International Association of Fire Fighters - IAFF Freezes Federal FIREPAC Contributions

IAFF Freezes Federal FIREPAC Contributions

In April 2011, the IAFF shut off FIREPAC contributions to federal candidates and federal parties, party committees and the super PACs that support them. This bold move is part of the IAFF's Fighting Back campaign to help its members wage political and legislative battles in state houses across the country. These efforts, which have included assisting IAFF affiliates in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska, Alabama, Tennessee, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, require the IAFF to be on the offensive at the state and local level for as long as and wherever the political and legislative fights continue.

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger says, “We’re tired that our friends have not been willing to stand up and fight back on our behalf with the same ferocity, the same commitment that our enemies have in trying to destroy our members’ rights. Quite frankly, our enemies are trying to kill us as a labor movement and union trying to represent workers and help the middle class.”

In the last election cycle, FIREPAC was in the top 1.1 percent of the more than 7,100 federally registered PACs in terms of dollars raised and was the 10th largest PAC in candidate contributions. The IAFF spent close to $15 million in the last election cycle on behalf of federal candidates and both political parties, helping to elect those who support fire fighters and paramedics and defeat those who don't.