July 23, 2010 - The IAFF District 11 Caucus was held on July 21 and 22 in Fort Worth, TX. At a previous week’s Board meeting the IAFF Executive Board approved several resolutions for submission to the delegates at convention. The total Per Capita attached to these resolutions is 68 ½ cents. The Caucus itself sifted through roughly 47 resolutions in preparation for the 50th Convention in August. Local 2067 representatives, Butch Crawford, Tim McDermott and Greg Skelly were in attendance.

2010 IAFF 11th District Caucus Report
(submitted by Tim McDermott) (Photo Album...)

Your Local 2067 representatives attending the 11th District Caucus, held in Fort Worth, TX this week, have returned. Butch Crawford, Tim McDermott and Greg Skelly joined roughly 200 other brothers from IAFF locals from Texas and Oklahoma to discuss the various resolutions to be heard and voted upon during the upcoming IAFF 50th Convention. This caucus holds the 11th District firm in its own resolve in preparation to cast our votes at the convention. The caucus equally was a great opportunity to touch base with our fellow brothers from the area while enjoying the fellowship, food and comradery one would typically find at these events.

The Fort Worth IAFF Local 440 Union Hall was found to be an ideal setting in which to stage the procedures over the two-day gathering. The new building acquired by these Texas Firefighters was indeed impressive. A massive meeting room, clean restrooms and lobby, well organized offices and conference rooms were seen by all as a place of envy. Local 440 members have something to be very proud in calling their own.

Upon arrival, the hosts placed before the crowd a generous helping of food during the first evening. BBQ, dessert and chilled beverages flowed from the well organized kitchen thanks in part to the assistance of what appeared to be the Ladies Auxiliary of Forth Worth.

After the conclusion of our registration, dinner and greetings we found entertainment in downtown Fort Worth thanks to the knowledge that Greg had a cousin, Jamie Richards, who was performing with his country band at the local, out-door night spot, “8.0”. We were joined by a following of IAFF visitors to the event where happiness grew as the night progressed; one obviously would expect this.

The next morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m., we were down to business as the Caucus drew several honored guests. The crowd was addressed by General President Harold A. Schaitberger, General Secretary-Treasurer Thomas H. Miller, and 11th District Vice President “Sandy” McGee, among others. Prior to the remarks by those IAFF Leaders were those by Fort Worth, TX Mayor Mike Moncrief.

The theme of the day seemed to stem from the difficulties having been caused by a withering economy effecting our members around the U.S. & Canada. Some are observably worse in point than others. Fort Worth itself in fact, according to Mayor Moncrief, is working to solve a 77 million dollar gap in its own budget. Local 440 however, is comforted in a close, working relationship with Mayor Moncrief. While agreements aren’t always easy between them, his door is always propped open for this group of firefighters. The Mayor was quoted as saying, “…since 9/11 your group has been branded with a new found respect. Neither of us wishes to violate that respect. I for one will not balance our gap with the safety of your members!” Fort Worth is privileged to have such leadership in which to work with and communicate. We should all be so fortunate.

General President Harold Schaitberger energized the crowd, as he often does, with his comments concerning our task as Union officials and members. He spoke on the National Collective Bargaining Bill now being considered in Washington. The importance of this to the fire service is immeasurable. Oklahoma enjoys collective bargaining now. However, others are presently left behind in that process.

The GP spoke in depth on the economy and the effects it had on many Locals around our Country. In a great many municipalities we have seen the result others experience causing a ripple effect throughout the IAFF. Often, this sets the stage for attacks on pensions, wages and other benefits earned and bargained upon previously to be a catalyst in which a chiseling is seen by hungry city leaders. We hear words from municipalities similar to “unsustainable”, “gold plated”, “I don’t get that” and “where’s mine”. As members of the IAFF, and the Norman Fire Department, we expect nothing less than to receive the resources needed to accomplish our jobs; doing so safely and effectively.

The IAFF is working hard, from the top at the International in Washington to each individual Local in communities around the nation, to battle a misleading and/or misguided believe that we must pay for the shortcomings of a downed economy with the safety, sweat and merits of our membership.

Mr. Schaitberger rolled a great deal of his comments into the battleground of today. Local Political Action Committees are the key to what now needs to be accomplished in surviving the war being raged on our Locals. Every aspect of our lives can be traced in varying measure to someone holding political office or some element affected by politics. “We are not a club! We are a trade union!” Therefore, Norman Professional Firefighters, along with Locals everywhere, must arm ourselves with the same battleground gear in which our foes are equipped. In addition to helping fire friendly candidates in our own community and state, Washington D.C. has become the ‘local’ political action area for all of us as well. The battle waging in a town three states away is also our shared theatre of war. Until we come to understand this, we will remain having one foot stuck in a yielding, local pep-club.

The IAFF has a big job ahead. The resolutions presented today, as they will be with perhaps some modifications at the 50th Convention, are another stepping stone to further the work of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Brought to mind today in our Political Action, Graphical Information Systems, Safer Grants, and other items bolstered by the ‘International’ are but a sampling of things to be improved upon with our help at the upcoming convention in San Diego, CA this August.