The 1st District Caucus and Partnership Education Program (PEP) training event is scheduled for June 29-30, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. This training event and the District Caucus will bring in local leadership from New Jersey and New York.

COVID-19
Please see our COVID-19 Guidance for more information on attending this in-person event. Our members health and safety is our number-one priority. We continue to monitor COVID-19 risks and are in constant communication with the 1st District leadership team to prepare for an in-person event this event.

The IAFF mobile app has everything you need to guide you through this training event, including the agenda, workshop times and rooms and online evaluations. Download the IAFF mobile app.


COVID-19 Guidance


Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance on Facemask Usage:

  • Class organizers can ask if attendees are vaccinated but cannot ask for proof or vaccine cards.
    • If attendees or instructors are vaccinated:
      • You do not have to wear a facemask for the event. As we navigate this new normal, vaccinated individuals may continue to wear a facemask if more comfortable wearing one around others.
    • If attendees or instructors are NOT vaccinated:
      • These individuals, based on CDC guidance, must continue to wear a facemask and social distance for the duration of the event.
      • Signage in event areas will reflect what unvaccinated attendees should do, including facemask usage, social distancing, handwashing/sanitizing and daily monitoring for COVID-19 signs and symptoms. 

U.S. Domestic Travel Guidance:

  • Fully Vaccinated:
    • During travel: Follow all travel recommendations, including wearing a facemask while traveling and self-monitoring for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
    • Post travel: You do not need to be tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months.
  • Not Fully Vaccinated:
    • During travel: Wear a facemask, social distance and practice preventive measures.
    • Post travel: Get tested with a RT-PCR test three to five days after travel and stay home/self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel.
      • If you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full seven days. If you do not get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

International Travel Guidance:

  • Fully Vaccinated:
    • During travel: Follow all travel recommendations, including wearing a facemask while traveling and self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
    • Post travel: Get tested with a RT-PCR test three to five days after travel. If your test is positive, isolate to protect others from getting infected. Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
      • Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.
    • Not Fully Vaccinated:
      • During travel: Follow all travel recommendations, including wearing a facemask while traveling and self-monitoring for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
      • Post travel: Get tested with a RT-PCR test three to five days after travel and stay home/self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel.
        • If you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full seven days. If you do not get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
      • Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.

 Attendees and Instructors:

  • Whether an individual is vaccinated or not vaccinated, it is important to highlight that if anyone is experiencing any COVID-19 related signs and symptoms, DO NOT ATTEND THE EVENT.
  • Signs and symptoms include:
    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat

In registering for this event, you will be asked to provide information about whether you are vaccinated against COVID-19. The IAFF will maintain this information confidentially and will only disclose this information as required by law. By registering for this event, you agree that we may disclose your COVID-19 vaccination status as needed to comply with applicable law, including local COVID-19 orders.

Registration is open to all members of the 1st District and the registration fee is $135. Early registration is strongly encouraged.

Register Online

For more information, contact the IAFF Department of Education at [email protected] or (202) 824-1533.

Tuesday, June 28

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.Networking Reception | Buffalo Riverworks

 

Wednesday, June 29

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.Breakfast | Grand Ballroom A
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.Registration | Coatroom/Grand Foyer
9:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.General Session | Grand Ballroom B
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.Lunch | Grand Ballroom A
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.PEP Breakout
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.Coffee Break 
3:15 – 5:15 p.m.PEP Breakout
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.Reception | Sun Garden

 

Thursday, June 30

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.Breakfast Buffet | Grand Ballroom B
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.PEP Breakout
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.Coffee Break 
10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.PEP Breakout

The following workshop tracks are offered over two days (June 29–30).

Workshop Schedule

Session 1 (1:00–3:00 p.m., June 29)
Session 2 (3:15–5:15 p.m., June 29)
Session 3 (8:00–10:00 a.m., June 30)
Session 4 (10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., June 30)

Health & Safety Track | Grand Ballroom E

  • Cancer Awareness: Tools for Affiliate Leaders (Session 1)
  • An Introduction to Behavioral Health (Session 2)
  • Staffing for Safety: An Introduction (Session 3)
  • Disaster Relief: Assisting Members in Preparation and Recovery (Session 4)

Legal Issues Track | Grand Ballroom F

  • Discipline: Your Rights & Responsibilities as Union Officers (Session 1)
  • Duty of Fair Representation (Session 2)
  • Introductions to Grievances (Session 3)
  • Understanding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (Session 4)

Negotiations Track | Grand Ballroom G

  • Conducting Negotiations: Collective Bargaining (Session 1)
  • Negotiation Strategies and Tactics (6 hours) (Sessions 2-4)

All PEP workshops are designed to be interactive and engage students. Workshops are delivered by IAFF PEP instructors who have a vast amount of knowledge and experience on union skills. Review the Workshop Descriptions to help you choose your workshop track.

When you register for the 1st District PEP event, choose one of the workshop tracks listed, each with a total of eight hours of instruction offered over two days.

HEALTH AND SAFETY TRACK

Cancer Awareness: Tools for Affiliate Leaders (2 hours)
It has been clearly documented in multiple studies that fire fighters are more likely to develop a number of occupational cancers resulting from their exposure to toxic chemicals and carcinogens over the course of their employment. This workshop will review recent studies on the incidence of cancer in fire fighters and will guide affiliate leaders on the resources available to educate their members on exposure hazards, from fire scene contaminants and diesel exhaust, and the necessity of post-incident decontamination. This workshop will also review the tools necessary to affect personal commitment and organizational accountability to minimize the contraction of occupational cancers.

An Introduction to Behavioral Health (2 hours)
The fire service has traditionally recognized the need for medical and physical fitness. However, the need to further develop knowledge and awareness about common behavioral health issues is also being recognized as an important function within the fire service. This workshop will address the importance of developing a behavioral health program, recognizing common signs of behavioral health conditions, where to obtain outside assistance, as well as understanding and minimizing the barriers and stigmas often associated with seeking support.

Staffing for Safety: An Introduction (2 hours)
Fire suppression and emergency medical activities are labor-intensive jobs that require an adequate number of fire fighters on scene to safely and effectively protect property and save lives. Studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and updates to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standards have shown that inadequate staffing can result in unnecessary loss of life and property and serious injury to fire fighters and the citizens they protect. In this workshop, you will be introduced to standards and studies that indicate best practices regarding staffing and that help you make decisions regarding staffing in your community

Disaster Relief: Assisting Members in Preparation and Recovery (2 hours)
When disasters strike, fire fighters are called to respond even while their own families may be displaced and their homes damaged or destroyed. Therefore, it is important that IAFF leaders be aware of several preparation and recovery tools in order to best protect their members in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. This workshop will detail how affiliate leaders can best prepare members and their families for a disaster by learning about proactive family and department plans, communication tools and disaster relief resources.

LEGAL ISSUES TRACK

Discipline: Your Rights & Responsibilities as Union Officers (2 hours)
This workshop will provide union leaders with an overview of their rights and responsibilities during the employment disciplinary process. Union leaders will learn how to best represent their members in accordance with their contract, civil service laws and the Weingarten, Loudermill and Garrity decisions. This workshop is applicable to affiliate leaders in both collective bargaining and non-collective bargaining environments.

Duty of Fair Representation (2 hours)
As an affiliate leader, you may be subject to a legal standard, known as duty of fair representation (DFR), that governs how you represent your members in contract negotiations, grievances and other labor matters. In this workshop, you will study relevant case law to learn what is required of you, how the courts have applied this standard to unions, the consequences of violating the standard and best practices to avoid DFR lawsuits.

Introductions to Grievances (2 hours)
The manner in which you process grievances will determine how quickly they are resolved and how your members will perceive you. A good understanding of the grievance process will better enable you to enforce the collective bargaining agreement and avoid costly arbitration hearings. In this workshop, you will learn how to evaluate and file a grievance, reduce your chances of receiving a DFR claim and develop effective grievance strategies. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances.

Understanding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (2 hours)
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a U.S. federal law that establishes important minimum wage and overtime protections for IAFF members. Understanding how this complex law applies to fire fighters, EMTs and paramedics presents special challenges for affiliate leaders. In this workshop, the IAFF General Counsel’s Office will address FLSA exemptions and coverage issues, compensable hours of work, calculating the overtime rate and compensatory time, among other topics.

NEGOTIATIONS TRACK

Conducting Negotiations: Collective Bargaining (2 hours)
Actively negotiating a contract is one of the most important functions IAFF affiliate leadership can perform for members and is the key ingredient in fire fighter–employer relations. In this workshop, you will learn how to create ground rules that benefit unions, participate in mock negotiation sessions and learn how to apply bargaining techniques.

Negotiation Strategies and Tactics (6 hours)
Skilled negotiators are proficient in the key strategies and tactics that significantly improve their bargaining positions. In this workshop, you will analyze the power structure of negotiating committees, determine the real impact of your proposals, identify typical management tactics, interpret hidden meanings behind signals at the bargaining table and make timely and appropriate counter-offers. This workshop will give you exercises to practice each of these new skills.

Hyatt Regency Buffalo

Two Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14202
(716) 856-1234

Reserve your hotel room

The discounted group standard guest room rate is $219/night, plus tax. The cut-off date to book your room is Monday, June 13, 2022.