2/1/2010
President's Budget Provides Funding for Fire Service Programs
| February 1, 2010 -- The White House has unveiled the president's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. The proposal includes $305 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, $305 million for Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants, $28 million for Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) and more than $2 billion to state governments and urban areas to improve their emergency response capabilities. |
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1/28/2010
Schaitberger Delivers Inspiring Human Relations Conference Address
| January 28, 2010 - As the Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference got underway in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 24-27, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger addressed Conference attendees. |
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1/28/2010
Human Relations Conference Renews Commitment to Inclusivity
| January 28, 2010 -- Attendees at the 2010 Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference enjoyed inspirational stories and advice from distinguished presenters in the fields of civil rights, diversity and conflict resolution. More than 300 fire fighters from throughout the United States and Canada came together in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 24-27, 2010, to celebrate the progress that has been made toward making the fire service more inclusive and to honestly discuss the long road that still lies ahead. |
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1/21/2010
IAFF Recognizes Manitoba Premier for Legislative Efforts
 | January 21, 2010 -- IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and fire fighters from Manitoba and Alberta presented former Manitoba Premier Gary Doer with a plaque January 21 in recognition of his legislative efforts on behalf of the province’s first responders. “Please accept this as a token of our appreciation for everything you’ve done for fire fighters over the years,” Schaitberger said during a ceremony at IAFF headquarters.
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1/20/2010
Thomas Miller Elected IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer
| January 20, 2010 -- Following the retirement of IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer Vincent J. Bollon on January 15, 2010, the IAFF Executive Board – in accordance with the IAFF Constitution and Bylaws – has elected Thomas H. Miller, to finish the term. “Tommy Miller has demonstrated his ability to lead on the local, state and international levels of this great union,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “I have no doubt he will continue to be an invaluable asset to our members in his new capacity as General Secretary-Treasurer.”
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1/15/2010
January 15 Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax
| January 15, 2010 -- With a health care reform deal announced loudly in the media between “labor,” the administration and Congress on changes to the excise tax provision, I want to provide you a new update today that outlines some of the key elements of that deal and what we know about the potential impact they will have on each and every one of you. |
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1/14/2010
Updated Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax
| January 14, 2010 -- We are fully aware of the media reports this afternoon that there has been a deal reached between "labor," the White House and Congressional leaders on the excise tax in the health care reform legislation being debated. On a conference call with the AFL-CIO Executive Council just minutes ago, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka provided a report that outlined that purported "deal." Let me state right here that this IAFF was not afforded an opportunity to be a part of the labor committee that participated in negotiations with the White House and Congressional leaders over the changes that are being reportedly made to the excise tax provision in the bill. |
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1/13/2010
IAFF Members on USAR Teams Deployed to Haiti
 | January 13, 2010 – In the aftermath of the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams comprised of IAFF members from across the country are en route to the disaster zone to perform rescue operations, provide medical care and other needed emergency services. |
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1/13/2010
MSNBC Interview: Schaitberger Hammers Excise Tax on 'Ed Show'
| January 13, 2010 -- Watch IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" as he discusses the misguided excise tax on the premiums of some health plans that is in the bill passed by the Senate. The Senate bill will either impose a tax on health care premiums provided to thousands of America's fire fighters, or to avoid the tax those benefits will be slashed. |
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1/11/2010
Fire Fighters Rip Obama For Breaking Campaign Promise Over Cadillac Tax
| January 11, 2010 -- The International Association of Fire Fighters--an influential union that belongs to the AFL-CIO--has released the strongest condemnation yet of President Obama's support for taxing high-end health insurance plans as a means of financing a major health care overhaul--accusing him of breaking a campaign promise, and threatening to hold him accountable. |
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1/11/2010
Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax
| January 11, 2010 -- Throughout the debate on health care reform, even before the proposed excise tax on so-called high cost health plans was proposed, our union has made it clear to Congress and President Obama that our goal is reducing health care costs while preserving the benefits our members already have without piling more taxes on the backs of hardworking Americans. |
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1/6/2010
Fit to Survive Features More Ways to Stay Healthy
| January 6, 2010 -- Start the New Year off on a healthy note -- visit the Fit to Survive web site for new tools designed to improve your health, wellness and nutrition. |
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12/24/2009
Save $5 on Your Next Purchase in the IAFF Online Store
| December 24, 2009 -- Order the 2010 IAFF Burn Foundation Calendar and save $5 towards your next purchase in the IAFF Online Store and IAFF Everyday Heroes Online Store. Limited quantities are still available |
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12/24/2009
IAFF Joins With HHS to Encourage H1N1 Vaccinations
| December 24, 2009 -- More than 110 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine are now available, with more coming every day. Now is the time to protect yourself and those around you by getting vaccinated against the H1N1 flu. |
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12/23/2009
IAFF Statement on Pending Senate Approval of Health Care Reform Legislation
| December 23, 2009 -- The IAFF is disappointed that the U.S. Senate has chosen to pay for reform of the nation’s health care system by taxing people who work for a living by imposing an excise tax on health care plans that cover our members today. |
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12/22/2009
New Season of Escape to the Wild Starts January 3
| December 22, 2009 – Big dreams, big game and big surprises weave together in an extraordinary new season of Escape to the Wild as host Tom Ackerman takes hardworking union members away from the everyday to experience once-in-a-lifetime hunting and fishing adventures. All-new episodes air Sundays at 9:30 a.m. EST on VERSUS Country beginning January 3. |  |
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12/18/2009
Bill Bans Hazardous Flame Retardant
| December 18, 2009 -- The IAFF applauds Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) for introducing a bill to ban decabromine, a flame retardant. The bill coincides with an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a scheduled withdrawal of decabromine from the domestic marketplace. |
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12/17/2009
SAFER Grant Application Period Extended to January 15
| December 17, 2009 -- Working closely with the IAFF to streamline the application process and ensure that as many jurisdictions as possible are eligible and actually apply for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended the FY 2009 grant application period to January 15, 2010. As a result of the extension, peer panel reviews will take place in February 2010. |
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12/15/2009
Special Tribute to Vincent J. Bollon
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12/3/2009
IAFF Instructors Meet in San Antonio
| December 3, 2009 -- More than 140 IAFF Hazardous Materials/WMD, Partnership Education Program (PEP) and Peer Fitness Trainer (PFT) instructors are in San Antonio, Texas, this week for the annual IAFF Instructor Development Conference (IDC). The Conference is an opportunity for instructors from the three programs to jointly practice proven instructional techniques, network and learn from experts and each other to enhance the IAFF’s ability to provide superior-quality, job-specific education across all spectrums of the fire service to its members. |
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