IAFF Local 2150 is the exclusive bargaining unit of the full-time men and women of the Kettering Fire Department

Ohio Issue 2 has been defeated.  In addition to Ohio's police officers and firefighters, IAFF Local 2150 thanks Ohio voters for their support!

Ohioans Vote No on Issue 2, Preserve Collective Bargaining for Fire Fighters

November 8, 2011 -- Ohio voters have delivered a resounding message to their governor – one that will likely reverberate across the nation in the coming months – soundly rejecting his effort to destroy collective bargaining for fire fighters and other public employees.

In a turnout that was heavy for an off-year ballot measure, Ohioans – by vote of 61 percent to 39 percent -- selected “No” on Issue 2, repealing Governor John Kasich’s signature reform measure – also known as Senate Bill 5.

The outcome in Ohio is not only a huge blow for the governor, defeating Issue 2 is also a momentum-shifting victory for the IAFF and other labor groups that have been fighting from coast to coast against state-level anti-worker agendas.

“The people of Ohio have spoken and the rest of our nation is listening,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who watched the election returns from Columbus. “America’s hard-working middle class is sick and tired of these Wall Street-funded extremist politicians trying to trash their collective bargaining rights and other benefits.”

On November 7, Schaitberger appeared on MSNBC’s The Ed Show surrounded by scores of IAFF members clad in the signature IAFF gold and black T-shirts. And he was back on the air with Ed Schultz November 8 as the votes were being counted.

Though polls leading up to Tuesday’s election suggested Ohioans would vote to end SB 5, labor groups – including the IAFF – left nothing to chance. The IAFF contributed significant resources to the “Vote No on Issue 2” efforts, including a potent advertising and get-out-the-vote campaign leading right up until the polls opened. And, We Are Ohio, a coalition of AFL-CIO labor unions conducted a huge grassroots and media campaign to convince voters to Vote No on Issue 2.

“SB 5 was nothing short of a brazen effort to cripple labor’s influence in Ohio and give more power to deep-pocketed corporate donors,” says IAFF 8th District Vice President Paul Hufnagel.

Local Ohio media covered every possible angle of the Issue 2 ballot initiative debate, and television and print reporters showed up at each stop of a four-day Ohio Fire Fighters Get Out the Vote Bus Tour.

"In Ohio, there are no standards or safety regulations that govern the job we do, so we rely on collective bargaining agreements to make sure we have a voice, and the vote demonstrates that citizens understand the importance of that fact,” says President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF) Mark Sanders.

Schaitberger stressed throughout the effort to defeat Issue 2 and repeal SB 5 that the key to victory would be grassroots mobilization leading right into Election Day.

Source: www.iaff.org

Kettering Professional Firefighters (2150) are supporting three candidates for council: Nolan Thomas Ward 1, Councilman Joe Wanamaker Ward 2, Councilman Duke Ward 4. According to Dave Parker, President of Local 2150, "after a long absence from politics at the local level we felt compelled to show our support for these candidates. Kettering has always done a great job managing tax dollars, and providing top notch services, and we think Thomas, Wanamaker, and Duke are the best choice to continue the successful poilcies Kettering is known for." Parker also stated "Kettering is at a crossroad where the City can either build on it's success, or succomb to the destructive partisan politics of our State and Nation. Bottom line is I think these guys will build on Kettering's success."

Nolan Thomas is running for ward 1 currently held by Kieth Thompson, and is endorsed Thompson, Mayor Patterson, and Councilman Klepacz among others. Thomas is a graduate of Kettering Fairmont High School and Ohio State where he obtained his Law degree. Thomas is an  Montgomery County Assistant Prosecutor where he has worked to limit the effects of the housing crisis in our communities. You can find out more about Nolan at the following links: http://www.facebook.com/votenolanthomas http://www.nolanthomas.com/ Elect Nolan Thomas to Kettering City Council!

Councilman Wanamaker currently serves Ward 2 and is seeking re-election to continue the successful policy making he has been a big part of: balanced budgets, excellent services across the board, including outstanding support of safety services. Go to http://www.wanamaker.us/ to find out more about Joe. Re-elect Joe Wanamaker to Kettering City Council!

Councilman Duke is a long standing member of Council. Noone can argue that Councilman Duke has had a large role in Kettering's success. Making Kettering the best place to 'Live Work and Play' in the Miami Valley. Let's build on our success and re-elect Bruce Duke to Kettering City Council.

Just one example of what can happen when others attempt to make decisions about Firefighter safety.

A new study issued by a broad coalition in the scientific, fire fighting, EMS and public-safety communities shows that the size and configuration of an EMS first responder crew and an advanced life support (ALS) crew have a substantial effect on a fire department's ability to respond to calls for emergency medical service.

The new study is the first attempt to investigate the effects of varying crew configurations for first responders, the apparatus assignment of ALS personnel, and the number of ALS personnel on scene and the task completion times for ALS level incidentsThe increasing number of EMS responses point to the need for scientifically based studies to measure the operational efficiency and effectiveness of fire departments responding to medical calls. Fire departments ty pically deliver first-on-scene, out-of-hospital care services, regardless of whether or not they provide transport. The design of fire-based EMS systems varies across communities. Some departments deploy only Basic Life Support (BLS) units and personnel, some deploy a mix of BLS and Advanced Life Support (ALS) units and personnel, and a few departments operate solely at an ALS level.

This study emphasizes that every one of those system design decisions affects emergency medical response and care when each second counts.

To read full report click on link www.iaff.org/tech/PDF/EMS%20Nist%20Report_LORES.pdf

New Residential Fire Study Shows Effects of Crew Size on Fire Fighting Operations

April 28, 2010 -- A landmark study released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that the size of fire fighting crews has a substantial effect on the fire service's ability to protect lives and property in residential fires. Click here to read the news release.

Conducted by a broad coalition in the scientific, fire fighting and public safety communities, the study results found that four-person fire fighting crews were able to complete 22 essential fire fighting and rescue tasks in a typical residential structure 30 percent faster than two-person crews and 25 percent faster than three-person crews.

The report is the first to quantify the effects of crew sizes and arrival times on the fire service's lifesaving and fire fighting operations.

This and other scientific data in the report will help educate public officials, fire chiefs and other decision-makers on the importance of adequate staffing and deployment with respect to fire fighter and public safety.

Study investigators from NIST and the IAFF announced the results of the study at a press conference at the Hilton Washington in Washington, DC, before the start of the annual Congressional Fire Services Institute meeting of top fire safety officials from the across the nation.

Click here for the full report.
 
The study is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters grant program.

Read General President Harold Schaitberger's blog, "Fire Fighter Staffing and Deployment Study Released"

For more information, contact Lori Moore-Merrell at lmoore@iaff.org or (202) 824-1594.

Independent report finds that public employees sacrificed over $1,000,000,000

1/6/10--Press release regarding Local 2150 members receiving awards from the City of Kettering including Firefighter of the year.

Click here (Word file)

Full article from IAFF.org