Around the coffee table, our shift was discussing how nice it was to have I.A.F.F. stickers on our apparatus and helmets. How many have or know of other fire departments that allow I.A.F.F. stickers on their apparatus or helmets?
IN ST. lOUIS COUNTY WE HAVE THEM ON OUR HELMETS AND TRUCKS. WE ALSO HAVE PATCHES ON DRESS UNIFORMS. WE ALSO HAVE EMBROIDERD LOGOS ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SLEEVES. ST. LOUIS COUNTY LOCAL 2665 IS A VERY STRONG AND BIG UNION. BUT HERE IN ST. LOUIS CITY WE HAVE NONE OF THE ABOVE . ST. LOUIS IS DEVIDED WITH ONE UNION AND A GROUP CALLED FIRE A BLACK RACIAL GROUP WHO DOES NOT ALLOW WHITES TO JOIN. FIREFIGHTER INSTITUTE RACIAL EQUALITY. I DONT KNOW WHAT IS SO EQUAL WHEN THEY DONT ALLOW WHITES. SCABS I GUESS . SO NO ON UNION LOGOS HERE.
Yes and no. Some engine and truck put them on the glass on their own. I think that is o.k. what irks me is union brothers who give a sticker to their latest flavor of the week so these girls can "get out of a ticket". It is an honor to belong to the union let the dues are a fortune.
We have just added them to our rigs and helmets in the last couple of years, my suggestion would be to approach the idea with the Chief first. See how open minded he is, some will view the union as an assest and not a threat.
Permalink Reply by Mike on August 18, 2008 at 11:43am
We have stickers on both apparatus and trucks.
Permalink Reply by Mike on August 18, 2008 at 11:44am
I meant to say apparatus and helmets.
Permalink Reply by Jeff on August 19, 2008 at 11:35pm
We now have them on our helmets and are allowed on a sweatshirt. I know our dept. has come a long way.