Membership 101
The IAFF is your union, and we are here to support you. Learn what it means to be a union member, what categories of membership are available to you, and the tools and resources available to IAFF members.
What is a union?
Union members work together to negotiate and enforce a contract with management that guarantees things you care about like fair wages and good benefits, including healthcare, job and retirement security, and safe and respectful workplaces.
Unions elect their leaders democratically who then advocate for them when negotiating with management. This process is facilitated through the collective bargaining process. Workers in unions receive higher pay, better benefits, have better job security, and stay safer on the job then non-union members.
Why should I join the IAFF?
The IAFF is the largest and most powerful labor union for fire fighters and emergency medical service workers in North America. For over 100 years, the IAFF has been advocating for safe working conditions, collective bargaining, better pay and benefits, and retirement security for its members. With nearly 350,000 members and growing across the U.S. and Canada, we harness the power of our membership and invest it right back in our members and our union. We offer tools, resources, and benefits to ensure our members and affiliate leaders can advocate for themselves, their families, and their union brothers and sisters at the bargaining table.
Joining the IAFF
Individuals cannot join the IAFF. To become an active member of the IAFF, an individual must join a chartered local union affiliated with the IAFF.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Types of IAFF Affiliates
- State Association (A)
- Provincial Association (C)
- Federal Local (F)
- Industrial Local (I)
- Municipal Local (L)
- State Local (S)
Categories of Membership
The IAFF Constitution and By-Laws provides (Article III, Section 1-3) for three categories of IAFF members:
- Active
- Retired-Active
- Honorary
Anyone who, at the time of application, is engaged in service within the jurisdiction of the IAFF is eligible for active membership through its’ chartered local union.
IAFF members who have retired from their respective local unions, or otherwise withdrawn from their union, as a member is good standing may be allowed to return at the local’s choosing for active-retiree membership.
Individuals who have performed meritorious service to the IAFF or distinguished public service may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the IAFF Executive Board, a subordinate IAFF union, or convention delegates.
Though not considered active members, retirees that do not have or participate in an active retiree program with their local and former/promoted members may be able to continue their relationship with the IAFF through the IAFF Alumni Program.