Workshops by Session

Last year was a historic election and the first time in more than 50 years that a sitting president did not run for re-election. What can fire fighters expect in the closing days of the Biden Administration and run up to a new President and Congress? The Government Affairs Division staff will review the election results, identify hot topics and themes for the incoming House and Senate majorities and White House, and discuss the impacts these changes will have on the IAFF’s policy priorities. This class will provide opportunities for collaborative discussions about political trends at the national, state, and local levels.

Have you heard of digital media, geo-targeting, or digital ads but are unsure of what these terms mean? This introductory level class will define these terms, expose you to new targeting approaches for ad buying and content placement, and review the best ways to use these tools for your local.

In this workshop track (Sessions 1-6) you will build upon your negotiation knowledge. 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. You will have the opportunity to practice these new skills through various exercises. This track has been reviewed and approved for potential college credit by Purdue Global, our partner in education.

Fire fighter entitlement to overtime pay is subject to a series of complex rules and regulations. We will examine the relevant provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including the Section 7(k) exemption that is unique to fire protection personnel. We will also examine the factors typically considered in determining whether fire protection personnel are properly classified as “exempt” under the “executive, administrative or professional exemption of the FLSA. We will discuss different factual scenarios that arise in the field with respect to FLSA violations and how to identity them. Finally, we will provide a question and answer session to address issues and concerns from members.

Presented by Local 1753 & IAFF-FC Board Member, Joe Baker, alongside our partners at TD Insurance & TD Wealth; this workshop will focus on enhancing your financial literacy and securing & protecting your financial future, while also highlighting some exciting changes coming for IAFF Canadian members.

Discover how communication strengthens unions. Internal engagement activates members, while external outreach builds your public image. This session enhances internal and external communication strategies, offering practical insights and best practices from successful locals across the U.S. and Canada. Students will have a chance to review their current communication tools and plans and receive feedback from facilitators.

Cities and states give away huge corporate subsidy deals and then cry poverty on public safety budgets. Learn how to document and expose these giveaways, plus successful fight-back strategies, messaging, and allies. Learn about free databases Subsidy Tracker and Tax Break Tracker, plus a new government accounting rule that helps unions document how much tax revenue governments are losing to corporate tax breaks. They are labeled “economic development incentives,” but they are often unnecessary and sometimes fail to pay off. States lose so much revenue this way, the losses often far exceed their pension obligations.

The use of fitness testing for incumbent fire fighters is a widely debated topic. While being physically capable is essential for firefighting (and health), the implementation of a fitness test does not guarantee that fire fighters will be physically fit. It is possible to have a physically capable department without an annual fitness test, and conversely a less capable department who administers a fitness assessment semi-annually. For this reason, it is critical to appreciate the implications of instituting fitness-related assessments within the broader aims of a wellness-fitness program, and the wide range of options that may be able to accomplish the same objectives. This workshop will explore the pros and cons of multiple assessment strategies.

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.

The integration of new technologies like augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and communication manipulation software into the fire service has the potential to significantly affect both labor and operations within the field. Fire service labor leaders must stay informed about these advancements to ensure that they understand their implications on the workforce, safety protocols, training, and service delivery.

The course will cover three areas of emerging technology:
1.   IAFF’s Current Technological Capabilities: This will focus on how the IAFF is currently leveraging technology to support its members. This includes data analytics, GIS station location studies, and technology associated with municipal financial analysis. 

2.  Fire Service-Related Immersive Technology Solutions: Augmented reality and virtual reality are immersive technologies with significant potential in the fire service. These technologies can be used for training simulations, allowing firefighters to experience high-risk scenarios in a controlled, safe environment. They can also assist with real-time decision-making in active fire scenes, providing enhanced situational awareness. However, they do have limitations and local leaders should be aware of these limitations.

3.  Issues Associated with AI in Communications: AI is being increasingly used in communications, but it raises important concerns. From communication manipulation software that could influence information flow to potential job displacement as AI takes over routine tasks, the fire service needs to address how AI can be used ethically and effectively. Additionally, AI in emergency dispatch systems and incident reporting tools can improve efficiency, but the reliance on these systems must be balanced with human oversight.

The Maui wildfires of August 8–9, 2023 greatly impacted the Lahaina community and the world continues to grieve the deadliest wildland urban interface fire to occur in the last 100 years. This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder that the threat of wildfires and wildfire-initiated urban conflagrations, fueled by climate change and urban encroachment into wildland areas, is a reality that must be addressed with the utmost urgency and diligence. The heroic actions of residents and first responders, fueled by the spirit of unity and cooperation, provide a beacon of light during these devastating fires.

In the aftermath of this incident, questions linger about the adequacy of warning systems, evacuation planning, and the preparedness of communities for such extreme fire events. In August 2023, shortly after the tragic Lahaina fire on Maui, Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne E. Lopez selected the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, for subject matter expertise in fire dynamics and structure-to-structure fire spread. After a site visit and initial consultation with FSRI researchers in Lahaina, Attorney General Lopez engaged FSRI to conduct a comprehensive, independent analysis of the Lahaina fire—separated into three phases—with timing of reports shared with the public.

Currently, there are as many as four generations employed and working side by side in fire departments throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each generation brings its own individual values and behaviors and these can be a source of conflict in the workplace. This workshop will examine each of the four generations in a humorous way, providing a better understanding of generational behavior, the value that each generation brings to the workplace, why conflict exists among them, and identify communications styles that work for each.

QuickBooks can make a Secretary-Treasurer’s job easier, but it can be a difficult program to learn and navigate. As the desktop version is slated to be unsupported soon, this class will focus only on ONLINE QUICKBOOKS. This class will provide hands-on learning from seasoned secretary-treasurers to make sure that your local is getting the full benefit from using QuickBooks. Additional one-on-one time is also available for those interested in learning the trick of the QuickBooks trade.

This is a dialog based 2-hour class intended to provide participants with an overview of the IAFF’s Wildfire/Urban-Interface Fire Programs and its Responding to the Interface Training (RTI). Participants will be briefed, and learn about the program’s strategic objectives, progress to date, and plans for the future. Participants will learn RTI Strategy & Tactics, using actual events, fire behavior scenarios, and personal incident experiences from the instructors. At the conclusion, students will have an understanding of what Wildfire/Urban-Interface Program provides and is doing on their behalf, and an understanding of the RTI program, designed for fire fighters to operate safely and competently in the urban-interface environment and successfully save lives, defend homes, communities, and resource values at risks.

The strength of a local depends on the active involvement of its members. Whether it’s a committee meeting, political campaign, or public relations effort, your members make the difference between success and failure. This workshop provides methods to increase member participation and build an effective union.

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.

Designed to help affiliate leaders achieve goals for their locals, this course teaches the skills necessary to be effective in any role as a union officer. Information is provided on the duties of each local union officer, as well as the responsibilities of the executive board and other committees in the local. It will also acquaint participants with the various services and assistance available from the IAFF.

We are a union regardless of the status of the economy. Therefore, when we are in tough economic times, we may adjust our mission but not change our vision to continually advance. These challenges may be in the form of decreased tax revenues, cuts in state aid to local government, or cuts in other sources of revenue. The reductions in revenue that result in municipal budget cuts have affected IAFF locals by influencing wages, benefits, or operational resources. This workshop will provide an understanding of how fiscal crises impact the negotiation process, as well as providing insight on how to address wages, benefits, working conditions, and staffing issues in tough times. The workshop will specifically address the above outlined issues for locals with collective bargaining agreements or a formal negotiation process.

This workshop track (Sessions 1-6) is designed for students to become familiar with the issues and processes of preparing for negotiations and conducting negotiations. Students will then practice those skills in a simulated negotiation session. This track has been reviewed and approved for potential college credit by Purdue Global, our partner in education.

This workshop (Session 1 & Information Session) will give you the tools you need to analyze the status and outlook of your pension system, including funding levels, the underlying assumptions on which cost calculations are based, and the funding history of the plan sponsor. Applying these tools to your local’s situation.

Master the art of public speaking. This interactive session will equip you with essential tips and tricks to confidently deliver compelling, engaging messages, and effectively advocate for your members. Enhance your leadership skills and ensure your voice is heard loud and clear in every meeting, rally, and negotiation.

This course provides firefighter first responders with a comprehensive overview of the evolving world of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). Starting with the history of AFVs, students will gain an understanding of how these vehicles have developed and the increasing prevalence in various industries. The course will explore tactical considerations for responding to incidents involving different types of alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and electric vehicles, focusing on the unique hazards they present.

We will discuss the current tools and strategies in place for managing emergencies involving AFVs, including best practices for containment, extinguishment, and decontamination. Additionally, participants will learn about ongoing collaborations with private industry and research institutions, aiming to keep firefighters informed and equipped with the latest knowledge. The importance of participation in committees and working groups to help shape future safety standards will also be emphasized.

Finally, the course will critically assess areas where fire service response may be lacking, highlighting gaps in equipment, training, and resources, and providing guidance on how to advocate for necessary improvements in their departments.

The installation of dedicated Energy Storage Systems utilizing lithium-ion battery technology is increasing and fire fighters are responding to battery units that have failed and transition to thermal runaway. This session will provide an overview of multiple research projects conducted by UL Fire Safety Research Institute, in conjunction with the IAFF, and review the Fire Fighter Tactical Considerations developed as a product of these projects.

The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is on the way out and here comes the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). When NFIRS was created it was a big step forward for the United States Fire Service, but as time has passed the service has been a dinosaur of the data collection universe. Presently, data in NFIRS is delayed in availability and not easily leveraged, which impedes our ability to grow and adapt as an industry. This class will highlight the differences between NERIS and NFIRS and why the time is now for a change.

Union Administration Track covers Session 1 through Session 6. As a union officer, you are faced with many responsibilities. This training experience is intended to address the skills necessary to be effective in any role as a union officer. You will learn how to be a union advocate, learning how to organize members and increase their participation to build a stronger local. This training will also address the knowledge and skills involved in effectively enforcing contract provisions and representing workers’ rights with fire service management and jurisdiction. This track has been reviewed and approved for potential college credit by Purdue Global, our partner in education.

This session is designed to help any IAFF leader more effectively balance union leadership with other life roles, including work demands, homelife, relationships, parenting, dual careers, finances, healthcare, and self-care. Join us for a dynamic and honest discussion on how to take care of yourself, when your job is to take care of everyone else. Practical strategies will be explored for both new and established union leaders to recognize burnout, set boundaries, and utilize support systems to emerge as more capable leaders. This session will be delivered by two seasoned union leaders and a mental health clinician.

This is a 4-hour workshop (Sessions 2-3). Taking care of your local’s financial health is one of the most important responsibilities of a local leader. This four-hour session will break down the responsibilities of the Secretary, Treasurer, and Secretary-Treasurer role and provide valuable tips and tools for your local to utilize. From the basics of financial communications to fiduciary responsibilities to preparing your budget, this class will review the best practices involved in these important roles in your local. Led by GST Staff and experienced secretary/treasurers, the session will also address the importance of auditing and fiscal oversight to help build trust in your local’s financial health.

This workshop will examine DFR under Canadian Law. The workshop will look at the handling of DFR complaints in both the civil courts and under Labour Board tribunals in those provinces that allow DFR complaints to be heard by Labour Board tribunals. The workshop will also review current DFR decisions.

Healthcare costs are usually your employer’s second or third largest personnel cost after wages, and possibly pension. It is imperative that our affiliate leaders understand how to put true value on their current healthcare and prescription drug plan and any others that might be proposed by the employer.

This will be illustrated by providing members with the information and details necessary to make true comparisons. This will include financial documents along with plan documents that describe the details of their benefits, exclusions, and limitations; all are needed to place true value on a proposal.

In addition, we will provide examples of good contract language for their CBA, MOU, or simply to include in the employer’s statement of benefits.

This class covers essential financial and contractual topics, including RFPs, 401(a) plans, self-directed brokerage (SBDOs), consultant insights, navigating city management, contract language, and incorporating Financial Corporation initiatives into CBAs.

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.

An overview of both the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be presented. The discussion will include the interplay of these two important and complex laws and regulations.

Tired of politicians’ damaging and ineffective attempts to increase pension funding levels by cutting benefits and increasing member contributions? Then come to this highly informative class on pension plan funding where the experts will discuss a wide range of tools that include pension obligation bonds, revenue bonds and more.

Should your Local create or join a Health Trust? Are you and your Board informed on all the nuances of not only creating, but administering a Trust? Learn the basics about a Health Trust, as well as what the IAFF is doing to help.

What kind of leader am I and what kind of leader do I want to be? This workshop will help IAFF affiliate leaders learn what kind of union leaders they are and will provide them with several tools to become more effective leaders. During this workshop, participants will identify their own leadership styles and will learn how those styles are perceived by and impact the members that they lead.

We will explore the Constitutional and other rights of government employees, including the 1st Amendment rights of speech, association and petitioning the government; the 5th amendment property and due process rights and the right not to self-incriminate oneself; how the 14th Amendment applies these rights to employees of municipalities; the concept of state sovereign immunity; and labor rights.

The media is an important tool to leverage your Local’s brand and control the narrative about your union. Establishing and building a relationship with local media outlets and reporters is a great way to advance your Local’s mission and message. And while we’ve all heard the horror stories of misquotes, errors, and just plain bad press, the good news is that most media outlets want to work with fire fighters and can be an asset to your Local. This class will provide participants with five quick tips on how to work with the media and how to leverage the fire fighter brand when speaking to the media.

The MCI course presents information as an education platform for Multi Casualty Incidents and Mass Casualty Incident (MCI’s) for IAFF members and applicable organizations.

The purpose of this information is to ensure that ALL FIRST RESPONDERS across North America have a basic understanding of the key information, management and common thread areas of an MCI, regardless of regional or state jurisdiction requirements. This information, based around scene management and effective triage management, can be used for developing policy, guidelines, interoperability discussions, or as a basic understanding for front line Officers.

This program aligns with the National Incident Management System NIMS, ICS CANADA, and one of the international recognized triage methodologies (START Triage). Learning components encompasses and builds off VARK learning styles (visual, aural, reading and kinesthetic).

Members who become parents face increased demands on their time and resources. Local leadership need to help ensure that the local employing agency complies with applicable federal, state/provincial, and local laws, allowing these members the leave time and medical accommodation they need as they build their families. In addition, this workshop reviews how local leadership can advocate for family-friendly local policies and laws.

How do you plan and prepare for the most horrible event imaginable? How do affiliate leaders act when faced with what can often be a crippling organizational event? Listen to IAFF leaders and staff as they provide suggestions to affiliate leaders about relationships and networks to establish before tragedy strikes, guidance on immediate steps to support surviving members and families, the ceremony, the incident review and championing positive change in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Self-care and follow-up efforts are also discussed.

Despite your best efforts to resolve all disputes internally, some grievances cannot be settled at the local level and must be heard by a neutral arbitrator. To win at arbitration, a union leader must be well prepared and have a good understanding of the arbitration process. This workshop will give you an overview of arbitration procedures and protocol, methods for selecting an arbitrator and strategies for cutting costs. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who work in collective bargaining environments and have limited experience with grievances.

The collective bargaining process allows you to negotiate for wages, benefits, and other conditions of employment. To be successful at the bargaining table, you must thoroughly research and develop your strategy. In this workshop, you will learn how to set realistic goals for your membership and collect the data needed to support your case.

At a time when social media is rapidly evolving, some Local leaders may be hesitant to embrace it. This class offers an introductory overview of social media, including available platforms and their relevance to your Local. Understand the importance of social media for your members and community and learn to craft tailored messages for each platform. Discover ways you can safely leverage social media to expand your Local’s brand and influence.

States and cities spend an estimated $95 billion per year on corporate tax breaks and other subsidies called “incentives.” But as some IAFF Locals are learning, secretly negotiated “megadeals” can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per job – even millions! Such costly giveaways can undermine the tax base for public safety. And now, huge subsidies are going to battery and microchip factories with special fire safety needs. Good Jobs First will explain how to expose specific deals with its Subsidy Tracker database and how to document the total harm to public budgets thanks to the government accounting rule called GASB Statement 77 on Tax Abatement Disclosures. The first step to curbing corporate welfare is sunshine!

This workshop will address many facets of being a union officer, including the responsibilities associated with each role. This workshop will also address how to be a union advocate, using the skills of the executive board, and how to organize members and increase their participation to build a stronger local.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) coupled with Workload Analysis are two great ways for you to start owning your data. However, although these resources could stand on their own, their power is tied to your ability to use the data, tell your story, and build winning arguments. This workshop will show local leaders how to gather necessary data, assess their community risk, interpret a workload capacity, and explain how the results can inform fire service administration.

IAFF locals across the nation have achieved historic successes by fighting for collective bargaining rights at the local levels. By bringing the fight to the local level, fire fighters can often have better success when their own community makes the decision to recognize their rights. This panel of IAFF leaders will use their own experiences as case studies to explore techniques to help affiliate leaders leverage support in their home communities for their rights to collective bargaining.

Most states require government entities to submit financial statements each year. Many times, these are large documents with a lot of numbers. What do they all mean? We will walk you through where to find the important data and additional information that may help you better understand your municipality’s financial situation. We will also show how we pare this information down to a few important economic indicators, otherwise known as a Municipal Financial Analysis, or MFA.

IAFF leaders face many challenges, but few are more pressing than pre-65 health care options for retirees. This class will focus heavily on strategies surrounding the IAFF MERP and IAFF Health & Wellness Trust. From VEBAs, PEHPs, HRAs, and HSAs, learn how to create opportunities through the collective bargaining process to engage employers to lower the cost of post-employment healthcare to allow IAFF members an earlier and more dignified retirement.

Learn to convey your message effectively through a strategic communications plan. This class guides you in creating a tailored plan and calendar for engaging your members, elected officials, and the community. Understand your audience, purpose, and timing. We’ll focus on practical, hands-on work, including researching relevant topics for your local audience.

Every decision about the pay, benefits, working conditions, and retirement of our members is made by someone elected to office or appointed by an elected official. Politics is a tool that we can and must use to improve the lives of our members. Participants will learn the tactics and resources needed to build political power, how to use the legislative process to save money and time, and how to engage in electoral politics to change who makes decisions for your members and Local.

Canadian Political Analysis: The Great Federal Face-Off: Rink-Side Perspectives of a High Stakes Slection. This workshop will provide an update of the IAFF’s ongoing legislative initiatives under a federal minority government with a looming election in 2025. This will include an examination of the current state of the federal political landscape and the implications for the upcoming election.

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.

Many state and local governments continue to grapple with changes to fire fighter retirement plans. This workshop will provide legal, regulatory, and legislative updates from both state and federal perspectives and how these changes are affecting public pensions. Also discussed will be the recent battles to convert defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans.

Most IAFF leaders are public employees and have fiduciary responsibilities to their membership. Due to the nature of your position, you are subject to higher ethical standards than the average member or employee. These standards must be upheld in order to maintain the trust of your members and run an effective local. Failure to do so can result in loss of credibility, loss of union position, or even criminal charges. This workshop will cover the principles of ethics, the requirements of public employees, and strategies for making ethical decisions. You will use these strategies to analyze scenarios and case studies.

Every fire fighter must have the basic understanding of the science-based research to make educated decisions on the fireground. For over 13 years, FSRI has been leading the way in researching the fire fighter’s work environment, studying fire behavior, the impact of ventilation, fireground and training exposures, lithium-ion battery responses, and more. This research has been the basis for changes to our fire service’s understanding of the basic sciences of our profession.

In this session, Dan Madrzykowski reviews the current research and provides updates on projects impacting our members operating in the streets. Dan will discuss the recent Search and Rescue project, which evaluated search and rescue techniques and the impact on fire fighters and occupants, the application of water streams, and additional projects the team, and technical panels, are addressing.

The IAFF embraces the concept of fire department accreditation as a means of ensuring quality work, enhancing safety, and creating meaningful labor-management relationships. However, if we aren’t careful the process can be leveraged against us. This class will discuss common topics of concern for affiliates in the accreditation process through the eyes of IAFF commissioners and those that have been through the process.

What you need to know as affiliate leaders to help your mid-career active members and your senior members make successful financial decisions.

Topics include:

The manner in which you run your union meetings will affect member attendance and how you are perceived as a leader. A well-run meeting with meaningful and timely agenda items will draw more attendees and help you earn the respect of your membership. In this workshop, you will learn IAFF meeting protocol and etiquette; how to plan for and conduct an efficient and productive meeting; and methods for handling conflict. This workshop is ideal for Local union officers with limited experience running union meetings.

How Can I Help Our Union Become More Effective? This workshop will provide tools to help affiliate leaders become more effective as IAFF Locals continue to evolve to meet the serious challenges facing our union and our members in the 21st century. During the workshop, participants will learn how to assess and prioritize union resources and how to engage in strategic planning to establish and achieve effective organizational goals.

The IAFF recommends that every Local establish a human relations committee. Establishing a committee is a proven way to help Locals sort through the opportunities and challenges that diversity presents. It can assist Locals in resolving conflict and developing a proactive strategy for change. In this workshop, affiliate leaders will learn about the benefits of having a Local human relations committee and strategies for developing their own committee.

The collective bargaining agreement is a contract between union and management that outlines the wages, benefits, and working conditions for fire fighters. To maintain flexibility in the workplace, negotiators sometimes include language in the agreement that is ambiguous or general in nature. Occasionally, this ambiguity leads to disputes between the two parties over the meaning of the contract. When these disputes are brought to arbitration, the arbitrator must determine which interpretation is the most reasonable and best reflects the mutual intent of the parties. This workshop will teach you how arbitrators consider contract language, past practice, and other contributing factors in order to reach a decision.

As a public employee, knowing your First Amendment rights will allow you to advocate for yourself, your members and your co-workers while keeping yourself and your Local out of trouble. We will examine the various First Amendment protections afforded to union officials and members, both on and off the job. In addition, we will provide guidance on the perilous intersection of the First Amendment with the internet and social media platforms. Finally, we will discuss the various federal and state laws concerning the recording of meetings, phone calls, video conferences, and similar forms of communications. As part of this class, there will be the opportunity to participate in a trivia/game show type contest to review the most important aspects of First Amendment protections.

This class is the in-person version of a new online program created and offered by the IAFF. This class provides a framework for fire fighters to use during the size-up of a residential structure fire, and provides tangible takeaways and tactical considerations based on the building’s era, materials, and occupancy. This class is intended for fire service personnel of all ranks and experience levels.

This advanced class is designed for Local leaders whose Locals have an established social media presence. Participants will learn advanced techniques to manage their Local’s social media accounts and identify new ways to grow their digital audience. This is an advanced class and requires you to have a good foundation and understanding of the social media platforms your local uses. We will cover a lot of tools broadly and allow time for Q&A to address specific membership needs. Please make sure you have the logins for your social media platforms and tools.

Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. This session will provide a comprehensive perspective on fire fighter suicide and suicide prevention in 2025. Discussion will include updated data on suicide in the fire service, how to identify suicide risk factors and warning signs, and practical evidence-based interventions anyone can use to potentially safe a life. Affiliates leaders will also learn about suicide postvention, how to the mitigate negative effects of exposure to suicide, recommended training resources for department members, and IAFF efforts to understand and address suicide.

Does your Local tackle obstacles in a systematic, thoughtful, and collaborative way? Or does your daily workload push you into a place where you’re always reacting to the next crisis? In this class, students will learn the importance of engaging in deliberate strategic planning. We’ll talk about defining your mission as an organization, creating parameters to determine your strengths/weaknesses and opportunity/threats, and obtaining buy-in from members for the process. Students will engage in strategic planning exercises dealing with specific issues impacting their Local.

While the Best Practices for Secretary-Treasurers class covers the basic functions of the role, this Advanced Strategies and Tactics class provides more in-depth information and guidance. Some of the topics covered will include, taxes and other government filings (990s, LM forms), line-item budgeting, auditing and oversight tips, fraud protection, and investment strategies. This class will also allow students to exchange ideas and share tactics that they have had success with in their local.

This class will provide fire fighters and company officers a basic understanding of radio systems and how to achieve reliable communications wherever the fight is. We will cover the issues affecting the health of the portable radio as well as the discipline needed when operating on a fireground channel.

In many departments, responding to individuals trapped in elevators is a challenging incident. Many of our departments receive very little or no training in developing response procedures and working with the tools required. What are the safety considerations, tools, and resources needed? Elevator rescues involve the engagement of non-fire service responders, including elevator repair workers or building engineers. How does the fire service engage these disciplines to bring an incident to a successful conclusion?

This workshop addresses the knowledge and skills involved in effectively enforcing contract provisions and representing workers’ rights with your fire service management and jurisdiction. It will introduce and explore the issues and best practices involved in handling grievances, enforcing contract language, and handling discipline issues. Additionally, this workshop reviews ways that key union personnel can inform membership on the benefits of union membership and active involvement.

What you need to know as affiliate leaders to help your new members make successful financial decisions in their life. Topics include:

As the number and height of high-rise structures increase, it is no longer sufficient to analyze how long it takes for personnel to arrive at a fire. The IAFF Fire and EMS Operations Department created a vertical ascent response model to calculate the time it takes for personnel to reach the fire floor. The model uses travel time, crew size, and vertical ascent time to estimate how long it will take personnel to reach any fire floor and complete critical fireground tasks. The real response time estimate for high-rise fires is a tool to educate stakeholders about a key risk associated with failing to meet the industry staffing standards. This course will explain the vertical ascent response model and how the IAFF is using the model to examine response capabilities.

What is the IAFF MERP? What can it do for you and your members? And how do you as an Affiliate Leader implement the IAFF MERP for your members? This class will explore these questions and more and will provide participants with a clear roadmap for how to bring the IAFF MERP into your home Local.

During the workshop, you will identify and learn how to effectively model union values while communicating with the membership, building an effective culture of union solidarity, and creating and working with coalitions to achieve political and legislative goals.

The strength of a local depends on the active involvement of its members. Whether it’s a committee meeting, political campaign, or public relations effort, your members make the difference between success and failure. This workshop provides methods to increase member participation and build an effective union.

Through its constitution and by-laws, your local establishes its basic organization, including the duties and responsibilities of your local union officers, executive board and committees, as well as the various procedures that govern different types of meetings. Your local’s constitution and by-laws should provide the precepts necessary for governing your members. It should meet their needs, as well as be flexible for reasonable and future change. In this module, you will learn the important aspects of your local’s constitution and by-laws and be given tools to understand how this document influences your role as a union leader and how to properly govern your local based on this important text.

To win your case in grievance arbitration, it is crucial to have evidence to back up your arguments and assertions. Without sufficient evidence, it is difficult to convince an arbitrator to rule in your favor. This workshop will teach you how to gather evidence, identify the types of evidence admissible in arbitration, and determine which types carry the most weight with arbitrators. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances.

This class is designed to help local leaders with the parliamentary procedure for holding meetings. The class includes explanation of the typical order of business, how to process motions at meetings, a summary of common motions, how to keep good meeting minutes, and other best practices for local meetings.

This workshop will examine the arbitration decision in Sudbury, Ontario (Local 527) where the affiliate was successful in convincing an arbitration board that: (1) safe staffing for firefighters was an arbitrable issue; and (2) deciding that safe staffing for a first in apparatus was four firefighters. This landmark decision marked the first successful staffing arbitration in Canada in over 30 years. Focus will be on the expert evidence and other factors necessary to successfully advance a staffing argument based on firefighter health and safety in both the U.S. and Canada.

Social Security is one of the pillars of retirement security. In this session, learn how Social Security benefits are calculated, the policy justifications for the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), and why Social Security benefits will be around for you and your family.

With increasing gridlock in Washington, DC, it’s more important than ever for fire fighters to drive policy changes in their state capitols. Last year, IAFF Locals were successful in protecting their collective bargaining rights, advancing the battle against PFAS, gaining new cancer screenings, and pushing back against dangerous building code changes that hurt life safety. Attendees will learn how they can drive meaningful policy changes without ever leaving their home state and identify trends that may be coming to their own state capitol.

Behind every great fire fighter is often a supportive spouse, partner, or loved one functioning as the family’s rock. Our loved ones often juggle a complex mix of household demands, parenting, carpools, finances, and a separate career, all while spending many days and nights alone. During academy, our loved ones are often educated on what to expect, inherit risks, and demands of the fire service. Less often do we flip the script and intentionally explore, “What can I do to better support my partner?” This session will deliver practical strategies and best practices to keep your relationship off life support, while doing the job you love as a fire service leader.

Fire fighters put their lives and health at risk to save other people’s lives and property; they don’t stop to ask who lives in the burning building or for background information on the heart attack victim. At the same time, fire fighters need to bring that respect for community, diversity and ethics back to the firehouse, living up to their own – and their community’s – highest standards for providing a safe, diverse and respectful workplace. Similarly, a station house must be a place where teamwork standards live up to fire fighters’ – and their community’s – standards for fairness and transparency. This workshop helps examine what it means to be a good team member, how to make effective changes in individual behavior and how to build a culture of teamwork that respects and embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

What do I have to do to make sure that my Local is complying with the law and operating effectively? In this class, we will examine member rights, officer obligations and local union requirements under the law and the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. We will discuss best practices and top tips for making sure that your local union operates properly and your union elections run smoothly. We will also discuss cutting edge union governance issues such as virtual meetings and electronic elections. This will be an interactive and participatory class as we explore various union governance decisions.

Deferred Retirement Option Plans (D.R.O.P.) have been touted by many as the best possible addition that can be provided to our membership to improve plan benefits. Simultaneously, D.R.O.P. provisions have been attacked by the media and many elected officials as being enormously costly to taxpayers and an outrageous benefit increase to retirees.

Are any of these assumptions or statements correct? It depends. Come learn about the financial and political opportunities and pitfalls of adopting a D.R.O.P. plan. We will discuss the benefits it provides to members and employers alike as well as other advantages and disadvantages of this retirement program. Learn how the rules or governance surrounding the adoption of a D.R.O.P. determine the costs, the savings, and the benefits to all involved.

AI has emerged as a game-changer, revolutionizing the way we connect, engage, and resonate with our audiences. Stay at the forefront of communications by better understanding how AI can generate content, tailor messages for your audiences, and more.

The health and safety of fire fighters is important to support a successful career and an enjoyable retirement. To ensure this happens, this course will focus on relevant and important health research within the fire service. Research topics will include: cancer, PFAS, flame retardants, sleep fatigue, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. This class will highlight new and existing research addressing these topics, explore future directions, and incorporate a discussion on what we hope to learn from these studies.

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.

High-rise fires can challenge any department. Resource allocation and tactical objectives are different from our typical operation. Departments must develop and train on high-rise operations that are suitable for their individual resources. In this presentation, we will discuss command and control, as well as sectoring; engine operations, from supplying the standpipe and the operation of the attack line; truck company operations, including search and elevator control and utilization for the support of the operation; alternate strategies for wind-impacted fires, wind-control devices, exterior fire control, and flanking attack; and smoke control and sequential ventilation.

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.

A quick and efficient resolution to a grievance is the best strategy, but in order to resolve a grievance the process must be understood. Understanding the grievance process will enable you to assist your membership in navigating the process. In this workshop, you will learn how to determine if a grievance has merit and how to provide assistance to a member who is filing a grievance. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances in a non-collective bargaining environment.

Mass public shootings in schools have raised important considerations about how best to prevent and respond to such tragedies. While there is considerable variability among the perpetrators and their backgrounds, each share similarities in their pre-attack behaviors; identifying these warning signs provides important opportunities for identification of the threat and ultimate prevention of the shooting. Similarly, while news stories of “drills gone wrong” have exacerbated concerns over the potential trauma being caused to students, faculty, and staff, research has found that lockdown procedures have a protective, life-saving effect in real-world mass shootings and that conducting associated practices using a trauma-informed lens can have numerous benefits for participants. In this session, we will explore promising avenues for prevention and response as it relates to mass school shootings, including consideration of the scholarly evidence on such approaches and examples of lessons learned from shootings that have come to fruition. Specific consideration will be given to how these lessons translate to fire fighters and other first responders, including what they can expect from students and staff and how they integrate into active shooter response by way of rescue task force models.

NFPA 1710 versus 1720: What’s the difference, why does it matter, and how do I talk about it?
NFPA 1710 is the standard for career departments, but what happens when consultants tell your all-paid department administration that 1720 is just as good? Additionally, how do career personnel on combination and volunteer departments encourage increased staffing and resources when 1720 is so limited in its scope? What you need to work toward your goals is the ability to support 1710 and dispute 1720. This class is designed to inform members of the difference between the standards and give you the tools and language you need to communicate to decision-makers and the public.

One of the most important things a Local can do is to organize and implement an effective community outreach program by reaching out to elderly, faith, and community-based organizations. Through a community outreach program, affiliates can create and foster good community relations, which can develop a reciprocal relationship between the fire service and the public. This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the benefits to both the community at large and the Local, as well as how an effective program can reinforce the positive image of fire fighters. This workshop will use case studies from effective community outreach programs developed by other Locals.

Good communication shapes attitudes, beliefs, and decision-making. This class focuses on how you can craft persuasive messaging that shapes policy and politics. Learn how to leverage your voice to influence decision-makers and drive meaningful change for your members and your community.

Just because a Local has already been created, doesn’t mean its leadership should miss opportunities to grow its membership. In fact, recruiting new members and retaining current ones is one of the most impactful ways that Locals can enhance their influence. These challenges can be especially hard in states that do not recognize fire fighters’ rights to collective bargaining. Participants will learn from IAFF staff about ways they can continue growing their membership, common barriers to recruiting new members in an existing Local, and methods to encourage existing members to maintain their membership.

This is a 4-hour workshop (Sessions 5-6). Your Local relies on the strength of its members. Between dwindling active participation and your Local’s organizational history retiring with past union leaders, it becomes harder to run an effective union. New leaders become involved when they understand the Local’s core values and find a calling for their talents and passions. This class will provide current Local leadership with a framework on how and why they should recruit and develop new leaders, strategies for reaching out across different generations, a brief overview of labor history to help new members understand the value of their membership, and a plan for mentoring rising leaders to carry your Local into the next generation.

This is a 4-hour workshop (Sessions 5-6). The presentation includes tips aimed at identifying the current problems in recruitment and retention. Once the problems are identified, we will work together to build plans to be used in different departments. The presentation will be interactive and is designed to create plans to get buy in from the administration and community, address funding issues, and educate current members on successful practices.

How does sleep fatigue impact the health and safety of fire fighters? This class will identify factors that contribute to sleep fatigue and adverse health effects and how to combat them in order to optimize the health of members in your department, including advocacy, habit change, and implementing preventative strategies. Speakers will address how to apply this information to address staffing and operational concerns.

This is a 4-hour workshop (Sessions 5-6). Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of an arbitrator as you are presenting your case or what an arbitrator looks for in determining whether you will win or lose your case? This class will include the insight and experience of a seasoned labor arbitrator who will share their perspective as to what makes for a successful presentation at an arbitration hearing. You will also be able to ask the arbitrator the questions that you have always wanted to ask. We will provide a review of the nuts and bolts of preparing and presenting a case to an arbitrator or hearing examiner, including how to prepare witnesses and documents to use at the hearing. We will also review typical evidentiary issues that arise at a hearing, including hearsay objections and past practice. Participants will also learn how to prepare an opening statement and how to conduct an effective cross-examination. Finally, there will be opportunities to participate in various role-play scenarios with feedback provided from the arbitrator and the attorney presenters.

This is a 4-hour workshop (Sessions 5-6). The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) were created to provide funding directly to fire departments to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” fire fighters available in their communities. The AFG Training and Equipment grants are for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.

This SAFER/AFG workshop will provide an overview of legislation, available funding, program priorities, and the application process. Instructors will provide tips and tricks for writing effective grants for their department, actual grant applications for critique, and a question-and-answer portion. The session will conclude with a roundtable of Locals who have received funding.

This workshop will focus on how to use a community risk assessment, science, data, industry standards and best practices to build a strategic plan for your department. Whether you are a small, medium, or a large size department your community will benefit from a strategic plan that assesses all the department’s capabilities and functions to prepare the department to better serve its community.

Responding to crises effectively is not just a skill; it’s a mission-critical imperative. As fire fighters and labor leaders, you understand the profound impact a crisis can have on members and the communities we serve. This workshop gives you the tools and strategies essential for weathering these storms and safeguarding your union’s reputation.

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.

This workshop addresses the knowledge and skills involved in effectively enforcing contract provisions and representing workers’ rights with your fire service management and jurisdiction. It will introduce and explore the issues and best practices involved in handling grievances, enforcing contract language, and handling discipline issues. Additionally, this workshop reviews ways that key union personnel can inform membership on the benefits of union membership and active involvement.

This session will focus on preparing for a major crisis response, from active shooter/hostile event to catastrophic failures. Attendees will learn to understand Interagency coordination, identify intel sources for hostile event response panning, response plan development, and post-incident recovery. Attendees will return to their departments ready and motivated to prepare for such an incident.

This class will focus on emerging research on both male and female reproductive health for fire fighters (and their families) as a result of potential occupational exposures. Additionally, this class will address how to advocate and improve department reproductive health policies, including ways to support individuals going through pregnancy, infertility, loss, or related health issues.

It can be a challenge to secure wages and benefit improvements in jurisdictions that do not allow collective bargaining. Despite the absence of collective bargaining laws, there are many things you can do to help your membership achieve its goals. In this workshop, you will learn how to use the strength of your membership to win over the opposition.

This class is designed to help local leaders with the parliamentary procedure for holding meetings. The class includes explanation of the typical order of business, how to process motions at meetings, a summary of common motions, how to keep good meeting minutes, and other best practices for local meetings.

This workshop will address many facets of being a union officer, including the responsibilities associated with each role. This workshop will also address how to be a union advocate, using the skills of the executive board, and how to organize members and increase their participation to build a stronger local.