Of 267,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, UFA

[papau]

(the NYC Uniformed Firefighters Association and its 8,800 active -plus 11,000? retired members) seems to be the only union to stand with Bush!

http://www.iaff.org/
International Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Ave., NW,
Washington, DC 20006 • 202.737.8484 • 202.737.8418 (Fax)
The IAFF is the 16th largest union among the 64 nation unions that make up the AFL-CIO/CLC, representing more than 267,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who protect 80 percent of the population on the continent.


http://www.firefightersforkerry.com/campaign/story_72.php
New York Fire Fighters Overwhelmingly Endorse Kerry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2004

Contacts:
Charles J. Morello, President NYSPFFA, 518-436-8827
Peter Gorman, FDNY Officers, 212-293-9300
Samuel Fresina, Albany Local 2007, 518-365-3746
John Janos, Binghamton Local 729, 607-427-4683
Joseph Foley, Buffalo Local 282, 716-998-4130
Joseph Montesano, Rochester Local 1071, 585-458-9250
Joseph Carrier, White Plains Local 274, 914-684-0027
Jeff Zack, IAFF, 202-824-1506 or 202-360-9778

New York Fire Fighter Locals Overwhelmingly
Endorse JOHN KERRY For President

FDNY Officers, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, White Plains

Among Over 100 Local Affiliates in the NYSPFFA to Endorse John Kerry

Albany, NY Professional Fire Fighters from across the State of New York recently gathered in Binghamton for their Annual Convention. By a huge plurality they endorsed John Kerry for President. New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association President Charles J. Morello issued this statement on the endorsement:

Fire fighters’ support of Kerry is based on the records of the two candidates, which couldn’t be more different when it comes to delivering for fire fighters in New York and across the country.

George Bush failed to direct homeland security funding after 9/11 to high-threat areas, leading to an unexplainable discrepancy in homeland security funding of $5.42 per capita in New York, versus $37.94 for Wyoming in 2003. Bush also opposed funding the Fire Act, and in fact had to be forced by Congress to provide any funding in its first two years, which provides local fire departments with the resources they need. He continues to oppose a program, which would add fire fighters in two-thirds of communities across the country that have an inadequate number of fire fighters. His 2005 budget cuts homeland security funding for first responders by $700 million from current levels, and Bush actively opposes collective bargaining rights for all fire fighters. And when it comes to all workers, our country’s lost over 2 million jobs, including thousands of hi-tech jobs from New York, which have been sent overseas, health care costs are up, and fewer people are covered.

Compare that to John Kerry’s over 20-year record of supporting first responders. He authored the Father Mychal Judge Act to hire 100,000 fire fighters. John Kerry is an original co-sponsor of our national collective bargaining bill, he co-sponsored the establishment of the FIRE Act and has supported fully funding the program, year after year, even as George W. Bush zeroed out the program.

In addition to the support for NYSPFFA’s endorsement of Kerry by virtually every local in the state, the International Association of Fire Fighters Executive Board unanimously voted to endorse John Kerry in September 2003. Since that time, the union’s members have become a mainstay at Kerry events across the country, from the earliest days of the primaries to the latest campaigning in the battleground states where this election will really be decided.

The NYSPFFA represents approximately 20,000 fire fighters and paramedics in New York State. It is an affiliate of the IAFF headquartered in Washington, DC. The IAFF is the 16th largest union among the 64 nation unions that make up the AFL-CIO/CLC, representing more than 267,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who protect 80 percent of the population on the continent. More than 2,900 affiliates keep safe nearly 6,000 communities in every state in the U.S. and in every region in Canada. The IAFF is one of the most active lobbying organizations in Washington and its Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, is in the top 1% of all PACs.

[kikiek]

1. I found their page they are expecting something in return. Including the

leader who has higher aspirations from what I read. I think it is disgusting. http://www.ufalocal94.org/news_stories/chiefleader/cl_08_25_04.html

[papau]

2. UFA Pres Cassidy supported GOP Gov to get better contract!?! & wants to

be International Association of Firefighters President rather than Harold Schaitberger. Seems Harold made himself a major labor player in the Democratic Party with his early endorsement of John Kerry's candidacy.

Acticle suggests that if a UFA endorsement of Mr. Bush helped propel the Bush to a second term, it would give Mr. Cassidy similar stature with Republican leaders and position him as a potential challenger to Mr. Schaitberger within the IAFF.

Interesting!

Great link!

:-)

[blm]

3. So that is why they hurried those skewed polls through last week, too.

Cassidy was probably reluctant to support a candidate who was not getting any higher in the polls. So all these bogus rightwing polls came out.

[papau]

4. I think you may have a point - pretend Bush as the MO - and maybe the

after convention polls will show a point or two bounce.