IAFF v. Vollies

As a former vollie and now a paid guy it is always something on my mind.
WHo is out there for the Vollies?

We paid folk have the IAFF and other organizations, but who do the vollies turn to? Isnt there some way they could have their own "branch" with in the IAFF. Afterall it is the International Association of Fire Fighters. Not the International association of PAYED Fire Fighters!

Any thoughts?

Where does a vollie turn?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on March 31, 2009 at 6:41pm
FETC....You only read what you want don't you....? This was intended for what the "Vollies" do....I expect that we all look out for each other....BUT...being on the Vollie side of the coin I cannot speak for the Career people...only the ones I work with....Don't get yourself all worked up now....Paul
Permalink Reply by FETC on March 31, 2009 at 6:46pm
I'm not worked up at all, but hey If I were to post the exact same comment as yours but state a career guy looks over at his fellow brother or sister I would expect someone to say what the heck?

Maybe you should have posted the disclaimer on the original post because if you read it again it is very open for interpretation.
Permalink Reply by Paul Young on March 31, 2009 at 8:18pm
In Texas they have the State Firemens and Fire Marshalls Association. There are conventions, reps and legal advice as well as a pension fund.
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on March 31, 2009 at 9:32pm
"Unless you are a big, probably 1000 members or more department, they will not come when you call them for 99% of things you would want them to."

Hey Brooks, I have to disagree in regard to a couple of things you said. My department has a little over 200 uniformed personnel and a very active union that has taken us into the 21st century. You don't need >1,000 members to get things done for your firefighters. What you need is a political presence and involvement with who gets elected. And those folks who you support in turn support firefighter and law enforcement safety. And yes, this includes wages and working conditions. What we do fully agree on is that unity is the key word. Everyone needs to stick together, work and act professional, and remember who it is that you are serving, putting their needs ahead of your own.

My department was once upon a time all volunteer and eventually matured, got bigger, more people moved into the area, tax dollars increased and so on. Very slowly, the remaining volunteer or paid-call departments went away. With the current state of the economy, this may become more prevalent.

What makes this truly a crime is that (in my opinion) folks who are volunteers do the job for their community, families and friends. You can't get any more noble than that. This is why I have such an immense level of respect for those who don't do it for a paycheck, but instead for the reasons noted.
Permalink Reply by EngineLadder on March 31, 2009 at 10:43pm
Jake if you don't like the union then go back to squirreling its that easy.
Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on March 31, 2009 at 10:49pm
Thanks for the info my people!
Smoke EaterPermalink Reply by Smoke Eater on March 31, 2009 at 11:58pm
Yeah we get enough of that stuff
Permalink Reply by Jeff Wright on April 1, 2009 at 12:20am
Jake, here in Kentucky,we have the Kentucky Firefighter Assc. and most every region has a firefighting assc. About every county has a chief's assc also. All have some of perts, death & accident insurance and alikes. The IFAA takes in almost all the paid departments, if the city goverment will OK them but it's not a sure thing. Our elected officals work well with all the groups... I know that every state and city are differant......
Permalink Reply by Jason Koontz on April 1, 2009 at 12:26am
Here in California we have the CSFA, the California State Firemans Association. It takes ALL firefighters, whether union, paid-call, or volunteer. They seem to be pretty active, although I've never had need to look into their services when it comes to dealing with the same things the union offers protection for. And as for the IAFF, well, I have my own views based on my own experiences. We'll just say the bad parts I blame on people, not a labor union.
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on April 1, 2009 at 12:22pm
EngineLadder:
Jake never said that he didn't like the union.
Stop trolling for a fight.
He asked a question.
Just thought I would point that out.
TCSS.
Art
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on April 1, 2009 at 12:26pm
Jake:
There is a national organization called the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).
For dues, they will keep you posted on legislation. They do not arbitrate vollie problems.
However; I would be available.
Volunteers in Illinois are getting a stronger voice because we have some state legislators working for us. It takes awhile to establish relationships, but in a state where we would only see legislation passed for career departments, we are seeing many laws passed for the vollie/POC departments as well.
You have to SPEAK UP if you want to be heard.
TCSS.
Art
Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 1, 2009 at 12:28pm
EngineLadder

Never said I didnt like the union at all! Again...all I asked was where do vollies turn in time of need...It's not a career vs. Vollie arguement, it's not a fight...it was just a question. As you read, I was a vollie before career. I loved my time there and support ALL in the fire service, I was just wondering what avenues they have to follow for labor questions or disputes, management issues, equipment etc. Didn't mean to get anybodies "hackles" up. Just a question was all.

Thank you...I appreciate all the information shared.

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