International Association of Firefighters Convention 51st bi-annual Philadelphia July 21 - 27
	Most of the Executive Board was at work back in Philadelphia last week to set the goals and objectives for the next 2 years of the IAFF. We heard from multiple speakers about just how bad it is across the country. Union leader after Union leader rose to speak of pay cuts, fire station closures, lay offs, attacks and terminations of firefighters due to the economy. As you may know in Scranton PA, the mayor reduced all municipal employees pay to minimum wage one day. just walked in and told them they were now making less than a fry cook at the local fast food restaurant. Fortunately Scranton Local 60 stood up to this mayor and fought back. During our convention numerous firefighters went to Scranton to protest this action. We are happy to report as of July 30th, all firefighters have been returned to their negotiated salary. At the convention President Gillotte chaired the elections committee that oversaw the elections of the convention. There were some heavily contested elections for VP in districts on the Eastern part of the country but the 10th district that we reside in had no contested election. Also during our convention the 3000 members in attendance voted on a few resolutions to guide the IAFF and its membership. One of the resolutions will help to educate the members of the IAFF on cancer awareness. The membership made an amendment to the resolution to add the Firefighter Cancer Support Network as a partner to work ion conjunction with the IAFF to accomplish this. This is a great push for the FCSN. We congratulate the IAFF and the FCSN on this resolution.

Stop the Special Exemptions Act

As we have been telling you come November 6th, 2012 We will be in the fight of our life (once again). This is the third attack on us (Prop 226, Prop 75) that is designed to eliminate us for the political arena at minimum. As we all know we support those politicians who support firefighter issues. Does that make us a special interest? Is a bus driver who supports issues to make it safer for kids to ride on the bus considered a special interest? Is a police officer who supports legislation to make it harder for criminals to get out of prison a special interest? Are firefighters a special interest because we fight to keep fire stations open so no citizens safety is at risk? If that what a special interest is then yes we are.

The people and corporations we are up against want everyone to believe that unions and corporations are the problem with our political system. They want everyone to be fooled into thinking this is political reform at it's finest. Well it's not. Read the initiative. The biggest problem with it in the language is that "unions and corporations are banned from using dues paying members dues for politics". Yes we use a small portion of your dues for political action. Corporations don't have dues paying members.

Back in the beginning of July, for 3 nights we had almost 100 firefighters calling 1014 members, both current and retired, to inform them on what Prop 32 is all about. Shortly we will be calling again. Please sign-up at local1014.org to get updates and be ready to come help. We are going to need everyone to help to fight for our livelihood.

Please get involved and pay attention to this issue. If we lose the election on November 6th we stand to lose everything 1014 and Unions have fought for over the last 50+ years.

Total amount raised over 3 days = $248,312.77

Difference from last year = -$8,793.92

Most amount raised by a battalion = $ 24,102.00

Most amount raised overall from 1 location = $15,199.56

Largest amount raised in 1 day from 1 location = Tuesday July 24th, BN 5 (Coast side) $7,352.38

All we can say is AMAZING. While in Philadelphia for the I.A.F.F. Convention, as we wrote while there, we were able to meet Firefighter Shaun Probert. If you haven't seen his story and why we do this every year click here to see his story of how the MDA is helping him AND one of his daughters deal with very difficult diseases.

Thank you to the Fire Chief and his staff for continuing to support us in the efforts to raise money for MDA.