Firefighters union boss Louie Wright leaves with no regrets

When Louie Wright steps down Dec. 31 as head of Kansas City’s firefighters’ union, it’s the end of an era.

Respect him or resent him — and there are plenty of people in both camps — nearly everyone agrees Wright has left an indelible behind-the-scenes mark on Kansas City politics and government.

Due largely to Wright, the MAST ambulance service is now part of the Kansas City Fire Department, and firefighters are enjoying wage increases that almost no one else in the city is getting. And at a time when many other unions are fading, Wright has expanded the reach of his own union beyond Kansas City.

Even Fire Chief Smokey Dyer, who once went to the emergency room with chest pains from the stress of negotiating with Wright, praises Wright’s longtime role as president of Local 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

“He was one of the most well-educated and intelligent fire officers and/or union leaders that there was in the United States,” Dyer said.  Read the entire story by clicking here.

December 18, 2011: Today the Kansas City Star Magazine featured a story on KCFD Retired Fire Captain Ray Elder.  Many of you are aware that Captain Elder is the unofficial "KCFD Historian" and he has published several books about the history of the Kansas City Fire Department and Kansas City, Missouri.  We encourage you to take a few moments and read the interview by Cindy Hoedel of the KC Star.  Read the story by clicking here.

If you want to order Ray Elder latest book "Historic Street Scenes of Kansas City, Missouri" from 1867 to 1931, simply scroll down the page and the information is listed on how to order.  The proceeds benefit the KC Historical Society and the Kansas City Fire Museum.  After serving Kansas City, Missouri for 35 years on the Fire Department, Ray Elder continues to serve the community by educating us all about the history of our great city and our great fire department.

Rich Duffy

December 14, 2011 16:45

According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), extensive scientific research on the environmental factors associated with breast cancer has found a possible connection between increased risk for the disease and exposures to benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and ethylene oxide. These chemicals are found in workplaces, gasoline fumes, vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke. Further, numerous studies have shown that benzene is a common airborne contaminant in fire smoke, during overhaul and it occurs in concentrations that are considered deleterious in the context of chronic exposures to fire fighters.

The report could not conclude whether bisphenol A (BPA), pesticides, ingredients in cosmetics, dietary supplements and other chemicals of concern have an impact on breast cancer risk. The report also suggests a need for more research on the link between breast cancer and overnight shift work; chemicals that mutate genes, alter gene expression, or affect hormones; and gene-environment interactions.

Recently a story appeared on the ABC Evening News regarding a home that is being constructed in Bozeman, Montana and every piece of building materials used to construct this home is Made In America.  This very interesting story shows that the cost of construction using American Made products over Imported products is essentially the same. 

The big benefit is the amount of American Workers who will immediately go back to work if everyone starts to use materials manufactured right here within the USA.  Please take a moment and watch this news clip and we have also attached a copy of the Made In America list.

The Institute of Labor Studies and Kansas City, MO radio station KKFI 90.1 FM host a weekly radio program called Heartland Labor Forum.  This is the only radio show about the workplace and the labor movement in Kansas City. 

The Heartland Labor Forum airs on Thursday evenings 6:00 PM till 7:00 PM and is rebroadcasted on Friday mornings from 5:00 AM till 6:00 AM.  Older broadcast are archived at The Institute of Labor Studies website and are available for listening as streaming audio.

The IAFF has put together this Limited Edition Collectors Coin and Photo Album in recognition of the 10TH Anniversary of September 11, 2001.  The proceeds are going to the IAFF Burn Foundation.  Click on the banner to order yours today.

The City of Kansas City, Missouri is now providing a valuable workplace clinic for its employees, your spouse and dependents. This benefit is a result of the Health Care Trust that has been established by the City of Kansas City, for its employees and retirees that are participating in one of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield Health Care Plans offered by the City. 

This clinic is located at the Kansas City Health Department facility, located at 2400 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri 64108. You may call ahead and schedule an appointment at 816.513.6001 or walk-in's are both welcome or visit them on the web KC Employee Clinic.

Another feature is the HealthyU Newsletter and this is available to all Employees and Retirees.  To receive this Newsletter please visit the KC Employee Clinic online and sign-up to have this delievered to your Inbox

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program was created to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your eligible federal student loans after you have made 120 payments on loans under certain repayment plans while employed full time by certain public service employers.

Only non-defaulted loans made under the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program^SM are eligible for loan forgiveness. The Direct Loan Program includes the following types of loans:

• Federal Direct Stafford Loans (Direct Subsidized Loans)
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Direct Unsubsidized Loans)
• Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Direct PLUS Loans)- for parents and graduate or professional students
• Federal Direct Consolidation Loans (Direct Consolidation Loans)

Although loan forgiveness under this program is available only for loans made and repaid under the Direct Loan Program, loans made under other federal student loan programs may qualify for forgiveness if they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Therefore, only payments made on the Direct Consolidation Loan will count toward the required 120 monthly payments. 

For more information on this program please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness website to see if you qualify.

The International Association of Fire Fighters has partnered with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company to provide preferred coverage plans for Active Members and Activee Retirees.  Liberty Mutual Insurance Company underwrites Home, Auto and Life Insurance coverage. 

Our local representative for Liberty Mutual Insurance is Robert Goodmon and his offices are conveniently located in the northland at 4131 N. Mulberry Drive, Suite 250, Briarcliff Village Office Building, Kansas City, MO 64116.  Office phone is 816.587.6900 ext. 56746 or via E-mail robert.goodmon@libertymutual.com.

We invite you to contact Mr. Goodman and let him provide you a quote on your existing insurance or any new policies that you may be considering.

We are proud to announce that one of our own KCFD Retirees Fire Captain Ray Elder, Historian of the KC Fire Historical Society has recently completed his latest book entitled Historic Street Scenes of Kansas City, Missouri 1867-1931.

This hardbound 72 page book is now available for $29.95 each.  The proceeds will benefit the Kansas City Historical Society.  Please click here for an Order Form.  

Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants is hosting a Cardio Wellness Weight Loss Competition.  This event is open to all Local 42 Members, regardless of the bargaining unit.  The cost of entering this competition is $35.00 per Individual or $50.00 for Two (2) Participants.  This event starts in February and will end in May, with Weigh-Ins every four weeks.   A schedule has been created for the 2012 Competition.

In an effort to improve communications with its membership the IAFF has just activated a new component on its website. The IAFF Fire Fighter Magazine (Bi-Monthly Publication) is now available online. Several editions of this magazine are archived on the IAFF website. 

If there is something that you read months ago or your magazine didn’t get delivered to your home because you recently moved perhaps, you may now access this publication online. We have provided a link on the right column of the front page for your convenience: International Fire Fighter Magazine.

Click Here.

The Elections Committee of Local 42 have released the following results for the following contested elections:

President: Michael Cambiano

KCFD Mid-South: Stephen Davis

KCFD EMS - Kelly Auch

KCFD EMS - Ramsey Lewis (was appointed by E-Board to fill vacant position until the next regular election cycle)

Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO Delegates:

Michael Harris

Tim Dupin

Steve Quinlin

Michael LaCapra

This week information started to surface on the internet and electronic media about an organization named ALEC.  This is an organization that is bankrolled by billionaires such as the KOCH Brothers.  Some of you may ask yourself what is ALEC, so here is some general information. 

ALEC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that in recent years has reported about $6.5 million in annual revenue. ALEC's members include corporations, trade associations, think tanks and nearly a third (about 2,000) of the nation's state legislators (virtually all Republican). According to the group's promotional material, ALEC's mission is to "advance the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty, through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America's state legislators, members of the private sector, the federal government, and general public."

ALEC currently claims more than 250 corporations and special interest groups as private sector members. While the organization refuses to make a complete list of these private members available to the public, some known members include Exxon Mobil, the Corrections Corporation of America, AT&T, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Verizon, Wal-Mart, Phillip Morris International and Koch Industries, along with a host of right-wing think tanks and foundations.

ALEC is composed of nine task forces: (1) Public Safety and Elections, (2) Civil Justice, (3) Education, (4) Energy, Environment and Agriculture, (5) Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development, (6) Telecommunications and Information Technology, (7) Health and Human Services, (8) Tax and Fiscal Policy and (9) International Relations--each comprised of "Public Sector" members (legislators) and "Private Sector" members (corporations and interest groups).

Each of these task forces, which serve as the core of ALEC's operations, generate model legislation that is then passed on to member lawmakers for introduction in their home assemblies. According to ALEC promotional material, each year member lawmakers introduce an average of 1,000 of these pieces of legislation nationwide, 17 percent of which are enacted. For 2009, ALEC claimed a total of 826 pieces of introduced legislation nationwide, 115 of which were passed into law--slightly below the average at 14 percent. ALEC does not offer its model legislation for public inspection.  Read the entire story by clicking here.

Many American Workers have absolutely no idea what Organized Labor has done for since the 1930's or they have just forgotten.  In the past year we have seen at least 10 Republican Governors who have moved to strip Collective Bargaining Rights from its Public Employees (Teachers, Police, Fire and EMS).  The next time one of your friends ask you the question "What have American Unions done for us?", show them this short video clip.  This might help them answser their own question.

MAY 31, 2011: On Sunday, May 22, 2011, a massive tornado struck Joplin, Missouri destroying lives and property.  Unfortunately, the very people that we rely on to assist in situations like this are not themselves immune from the devastation.  Currently there are six (6) Firefighters in the Joplin area that have lost their homes.  These very same firefighters who are currently helping with the recovery efforts in Joplin are in need of help themselves.                                                                       

The Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters has established a Disaster Relief Fund and is asking for your assistance in collecting donations.  A website has been established for online donations: MSCFF Disaster Relief Fund. 

You may also send checks to: 

Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters
29210 SE AA Highway
Blue Springs, Missouri 64014 

You as a Union Member have choices to make of where you spend your hard earned dollars.  These choices include purchasing American Made products vs. imported products, as well as retailers how sell these goods.  As a labor union we always encourage our members to support those organizations that support working class folks and recommend that you boycott those organizations that have done what they can to destroy labor unions or basic rights of workers. 

During the past two years when Organized Labor advanced legislation to Congress to approve the Employee Free Choice Act, several large corporations poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into lobbying this legislation.  Three of those that come to mind and were the largest contributors to defeating this cause were Walmart, Starbucks Coffee and Home Depot.  

We would show you this video that Home Depot mandated ALL employees to watch in 2010, but Home Depot has asserted that the video violated terms of use and it has been removed from the INTERNET.   The truth is Home Depot doesn't want anyone that is employed within their stores talking to anyone about joining a UNION. 

So now ask yourself do you really want to spend your hard earned union salary at an organization who wants nothing to do with Unions and intimidates its employees into believing they are better off without being organized. 

As a result of the actions taken by the Delegates at the 50th IAFF Convention in August of this year, the IAFF has built a new innovative website to provide American and Canadian made goods that are Union Made. 

USA - The Union Sportsmen Alliance

A Hunting and Fishing Community Exclusively for AFL-CIO Union Members, Retiree's and their families

 Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Guaranteeing You a Place to Hunt and Fish