How would YOU improve the IAFF ?

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

Let's try to keep it civil and practical. I would urge the Executive Board to tread lightly in 2008... Next.

[Tann3100]

Let's try to keep it civil and practical. I would urge the Executive Board to tread lightly in 2008... Next.

Well depends on are we talking local level or federal level. I think alot of issues lie with locals that dont have collective bargaining rights. And of course the local leaders dont want to have nothing to do with this. So that leads me to another point I think as a whole we need to work harder to pass legislation granting firefighters the right to collectively bargain nationwide. And with a new democratic congress I hope this can be passed without the veto by the president .

On local level I think at ours we need to improve the communications between the e board and members. And improve communications in general between each other.

[BCmdepas3280]

Let's try to keep it civil and practical. I would urge the Executive Board to tread lightly in 2008... Next.

Why should we tread lightly in 08? ....contrary to popular opinions on these board. My national reps were given there marching orders by a vote from my local...who gave it to my state reps... who in turn gave to the national reps. They did nothing wrong in 04' and I expect they will support the right person in 08'

[KeithA8]

The IAFF itself? I think it's prety good the way it is. I also hope to see collective barganing nation wide, but this is not the IAFFs fault. We all know they have been fighting for it for years!

Individual Locals? Well it seems we do not have the same union portrayed throughout the land. In these forums I hear people say they did not even know they were IAFF members until the dues came out of their pay check. Where is the orientation these new members are suposed to receive?

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

Let me clarify my thoughts on 2008. I think the union should not jump in and endorse any particular presidential candidate too early. Once that endorsement is made then lets go get em.

[SPFDRum]

As a whole I think the IAF is doing a real decent job. Do I at times disagree with their political selections, of-coarse. But they are the most bi-partisan of any big union around. With their support directly focused on a canidates veiws on our issues, no matter the affiliation. Same goes with my local, I don't also agree with some of their choices. Yet I still have a voice and can vote on it, if I'm in the minority, so be it. I'm not going to pick up my toys and go home. I still give pac money every check.
The one thing I would like to see is more local and nation media attention and advertisement. Educating the public on what it is to have professional fire protection and medical care. Tie that in with the burn foundation and MDA, I think we would have a winner. We have to have the ability and resources to produce either a decent print add or commercial that locals could use. If we can win in the court of public opinion and keep it, our endorsed canidates will benifit that much more.

[Catch22]

Politically: I'd like to see them reconsider endorsing candidates. I feel like it's a double-edged blade. If the candidate you back loses, why would the winner feel obligated to listen to anything you have to say? Back the hell out of legistation, bills, etc that are beneficial.

A little more efforts in the rural areas would hurt, either. Then again, neither would a little more cooperation with other organizations when fighting for legislation that that's beneficial to all firefighters.

In general: I'd like to see a little more open-mindedness toward some issues, or putting more responsiblity in the local's hands on certain matters.

Overall I can't complain, though. I think they're doing a good job targetting certain issues, perhaps not putting as much as I think they should into them, but at least they're pushing them nonetheless.

[Tann3100]

Politically: I'd like to see them reconsider endorsing candidates. I feel like it's a double-edged blade. If the candidate you back loses, why would the winner feel obligated to listen to anything you have to say? Back the hell out of legistation, bills, etc that are beneficial.

Heard this asked before. If you come out against a candiate and they actually win which in most cases it is a real close race. Well the candiate sees this and then he would like you to back him the next time to pick up all the extra votes. I have seen this happen with other locals so it is not always a double edge sword. We just went throught that here on a state level our candiate won by 110 votes not much much he won. Beleive the other candiate paid alot of attention to that.

Sincerely
Tann

[Catch22]

Heard this asked before. If you come out against a candiate and they actually win which in most cases it is a real close race. Well the candiate sees this and then he would like you to back him the next time to pick up all the extra votes. I have seen this happen with other locals so it is not always a double edge sword. We just went throught that here on a state level our candiate won by 110 votes not much much he won. Beleive the other candiate paid alot of attention to that.

Sincerely
Tann

OK, two sides to every coin. I would like to see more money spend on the issues though. After all, why in the world does the IAFF need to support a candidate for state auditor when the money could go better toward other endeavors?

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

A timely reminder

FirePac comes from indvidual members contributions. Not your per capita. At the state level our local does use part of our dues for the Illinois Pac. We voted to do this and its around 3 bucks per member per month.

[Catch22]

FirePac comes from indvidual members contributions. Not your per capita. At the state level our local does use part of our dues for the Illinois Pac. We voted to do this and its around 3 bucks per member per month.

OK, maybe a misunderstanding on my part. I thought all PAC money when to political endorsements, not just candidates but bills, legislation, etc.

Didn't the PAC thing get changed a couple years ago, where PAC money had to be used as opposed to the general revenue? I remember some kind of stink over it, but don't remember what it was all about now.

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

Directly from the IAFF web site

How is My Contribution Used?

Your FIREPAC contribution allows the IAFF to educate members of Congress about issues important to your profession as fire fighters and emergency medical personnel and elect candidates to office that support those issues.

During the 2003-2004 election cycle, FIREPAC contributed more than $2.2 million to over 330 pro-IAFF candidates running for Congress, in both U.S. Senate and House of Representatives races across the country.

While many candidates solicit FIREPAC contributions, not all are successful in receiving one. To be eligible to receive a FIREPAC contribution, candidates must meet specific criteria. For incumbents, FIREPAC reviews voting records on IAFF issues, weighs the difficulty of the race and surveys the level of participation IAFF locals have in the campaign. Challengers must complete a candidate questionnaire detailing their positions on a number of IAFF legislative issues. FIREPAC also assesses polling data, the candidate’s viability, the level of support from IAFF locals, and if applicable, voting records on IAFF issues at the local level.

[Catch22]

Y'all are quite the educators on union ways. I actually appreciate it, it's a shame my local doesn't do more of it.

[ekhaber]

I think the IAFF and the AFFI are doing a fantastic job. Harold is a brilliant, just check out the IAFF web site to see how very succesful we were, same for the state.

I feel we are a much more powerful union because of the recent victories.

March on Harold!!!!!!!

[Kevin65]

For starters I would elect IAFF First District Vice President and former New York Uniformed Fire Fighters Local 94 President Kevin Gallagher to the General President's spot. Harold Schaitberger is OK but I'm a northeast guy.