Local Political Action Has National Pay-off

August 28, 2007 – When Palm Harbor/Oldsmar, FL Local 2980 endorsed Greg Rublee for Oldsmar City Council earlier this year, it was hopeful that he would support local issues important to fire fighters, but was unprepared for his efforts to convince other city council members to vote no on a Florida League of Cities resolution to lobby against the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (HR 980).

HR 980 – if passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by the president – would guarantee collective bargaining for fire fighters nationwide.

“When Rublee heard the resolution was on the agenda, he immediately asked us what our position was on the issue,” says Michael Kelzer, District Vice President for Local 2980. “Even though we already have collective bargaining in Florida, we explained to him how important the initiative was – on a national level – to public safety employees, including fire fighters.”

Rublee took what he learned to other council members. The council then voted in unanimous support of public safety employees and voted against the proposed Florida League of Cities resolution.

Unfortunately, Oldsmar was one of only two of the 412 Florida cities to vote against the resolution.

“We were discouraged that more cities did not follow Oldsmar’s example,” says Kelzer. “But Rublee’s unwavering support on this issue demonstrates how political action on the local level can positively impact fire fighter issues on the state and national levels.”