With Surrey’s municipal election approaching, Local 1271 has rolled out an innovative way to engage the community in their bid to keep advancing fire fighter and public safety in the city.
Through Sound the Alarm, the Local is inviting residents to sign up for campaign updates and information from the union. One lucky subscriber will win $5,000 in groceries.
The campaign’s website explains the association’s role and provides key information on the city’s fire service and its future needs. Subscribers will receive updates from the union and details about Local 1271’s endorsements for mayor and council.
The campaign launched Sept. 2 and Surrey residents age 18 or older can enter until Oct. 16.
“We’re hoping we get some good traction here and to get our message out to more people, even if it’s 500 people that otherwise wouldn’t be getting our endorsement letters, so we’re branching out in a different way,” Local 1271 President Mike Vincent said. “We have our fingers crossed.”
Vincent said in the past three and a half years, the fast-growing city of 735,000 has seen significant advances under first-term Mayor Brenda Locke. Those include commitments to hire 100 new fire fighters, 80 of whom are already in place; renovations to two firehalls, a replacement hall now under construction, new frontline apparatus and collective agreement gains, including the elimination of an employee-funded sick leave plan.
Local 1271 says significant fire service needs remain in British Columbia’s second-largest city. The Local wants residents to understand current resource levels and know which candidates are prepared to improving public safety.
Vincent said the association strongly supports the incumbent mayor and her slate, but believed it was important to meet with as many candidates as possible. The goal, he said, was to ensure that anyone elected to council understood the needs of the city’s fire service. As for the giveaway winner, “someone will be walking away lucky and hopefully it’s a vote we can count on for public safety,” Vincent said.
Someone will be walking away lucky and hopefully it’s a vote we can count on for public safety.
Surrey Bc lOCAL 1271 pRESIDENT MIKE VINCENT
He also praised Executive Board members Josh Bird, Jordan Jow, Justin Sayson and Jon Watkins, as well as the entire Local 1271 membership “for their willingness to step up and put in the hours needed to support such an important election.”
“Municipal elections directly affect our members’ ability to do their jobs and keep their communities safe,” 6th District Vice President Mike Carter said. “Every vote matters and Surrey Local 1271 has found a creative way to ensure their neighbours understand why this election is important for public safety.”
Municipal elections are also taking place this fall in Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island, giving IAFF affiliates an opportunity to engage candidates and voters on safe staffing and other issues affecting fire fighter and public safety.
The IAFF is assisting affiliates with strategic advice and resources for political action campaigns focused on municipal elections.
