International Association of Fire Fighters

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a labor union representing paid full-time firefighters and emergency medical services personnel in the United States and Canada. It is not specific to a particular EIN or local chapter such as iaff856.com.

History

The IAFF was established on February 28, 1918, when thirty-six fire fighter delegates gathered at the first IAFF Convention in Washington, D.C., to adopt the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws[1][2]. The union was formed to unite fire fighters for better wages, improved safety, and greater service to their communities[3].

Mission and Activities

The IAFF's mission is to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members. It also advocates for improved safety, collective bargaining rights, staffing, line-of-duty deaths, health care, pensions, and safety issues[2][3]. The IAFF is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada[2].

Membership and Structure

As of 2024, the IAFF has more than 344,440 members in over 3,500 affiliate organizations across the United States and Canada[2]. Membership is open to full-time paid firefighters and emergency medical technicians but not volunteer firefighters[2].

IAFF Programs and Initiatives

• FIREPAC: The IAFF's political action committee, established in 1978, is one of the most active PACs in the country, supporting candidates favorable to firefighters regardless of party affiliation[5].
• IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery: Established to provide treatment and support for members dealing with post-traumatic stress and co-occurring addictions[2].
• IAFF Charitable Foundation: Founded in 2011 to assist members affected by natural disasters and promote fire and burn prevention[5].
• IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial: A memorial honoring IAFF members who have died in the line of duty[5].
• Muscular Dystrophy Association Support: The IAFF is the largest national sponsor of the MDA, raising funds through the "Fill the Boot" campaign[5].

Legislative Engagement

The IAFF hosts an annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., which is the largest legislative conference of any union in the country[2]. Attendees have included prominent political figures, highlighting the IAFF's influence in national politics[2].

[1] https://www.iaff2067.org/aboutus.html [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Fire_Fighters [3] https://iaff2498.org/visitors/history-of-iaff.html [4] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Fire_Fighters [5] https://calgaryfirefighters.org/index.php?9-iaff-history