimination and harassment seriously. When a human relations complaint cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties at the local level, the IAFF can provide technical assistance to members and locals for reaching an appropriate resolution as quickly as possible.