A Defining and Bittersweet Moment

As we enter this holiday season, it is hard for any of us to feel joyous knowing that the horrific tragedy of September 11 still casts a dark and painful shadow over 344 households and the firehouses of New York City. In spite of our loss and sense of emptiness, I wish every IAFF family a safe and peaceful holiday season. I ask that, as you gather together this year, you keep our New York families and fire fighters in your thoughts and prayers.

The last several weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions for all of us. Mayor Giuliani’s decision to scale back operations to recover our brothers from Ground Zero intensified our grief and anger – but also drew a strong, unified response from this International, our local unions and members in New York, and the families of our fallen. Together, we refused to back down, forcing the city to reverse its callous decision and restore proper fire fighter staffing at the site, so dignified recovery operations could continue.

The support of IAFF affiliates has been heartening for us all, whether raising funds for our grieving families or giving moral support to our difficult decision to postpone the New York memorial service. Your many efforts have shown the world the true meaning of the holiday season.

The International devoted extensive resources to the World Trade Center tragedy and we will continue to do whatever is necessary to ease the tremendous burden on our families, our New York members, and the officers of our two locals. It is our responsibility and duty.

It is also this International’s duty to advance our union’s agenda and handle the issues affecting you and our quarter-million members across our two nations – and we have done so. On Nov. 6, our great union made history. For the first time ever, our top legislative priority, national collective bargaining, was voted upon in the Congress. The events that led to this unprecedented vote paint a story of courage, commitment and, unfortunately, deceit.

This union has an unwavering commitment to provide collective bargaining rights to all professional fire fighters. Nothing will keep us from fighting – and winning – this battle. Just two days after the tragic events of Sept. 11, a key Senate committee passed our bargaining bill and the Senate leadership agreed to schedule a floor vote on the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) courageously led our charge, as he had promised me he would, offering our collective bargaining proposal as an amendment to a vital appropriations bill.

Sen. Daschle then took another historic step. Recognizing the vehement opposition of conservative Republican Senators, who threatened to filibuster and file an endless series of amendments to kill the proposal, the Leader filed a “cloture” petition, a procedural motion that requires a super majority of 60 votes for passage. The battle lines were clearly drawn for a vote on Nov. 6.

The Republican onslaught against our nation’s fire fighters began immediately. The Senate Republican Policy Committee, which speaks for the entire GOP Caucus, published an “informational” document on the bill.

Their epistle – “A Clear and Avoidable Danger. Daschle Amendment Could Lead to Firefighter, Police Strikes During a Terrorist Attack” – suggested that that the bill would lead to strikes, labor unrest and the destruction of the volunteer fire service. It concluded as follows: “A bad idea, at the worst possible time. To give public safety unions the power to hold the public captive is dangerous in times of peace. To do so while America is under attack-over the will of the people and to the detriment of volunteerism-could prove deadly.”

The party of Abraham Lincoln resorted to chicanery, distortions and flat out lies to intimidate its caucus and, unfortunately, its leadership strong-armed enough Republican moderates to vote against us. I am disgusted at the Republican leadership’s attempt to instill fear in the hearts of its caucus members. And I am not the only one. Brother Rich Banske, president of Calumet City, IL Local 621 and a lifelong Republican, sent me a letter he wrote after the vote to the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, blasting the group for scare mongering and questioning our patriotism. His letter is printed on page 11.

In the end, the Senate vote was 56-44, four votes shy of victory. The Senate action has only delayed, not ended, our efforts to pass collective bargaining. Brothers and sisters, I promise you that we will be back with a vengeance.

The Senate vote marked the first time in more than 10 years that a progressive labor initiative was voted upon in either the Senate or the House. A clear majority voted with the IAFF. In the wake Sept. 11, Congress shelved almost every major initiative, including campaign reform, health care and social security. Simply forcing a vote on collective bargaining was a victory of epic proportions. For five days, the business of the Senate stopped and awaited the outcome of our vote.

Meanwhile, across the nation, IAFF members engaged in our Union’s most extensive grassroots initiative ever. From District Vice Presidents to rank-and-file members, everyone answered the call. Congressional switchboards lit up. Staffers received a steady stream of emails and phone calls. I thank you for this impressive grassroots effort.

The vote on collective bargaining has allowed us to identify our friends and our enemies. Beyond lip service, and far beyond the public pronouncements on heroism and sacrifice, this vote was a line in the sand and a defining moment for our union.

Forty-eight of 50 Democrats, and Independent Jim Jeffords, stood with us. Only Robert Byrd (W.V.) and Ernest Hollings (S.C.) deserted our cause. On the other side of the aisle, a completely different picture emerged. Only seven courageous Republicans supported America’s fire fighters, ignored the trash-laden rhetoric of their leaders and voted for collective bargaining.

We owe our gratitude to principal sponsor Judd Gregg (N.H.), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (Maine), Peter Fitzgerald (Ill.), Mike DeWine (Ohio), Arlen Specter (Pa.), and Gordon Smith (Ore.). The rest of the Republican caucus turned its back on the IAFF and the tens of thousands of our members who have no right to sit down with their employers. I am both disgusted and angered by these Senators’ actions.

This historic vote must be your call to arms. The International and your state and local leadership can only go so far. To truly succeed, to win the tough battles - like collective bargaining - we need your ongoing, active support. The International needs your FIREPAC dollars. Only five percent of our members contribute to this vital program. The more money we have in our political coffers, the more successful we will be in Congress.

We also need your personal involvement. Ask yourself a couple of questions. Have I ever written my Senators or Representatives on an IAFF issue? Used IAFFonline to send an email? Called a Congressional office on a fire fighter issue? Participated in a rally or public meeting to show my support?

Each of you should be able to answer, “yes” to all of those questions. I assure you that if each of our 245,000 members did those four small tasks, our legislative program would be unstoppable.

I encourage you to join with us and help our Union build a foundation for success – and in our profession, success equates to lives saved.

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