Montana State Council of Professional Fire Fighters

New Contract

Local 601's, November 3, 2009 - June 30, 2011 has been added to the database.

New Document Added

Jaksha v. Butte-Silver Bow County

Updates

Additional updates have been made to the contract library.

IAFF RSS News Service

    • National Ban on Flame Retardant Chemicals
    • March 9, 2010 -- Over the past several months, the IAFF has been working with the chemical industry to structure a national withdrawal of the controversial brominated flame retardant, Decabromine, from the market. “The IAFF is proud that we played a major role working with our congressional and administration allies and with the major manufacturers of flame retardant chemicals to ban Decabromine from the market by the end of 2013,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
    • DHS Releases FIRE Act Grant Workshop Schedule
    • March 9, 2010 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the schedule for applicant workshops for 2010 Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants. The schedule will be updated daily with any new/updated information about the scheduled workshops. The IAFF encourages affiliates to work with their fire departments to apply for FIRE Act grants, which help fund training, equipment, protective gear and emergency vehicles.
    • Register Now for the 17th Canadian Legislative Conference
    • March 9, 2010 -- The IAFF 17th Canadian Legislative Conference is fast approaching, and affiliates planning to attend are reminded to complete their Conference registration, make hotel reservations and make lobby day appointments with members of Parliament. The Conference is scheduled for April 25-28, 2010, at the Delta Ottawa Hotel. Conference brochures were mailed from the Canadian office to affiliate presidents and secretaries.
    • Collective Bargaining Hearing Set for March 10
    • March 8, 2010 -- The House Education and Labor Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the IAFF’s national collective bargaining bill, HR 413, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, on Wednesday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building.
    • Status Update on FAA Reauthorization
    • March 8, 2010 -- The United States Senate is expected to consider S. 1451, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, in March 2010. S. 1451 is the Senate version of FAA Reauthorization bill H.R. 915, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009. Unlike the House-passed bill, S. 1451 does not contain IAFF-backed language requiring the FAA to bring Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) standards into conformity with existing national consensus standards.
    • MDA Releases 2010 Summer Camp Schedule
    • Every year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) supports some 90 summer camps across the country for children with neuromuscular diseases. MDA camp offers a wide range of activities specially designed for young people who have limited mobility or use wheelchairs. Although structured, camp programs are conducted in a relaxed atmosphere that gives campers an unmatched opportunity to develop lifelong friendships, share interests and build self-confidence.
    • Mark Your Calendars and Become Fit for Duty!
    • March 2, 2010 -- Health and wellness have become hot topics lately; however, every year more than 50 percent of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service are related to health and wellness issues. With this is mind, the theme for this year’s Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival week is “Fit for Duty.” During the week of June 20-26, 2010, IAFF members are encouraged to focus on a variety of important health and safety issues.
    • Nominate Candidates for IAFF Local Leadership Award
    • March 1, 2010 -- The IAFF is accepting nominations for the Local Leadership Award, which recognizes and honors active and active-retired local leaders who have dedicated more than 15 years to their local.
    • Fire Department Network News Features IAFF-MDA Boot Camp
    • February 18, 2010 -- For more than 50 years there has been a partnership between the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). MDA is the IAFF's "Charity of Choice," and so far more than $450 million has been raised by fire fighters and their Fill-the-Boot campaigns, making them the greatest contributor to MDA. To run a successful campaign, every department or local must have a coordinator, and once a year, MDA holds a boot camp for those coordinators.
    • President's Budget Provides Funding for Fire Service Programs
    • February 1, 2010 -- The White House has unveiled the president's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. The proposal includes $305 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, $305 million for Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants, $28 million for Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) and more than $2 billion to state governments and urban areas to improve their emergency response capabilities.
    • Human Relations Conference Renews Commitment to Inclusivity
    • January 28, 2010 -- Attendees at the 2010 Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference enjoyed inspirational stories and advice from distinguished presenters in the fields of civil rights, diversity and conflict resolution. More than 300 fire fighters from throughout the United States and Canada came together in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 24-27, 2010, to celebrate the progress that has been made toward making the fire service more inclusive and to honestly discuss the long road that still lies ahead.
    • IAFF Recognizes Manitoba Premier for Legislative Efforts
    • January 21, 2010 -- IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and fire fighters from Manitoba and Alberta presented former Manitoba Premier Gary Doer with a plaque January 21 in recognition of his legislative efforts on behalf of the province’s first responders. “Please accept this as a token of our appreciation for everything you’ve done for fire fighters over the years,” Schaitberger said during a ceremony at IAFF headquarters.
    • Thomas Miller Elected IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer
    • January 20, 2010 -- Following the retirement of IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer Vincent J. Bollon on January 15, 2010, the IAFF Executive Board – in accordance with the IAFF Constitution and Bylaws – has elected Thomas H. Miller, to finish the term. “Tommy Miller has demonstrated his ability to lead on the local, state and international levels of this great union,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “I have no doubt he will continue to be an invaluable asset to our members in his new capacity as General Secretary-Treasurer.”
    • January 15 Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax
    • January 15, 2010 -- With a health care reform deal announced loudly in the media between “labor,” the administration and Congress on changes to the excise tax provision, I want to provide you a new update today that outlines some of the key elements of that deal and what we know about the potential impact they will have on each and every one of you.
    • Updated Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax
    • January 14, 2010 -- We are fully aware of the media reports this afternoon that there has been a deal reached between "labor," the White House and Congressional leaders on the excise tax in the health care reform legislation being debated. On a conference call with the AFL-CIO Executive Council just minutes ago, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka provided a report that outlined that purported "deal." Let me state right here that this IAFF was not afforded an opportunity to be a part of the labor committee that participated in negotiations with the White House and Congressional leaders over the changes that are being reportedly made to the excise tax provision in the bill.
    • IAFF Members on USAR Teams Deployed to Haiti
    • January 13, 2010 – In the aftermath of the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams comprised of IAFF members from across the country are en route to the disaster zone to perform rescue operations, provide medical care and other needed emergency services.
    • MSNBC Interview: Schaitberger Hammers Excise Tax on 'Ed Show'
    • January 13, 2010 -- Watch IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" as he discusses the misguided excise tax on the premiums of some health plans that is in the bill passed by the Senate. The Senate bill will either impose a tax on health care premiums provided to thousands of America's fire fighters, or to avoid the tax those benefits will be slashed.
    • Fire Fighters Rip Obama For Breaking Campaign Promise Over Cadillac Tax
    • January 11, 2010 -- The International Association of Fire Fighters--an influential union that belongs to the AFL-CIO--has released the strongest condemnation yet of President Obama's support for taxing high-end health insurance plans as a means of financing a major health care overhaul--accusing him of breaking a campaign promise, and threatening to hold him accountable.

IAFF 7th District What's New Feed

    • 2010 Mini-Ed Seminar Schedule Out
    • The 2010 Magnificent 7th District Mini-Ed seminar series schedule has been posted.  DFSR's Brian Hurley and Greg Womack and myself believe this is a great line up of classes.  Many of you that have been to an IAFF ALTS event will recognize the titles of many classes as they are the same.
    • 7th District Benevolent Fund Scholarships Available
    • The Magnificent 7th District Benevolent Fund is pleased to announce the application period for post high school education scholarships is now open.  This opportunity is for dependents of IAFF members working in IAFF departments in Washington, Idaho, Montana or Alaska.
    • Peer Fitness Trainer Opportunity
    • East Pierce Fire and Rescue, in partnership with IAFF Local 3520, will be hosting an IAFF/IAFC peer fitness trainer class in June.
    • New Magnificent 7th Clothing Available
    • A couple of new clothing items are available to you.  As you know, all proceeds gained from the sales of the clothing go directly in to the 7th District Benevolent Fund benefiting our members directly.  The new items are a womens shirt and a gender neutral pull over fleece (available in blue or black).

Upcoming Meetings

The agenda for educational seminars has been tentatively set for the year 2010. We hope to see a high level of participation as we feel this is the bread and butter of taking care of our membership. We have new Locals as well as old Locals with new leadership. I think these classes will serve us all well. Course Desciptions for the mini-ed topics can be found on the IAFF web site.

March 24, 2010: Billings - Station 1, 2305 8th Ave North

Dimensions of Leadership

Advanced Leadership: Principles of Leadership

Advanced Leadership: Conflict Resolution

May 18 - 20, 2010: Fairmont Hot Springs

This will be a full two and a half days of courses on how to negotiate. We will start with how to sort through the proposals, how to write a good proposal, how to cost it out, how to read MFA's, how to gather and use comparables, how to present your proposal, and how to rebutt their response.

October 8, 2010: Bozeman

Discipline: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Union Officer

Employee Discipline: Before the Lawyer Gets Involved

Approaches to Workplace Discipline

We look forward to seeing you at these events!

District 7 Mini Education Seminars

USFA Firefighter Fatalities

USFA Press Releases

    • Focus on Fire Safety: Appliance Fires
    • Most homes have a multitude of electrical appliances ranging from small kitchen items such as toasters and microwaves to major appliances like clothes dryers and dishwashers. While appliances make our lives much easier, they also pose significant risks - including fire - if not maintained properly. Appliance fire safety is a matter of keeping your appliances in good working order, as well as using them as they were intended. The average homeowner has several thousand dollars invested in appliances. To protect your investment and to avoid the potential risk of fire, find out what to check for to ensure your appliances don't put you or your family at risk.
    • U.S. Fire Administrator Attends WMD Incident Command Course
    • Following his challenge to fire service leaders across the nation to remain engaged in training and professional development, U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran recently attended a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incident command course at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama.