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International
Association of Fire Fighters History
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page 2 of 2
The potential profits from providing EMS has drawn the attention of
many large corporations which are fighting to privatize many municipal
services. The IAFF has been involved in a city-by-city battle over EMS. At
the same time, even as safety improvements spearheaded by the IAFF made
many aspects of the fire fighters' job less dangerous, a variety of new
occupational hazards appeared including that of chemicals, hazardous
materials, and infectious diseases. The IAFF moved to the forefront of
these areas, developing an extensive Hazardous Materials training program
for fire and emergency personnel and winning a lengthy legislative battle
in Washington to enact an infectious disease notification law for fire
fighters.
 1901
The AFL charters the first Union of Fire Fighters in Washington D.C.
1903
Pittsburgh fire
fighters organize and affiliate themselves with the AFL, becoming Local #1
of the IAFF in 1918.
1917
Firefighters in Vancouver B.C. become the first in Canada to form a
firefighters union.
1917
A motion is passed at the AFL convention in Buffalo, N.Y. authorizing
the president of the AFL to form an international Union of Fire Fighters
chartered under the AFL.
1918
The average firefighter earns 29 cents an hour and works either a
continuous duty system or 84 hours per week.
1918
The first IAFF
Convention is held in Washington D.C. on February 28th with 36 firefighter
delegates. 5,400 fire fighters become the first members of the new IAFF.
1921
IAFF membership grows to over 20,000 members.
1938
The first article in a series on heart disease among firefighters is
published in The International Fire Fighter.
1939
The IAFF assists locals in Pennsylvania to pass the first Heart and Lung
Act, Workers Compensation Act, and the Occupational Disease Law
establishing the first presumptive heart and lung legislation.
1939
U.S. Congress repeals laws prohibiting the Washington D.C. Fire
Department from being affiliated with the IAFF.
1943
The average firefighter earns 50 cents an hour and works 70 hours per
week.
1948
The IAFF charters its 1,000th local union.
1954
The IAFF adopts muscular dystrophy as it particular charitable endeavor.
1958
The IAFF established the John P. Redmond Foundation for the health and
safety of firefighters.
1962
President Kennedys Executive Order 10988 brings new recognition to the
IAFFs Federal Fire Fighters.
1963
Canadian IAFF members gain important rights when all Canadian provinces
begin requiring binding arbitration of bargaining disputes.
1966
The IAFF begins the Harvard University Trade Union Program Scholarship
and sends its first IAFF member to Harvard to explore key issues of the
labor movement.
1968
The IAFF
officially opens its Canadian Office in Ottawa, Ontario to serve as the
central clearing-house for member services and information in Canada.
1968
The average firefighter earns over $2.00 an hour and works 56 hours per
week.
1968
President Johnson signs the National Fire Research and Safety Act into
law, authorizing for the first time in IAFF history a fire research and
safety program which the federal government will largely frame.
1970
Ground breaking for the new International Headquarters building takes
place three blocks from the White House in Washington D.C.
1970
IAFF President McClennan is made co-chairman of the National Commission
on Fire Prevention by President Nixon.
1970
The IAFF
charters its 2000th local.
1971
The IAFF conducts its first Redmond Symposium on the health hazards of
the fire service.
1976
The IAFF is instrumental in extending coverage of the FLSA to include
firefighters after presenting key testimony to Congress.
1976
At the urging of the IAFF, President Ford signs the Public Safety
Officer Benefit Act (PSOB), providing federal money to the families of
four firefighters killed in the line of duty.
1982
The IAFF is
instrumental in the developmental work that resulted in the standard on
Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS).
1984
At the urging of the IAFF, federal firefighters are now covered under
PSOB.
1986
The IAFF is instrumental in establishing the first edition of NFPA 1500,
Standard of Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Programs.
1986
President Reagan signs the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
establishing first responder and advanced Hazmat training. The IAFF
receives federal funds to begin a training program for firefighters.
1986
The IAFF established the Occupational Medicine Residency Program with
Johns Hopkins University.
1987
The IAFF
established its Hazmat Training Program with a grant from the federal
government.
1988
The IAFF is reorganized to provide expansion of its services through the
following departments: Research & Labor Issues, Governmental Affairs &
Political Action, Public Relations & Communications, Education,
Occupational Health & Safety, Hazardous Materials, In-House Legal Counsel,
Special Events, and the Canadian Office.
1990
The IAFF conducts its first Regional Seminar as part of a new
Educational Seminar Program.
1991
The IAFF holds its first EMS Conference to promote fire-based EMS.
1992
The IAFF is
instrumental in getting OSHA to pass 29 CFR1910.1030-Bloodborne Pathogens
Regulation.
1992
The average firefighter earns over $13.00 an hour and works 50 hours per
week.
1994
After assisting in getting the Ryan White Act passed 1990, the IAFF is
instrumental in establishing the Ryan White infectious disease
notification for firefighters implemented by the Centers for Disease
Control.
1996
The IAFF continues its push for fire-based EMS integration with the
creation of a new EMS Department.
1996
The IAFF launches an internet web site at
www.iaff.org.
1996
The IAFF is instrumental in obtaining a permanent exemption for
firefighters from the ADEA.
1997
IAFF and IAFC join together for the Joint Labor Management
Wellness/Fitness Initiative.
1997
IAFF and NIOSH develop Line- of-Duty Death Investigation Programs.
President Clinton includes $2.5 million to begin the federal investigation
program for firefighters.
1998
The IAFF is instrumental in getting OSHA to update 29
CFR1910.134-Respiratory Protection Regulation, including 2 in/2 out
provisions for firefighting in an immediately dangerous to life and health
atmosphere.
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