MainLine - San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

Brothers and Sisters,The International Association of FireFighters has grown into a political powerhousein the Nation’s Capitol and in statehouses, county and city halls across thecountry.Over the past decade, the symbolismof our profession and the image of ourfire fighters and paramedics decked outin this union’s trademark gold and blackhave become one of the most soughtafter endorsements in politics at everylevel. We have grown what was a modestfederal Political Action Committee (PAC)into one of the top federal PACs in the nation.Last election cycle, FIREPAC was in thetop 1.1 percent of the more than 7,100federally registered PACs in terms of dollarsraised and was the 10th largest PAC incandidate contributions. It was also oneof the most bi-partisan PACs.In total, we spent close to $15 million inthe last election cycle on behalf of federalcandidates and both political parties,helping to elect those who support usand defeat those who oppose us.But the attacks launched at our memberssince the November 2010 elections havechanged the landscape.Extreme right-wing conservative and socalledTea Party politicians are coming afterfire fighters, paramedics and all publicworkers with a vengeance across theUnited States. They are attempting to takeaway basic American rights like collectivebargaining and your right to negotiate fora good quality of life for your families.They are working to eliminate your pensionsand retirement security. They wantto silence your voice by gagging you withlegislation they call Paycheck Protection.They are taking away the long-held rightof dues deductions from paychecks totry to weaken the finances of our union.They want to hurt all unions and drivedown wages and benefits with Right-to-Work laws.Not only are extremist Republicans tryingto destroy us -- too few Democrats arestanding up and fighting for us.Over the past two years, politicians fromboth parties have failed to address our issuesin Washington, DC. Now, anti-labormembers of Congress and their allies arechampioning measures that would underminepension security, tax employersponsoredhealth benefits, force newlyhired fire fighters into Social Security andattack federal fire fighters. And with nopro-fire fighter legislation likely to be advancedin the 112th Congress – it’s timeto take a stand.With the survival of our union and theability to preserve and protect the rights,wages and benefits our members deservein jeopardy in the states, we havere-evaluated how to get the best resultsfor our political dollars.With the full support of our union’s ExecutiveBoard, we are turning off the spigotto federal candidates and federal parties,party committees and the super PACsthat are created to support them.Historically, FIREPAC has made most ofits contributions to federal candidates.But it’s time to send a clear message toall politicians at every level that the supportof this IAFF is not automatic. It mustbe earned.The reputation of our members and ourprofession in the political arena mustnot be taken for granted. Our supportcomes with consequences for those whoare working to kill this union, and we willhold accountable those supposed friendswho don’t stand up for us.Now more than ever, as our adversariesspeak and act with a concerted, focusedmessage, we need our friends to respondwith similar strength and leadership tobeat back the multi-faceted, well-organizedassaults the right has launched atus – funded by anti-labor extremists likethe multi-billionaire Koch brothers. Andwhile we are fighting for our very survival,our friends aren’t doing enough tofight back -- they don’t have our backs.Re-focusing our work on the states willserve to bolster the “Fighting Back” campaignwe have initiated. “Fighting Back”is a coordinated effort with our state andlocal affiliates involving various IAFF Divisions:Communications and Media, Governmentand Political Affairs, Safety andHealth, Technical Assistance, GIS, EMSand Education.Through this campaign, we have engagedin an internal and external effort to educateour members and the public on thesemisguided attacks – through television,newspaper, Internet and social media --to literally fight back with everything wehave. For a complete explanation of the“Fighting Back” campaign.We know we have legislative fights, ballotmeasures and re-call elections thatwill require us to be on the offensive atthe state and local level through this fall.I expect this strategic decision to focusour resources on state and local efforts,and the freezing of federal contributions,to last as long as the fights in the statesremain at such a high level and until wesee some real results and leadership fromthose in Washington, DC on our members’behalf.Sticking together and having each other’sbacks is part of this great profession wecall “the job.” It’s the core principle of ourpolitical work. And sticking to it is whatwill ensure that we ultimately prevail inthe fights we face across America today.In Solidarity,Harold Schaitberger20 Main Line www.sffdlocal798.org