1st District Report
James Slevin
1st District Vice President
This report is respectfully submitted in accordance with Article VI, Section 7 of the International Association of Fire Fighters Constitution and By-Laws. This report contains a summary of my activities as 1st District Vice President since the last convention
This convention report is dedicated to the memory of all the members who have made the supreme sacrifice in the Line of Duty throughout the 1st District since our last convention. Their sacrifice is why we fight so hard for the members. Their legacy will live on with every victory we have.
On behalf of the entire 1st District, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to all the delegates and alternates attending the 2026 IAFF Convention. It is an honor to continue to serve as the 1st District Vice President. For over 108 years, we have been fighting for the betterment of our brothers and sisters throughout the USA and Canada. Every day, our fights get tougher, the challenges get more difficult, while our membership gets stronger. We continue to provide quality education and resources to our membership that are unmatched by any other union. I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved for our members and can’t wait for the next big wins!
Since the 2024 Convention, I have attended State Conventions, Executive Board Meetings, and membership meetings in both New York and New Jersey. I have represented locals at contract arbitrations and mediations. I provided my locals with the resources they needed from the IAFF to be successful. I have encouraged members to get involved politically and to participate in the FIREPAC. FIREPAC has been able to provide crucial support for our endorsed candidates in both New York and New Jersey.
The following are some highlights from the states in my district.
New York
The NYSPFFA continues to build on its success with President Fresina, the new Secretary-Treasurer Eddie Santiago, and the executive board. There has been a lot of success legislatively for both the NYSPFFA and the NYC Locals. The following pieces of legislation have been passed and became law since the last convention.
The following bills were accomplished as follows:
2024
- Tier 6, 3-year final average salary.
- Tier 6, overtime pay exclusion extended.
- Extension of arbitration panels to 2029.
- Thyroid Cancer presumption.
- Non-Disclosure of Public Employee discipline records.
- Storage and distribution of blood for transfusions.
- Authorizes beneficiaries to choose between a pension benefit and a death benefit.
- $750k Health and Safety grant
2025
- LOD Widows COLA
- Phase-out of PFAS in PPE
- Final Average Salary adjustment
- $750k Health and Safety grant
2026
- Raising pensionable overtime cap from 15% to 25% for Tiers 5 and 6.
- Lowered contribution rate for Pension Tiers 5 and 6.
- Property Tax exemption for spouses of LODD members.
- $750k Health and Safety grant
- LOD Widows COLA extension
- World Trade Center Registry Extender
- World Trade Center Pension 25-year eligibility extender
- Restore true 20-year retirement for NYC
- Pension longevity enhancement for NYC
New Jersey
PFANJ President Caliente and his Executive Board continue to do strong work on behalf of their members. They have been working hard to bring new locals into the IAFF/PFANJ. The increased number of inquiries in regard to joining the IAFF is a result of seeing what the IAFF has to offer and what we can accomplish. They have organized new locals as well as expanded the size of existing locals. There have been successful mergers of smaller locals that ultimately provide a stronger union for the members.
Legislative and Pension Successes
- Secured passage and enactment of the First Responders PTSD Job Protection Act, providing employment protections for fire fighters, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, and other first responders seeking treatment for work-related PTSD.
- Successfully advocated for PFAS-Free Firefighter PPE legislation, helping reduce fire fighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in protective gear.
- Continued leadership in protecting and expanding the New Jersey Firefighter Cancer Screening Program, which has already identified numerous cancers in firefighters through early detection.
- Successfully opposed proposals that would have increased PFRS member pension contributions from 10% to 13%, protecting members from a substantial increase in payroll deductions while continuing to advocate for responsible pension enhancements that do not come at the expense of active fire fighters’ take-home pay.
Mental Health and Peer Support
- Expanded the PFANJ Peer Support Team and provided critical assistance to fire fighters and departments throughout New Jersey following traumatic incidents, including the line-of-duty death of Camden Firefighter Howard Bennett.
- Secured support from U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, who selected the PFANJ Peer Support Program for a $450,000 Congressional Directed Spending request, recognizing the program’s success and helping position it for future expansion throughout New Jersey.
In closing, I want to thank the members of the 1st District, especially the affiliate leaders, for the work they do every day to represent our members. Additionally, I want to thank IAFF General President Kelly, General Secretary Líma and the entire IAFF staff for supporting the 1st District. I will continue to focus on creating more professional fire departments as the volunteer ranks continue to dwindle and will continue to support any efforts to bring NJFMBA members into the IAFF.