Our Wins

Our advocacy and involvement take place in the halls of Congress and Parliament, state and provincial legislatures, and city halls across the U.S. and Canada.

Together – at the local, state/provincial, and International levels – we are changing the lives of fire fighters and their families for the better.

Discharge petition for Social Security Fairness Act will get a vote on House floor

A discharge petition for the IAFF-endorsed Social Security Fairness Act secured enough signatures to force a vote on the House floor – a historic step in the IAFF’s ongoing fight to eliminate the WEP and GPO penalties on retirees.

September 23, 2024
Fire fighter unions are America’s favorite labor group, new poll finds

More than seven in 10 Americans have a favorable view of labor organizations representing the fire service, according to a new YouGov poll. The International Association of Fire Fighters is the labor union for fire fighters in the United States.

September 13, 2024
Indiana laws take important steps to protect fire fighters from PFAS exposure

Indiana fire fighters hope a recently launched PFAS biomonitoring program and gear labeling requirement will lead to more protections like early screenings for related illnesses and diseases.

August 22, 2024
Summer Legislative Roundup: Your IAFF at work in Wsahington

The IAFF had major legislative victories on Capitol Hill this summer, including securing the passage of the Fire Grants and Safety Act, making important progress on a bill to honor our fallen heroes, and more.

August 15, 2024
IAFF awarded major increase in DOT grant funding

The new funding will allow the IAFF’s HazMat Training Department to certify more than 2,000 fire fighters in proper HazMat response, helping to keep them and their communities safe during hazardous material exposures.

August 14, 2024
Biden Signs Fire Grants and Safety Act

After reiterating his belief of the importance of fire fighters in communities big and small, President Biden signed the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act into law.

July 10, 2024
Fire Grants and Safety Act Passes Senate

The bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act sailed through the Senate by a vote of 88-2 in a strong show of support for America’s fire fighters. This bill reauthorizes AFG/SAFER grant funding to ensure fire fighters have the training, equipment, and staffing they need to protect their communities.

June 18, 2024
New DOT Rules Give Fire Fighters Better Protections

The change comes amid a series of rail transit reforms following the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The new rule will ensure fire fighters and other emergency response workers know what hazardous materials are traveling through their communities.

June 26, 2024
Local 1319 Wins Big in California Court

The California Court of Appeals ruling is the latest development in a decades-long legal fight between Local 1319 and the City of Palo Alto over collective bargaining rights.

June 12, 2024
IAFF Wins Removal of PFAS Foams from Airports

IAFF-endorsed legislation to fund the removal of AFFF – a common PFAS-laden firefighting foam – from use at U.S. airports was included as part of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act.

May 31, 2024
IAFF I-66 Secures Four Year Contract with Boeing

Boeing, facing multiple federal investigations for repeated safety violations, eventually returned to the negotiating table following weeks of pressure from IAFF members, political leaders, and the public. A contract that met the needs of I-66 members was eventually agreed to on May 30.

May 31, 2024
Three Cities Transition to PFAS Free Gear

Following a unanimous vote from the Board of Supervisors, San Francisco joined Concord, New Hampshire and Vancouver, British Columbia as the third North American city to require the removal of PFAS from fire fighter turnout gear and other personal protection equipment.

May 16, 2024
Fairfax County Local 2068 Honored After First Successful Contract Negotiations

The path to collective bargaining in Virginia opened in May 2021 when a law allowing the process went into effect. Now after years of negotiations, Fairfax County Local 2486 is the fourth Virginia IAFF Local to have a collective bargaining agreement in place.

April 12, 2024
Fire Fighter Makes Mark in Oregon House of Representatives

Oregon State Representative Dacia Grayber (D-Portland) dreamed of wearing a fire fighter’s uniform as a child. Now, after 16 years on the job, she’s taking her experiences in the fire service to the Oregon State House – and fighting for the issues that matter most.

April 3, 2024
Veteran Fire Fighter and Paramedic Wins Spot on Tequesta, FL City Council

Recognizing the similarities between union involvement and holding public office, fire fighter and former Local 727 President Jayson French used the knowledge he gained at IAFF Political Training Academy to secure a seat on the Tequesta, Florida city council.

April 2, 2024
PFFNH Advocates for Early Detection Screenings in New Hampshire

After tragically losing his wife to lung cancer, Hudson Local 3154 member Chris Wyman advocated tirelessly for a bill to establish early detection screenings for retired and active career fire fighters across New Hampshire.

March 22, 2024
EPA Bans Carcinogenic Asbestos in the US

In a move hailed as a milestone in public health, the Biden Administration’s EPA issued a ban on the ongoing use of raw chrysotile asbestos, a hazardous carcinogen found in various consumer goods and one of the main causes of occupational cancer in fire fighters.

March 19, 2024
Indianapolis Fire Fighters Secure Mayor's Reelection

FIREPAC works to build collective power by backing campaigns and candidates that prioritize fire fighter concerns – such as longtime Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who secured a historic third term in office with the support of Indianapolis Local 416 and FIREPAC.

March 15, 2024
Pro-Labor Mayor Elected in Houston

Houston Local 341 President Marty Lancton and Board of Directors member Roy Cormier shed light on the Local’s political efforts and the pivotal role IAFF resources played in ensuring pro-labor Mayor John Whitmire secured the city’s top job.

March 13, 2024
Repeal of Michigan's Right-to-Work Law

The right-to-work law had – since 2012 – prohibited unions from requiring nonunion employees to pay dues, even if they bargained on their behalf. MPFFU members continued to fight on behalf of unions until the repeal was passed in March 2023 and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Feb. 23, 2024
Retired Fire Captain Wins Ohio City Council Race

Richard Sacco, a respected retired fire captain and Canton, OH Local 249 member, with a lifelong dedication to public service, has triumphed in the Canton City Council Ward 8 election, bringing his passion and commitment to the forefront of local governance.

Feb. 17, 2024
Texas Court Upholds Austin Leave Provision

Austin, TX Local 975 – with assistance from the IAFF’s General Counsel – won a battle with a group of taxpayers funded by the Goldwater Institute over contract-protected association time in the Texas Court of Appeals.

Feb. 5, 2024
Military Fire Fighter PFAS Compensation Bill

H.R. 6946 seeks to establish a fund for military fire fighters to provide timely, adequate compensation to current and former military fire fighters and survivors suffering from illnesses related to on-the-job PFAS exposure.

Jan. 20, 2024
Workers' Comp for New Jersey Fire Fighters

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, with the strong support of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), signed legislation into law extending workers’ compensation coverage for fire fighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics who suffer fatal cardiac events or strokes.

Jan. 19, 2024
Houston Local 341 Wins Long Battle Over Fair Pay

Houston fire fighters had been without a contract since 2017, when negotiations with then-Mayor Sylvester Turner hit an impasse. The high court ruled in favor of Local 341, saying the city violated state law by refusing to resolve its contract dispute with the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association.

Jan. 11, 2024
Illinois Mandates Labor History Education for New Recruits

New professional fire fighters on the job in Illinois are learning the foundations of the labor movement thanks to advocacy from the AFFI.

Dec. 28, 2023
Georgia Local Ratifies Second Contract

South Fulton, GA Local 3920 achieved yet another historic milestone as its members unanimously voted to ratify their collective bargaining agreement, securing approval from the City of South Fulton for a new contract with the support of the IAFF.

Dec. 27, 2023
Motion Adopted to Strengthen Canadian Airport Firefighting Regulations

Motion M-96 points out shortfalls in the Canadian Aviation Regulations requirements for airport firefighting and asks the Canadian Government to bring them up to International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

Dec. 15, 2023
Three Philly Fire Companies Reopen Thanks to $22.4 Million SAFER Award

The SAFER grant will fund the salaries and benefits of 72 Philadelphia fire fighters/EMTs at Engine 6, Ladder 1, and Ladder 11 for three years.

Dec. 12, 2023
St. Louis Boeing Fire Fighters Win Big During Contract Negotiations

The Boeing Fire Fighters Local I-66 St. Louis, Missouri, chapter has won a new contract after facing threats of a lockout from one of the largest corporations in the world.

Dec. 6, 2023
IAFF Influence Moves Newark Closer to Enacting Safety Measures

In the face of mounting pressure from the IAFF and others, Newark, New Jersey, officials recently proposed several safety measures after two fire fighters – Augusto “Augie” Acabou and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr – died responding to a July cargo ship fire.

Nov. 28, 2023
Ontario Local Saves Dispatchers' Jobs

Advocacy by Orillia, ON Local 1100 and the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association saved the jobs of four member dispatchers after the city reversed a decision made to contract out the service.

Nov. 18, 2023
West Virginia Fire Fighters Win Holiday Backpay

Morgantown, WV Local 313 fire fighters won holiday backpay dating to 2014 after the State Supreme Court ruled in their favor. Morgantown fire fighters were not being fully compensated for holiday hours in a dispute with the city that dates to at least 1985.

Nov. 16, 2023