From the humble beginnings of the IAFF in 1918, political action has been a key element of our union’s strategy to protect and enhance the lives and livelihood of generations of fire fighters and emergency personnel.

Today, the IAFF has the 33rd largest federal political action committee in the United States and a thriving PAC in Canada. The IAFF and our state, provincial and local affiliates practice grassroots political action every day at every level of government.

Elected officials, from the President of the United States to members of Congress to local city council and county commission members, understand – and respect – the power of a coveted IAFF endorsement, as well as the financial and hands-on political support that comes with it.

Those politicians who unwisely challenge our union’s efforts to protect your health, your safety and your jobs often rue the day; while those who work with our affiliates on your behalf enjoy strong – and often crucial – support for their candidacies.

Just as critical to our union’s effectiveness and success is communication between our union, our affiliates, and you.

There are many ways that the International communicates with our affiliates, and the flow of information is constant from the IAFF to its affiliates and on to you and your 260,000 brothers and sisters.

The most direct links from the International to you are through our newspaper and, more recently, our web site.

The International Fire Fighter has been the official publication of the IAFF for 85 years. While its look and content have changed over the years, its role as the professional journal for IAFF members has remained steadfast throughout our union’s rich history.

A look back through the decades of past issues of our publication provides an inspiring perspective on the history and accomplishments of our union and the struggles faced by IAFF members throughout the 20th Century.

You hold in your hands the inaugural edition of the new International Fire Fighter. It is the first four-color magazine edition of our publication in more than 25 years.

This transformation is more than cosmetic. With the growing use of the IAFFonline web site ( www.iaff.org ) by IAFF members and others as the source of breaking news and information, I believe our journal has the opportunity to focus more in-depth on how this union is serving your needs, and on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The sections in our new magazine parallel the sections of our award-winning web site. They reflect the different areas of support and assistance that the International provides to our affiliates.

Stay Safe brings you news and information meant to protect you on and off the job. Secure Your Job goes to the heart of our work as a union – keeping you employed and properly compensated. Across the IAFF portrays those activities and interests that unite professional fire fighters in both our countries. The list goes on.

A union’s power is drawn from the commitment of its members. The IAFF can only be as effective as the sum of all its parts. It is your dedication to our mission and our goals that makes us strong.

A constant flow of information to and from affiliates and to and from you is vital to our ability to respond rapidly to problems, issues and opportunities – whether it is amassing thousands of IAFF members to help pass NFPA 1710, issuing a call to action for IAFF members to reach out to their members of Congress and Parliament, or announcing a solemn gathering to honor our fallen.

I invite you to explore this first issue of the new International Fire Fighter, and I encourage you to send me your opinions and your ideas about how we can best use it in conjunction with the IAFF web site to inform and educate you about the issues that affect you as a fire fighter and as a union member.

Click Here to Read President Schaitberger's Past Messages