W.Va. firefighter trainer dies in ATV crash

Mark Doty came from a long line of volunteer firefighters and oversaw the training of more than 18,000 firefighters this year Original link Original author: Staff

Coyotes' hockey coach arranges benefit for Ariz. Hotshots

USA Today GLENDALE, Ariz. — For two summers when he was 18 and 19 years old, Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett would trek up to northern Saskatchewan and set up camp amid the brush and bushes. But this wasn't a vacation from the junior hockey season that had just ended. Tippett had taken a job as a firefighter. "You were up in the bushes for 10 days, and then you came out for five," ......
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Iowa mayor fires entire volunteer fire department

The cut was apparently born out of the fire department's non-compliance with a citywide audit, but the chief says he has "no idea" why the decision was made Original link

Fla. firefighters told not to wear city-purchased pink shirts

WFTV.com MELBOURNE, Fla. — October is breast cancer awareness month, and a number of Melbourne firefighters were planning to show their support for the issue and cancer awareness. Two days ago they got a memo not to wear their pink polo shirts on the job even though they've already been purchased. The chief said firefighters are in the position of protecting lives and property and should...
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Firefighters to make old fire station home for colleagues fighting cancer

When finished, the firefighter house will have three furnished apartments and room for expansion Original link

Fire destroys NY volunteer firefighters' home

Syracuse.com Brewerton, N.Y. — An early morning fire that rekindled from Wednesday has destroyed the home of two volunteer firefighters, according to fire officials. Firefighters responded to the 9495 Blaze Path home just after 5:30 p.m. yesterday to battle the initial fire, which began upstairs and destroyed the entire second floor, said Assistant Fire Chief Scott Leavery. Less than 12 hour...
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Deadline for 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Is October 3

Original link Original author: PR

Watch the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Service Live Online

Original link Original author: PR

IAFF Members Among Responders to the Washington Navy Yard Shooting

Original link Original author: PR

Treasury Rejects Labor’s Top Obamacare Demand


Unions initially applauded the signing of the ACA in 2010, pictured here, but implementation of the new law has been a more complicated matter. (Pete Souza / Wikimedia Commons )   On Friday afternoon, following a major labor convention at which many union leaders forcefully advocated revisions in the Obama administration’s interpretations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Treasury Department r...
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A New Blue-Green Coalition?

It may be difficult to imagine unions and environmentalists burying the hatchet. The high-profile divide over the Keystone XL pipeline is only the latest example of bruising blue and green conflict, fueled by a jobs-vs.-environment push-and-pull. But last week’s AFL-CIO convention, where labor formally embraced new partnerships with the Sierra Club, as well as worker centers and other progressive ...
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D.C. City Council Defeats Living Wage Bill


On September 17, supporters of LRAA gather to urge the city council to overturn the mayor's veto.   (Respect DC / Facebook ) On Tuesday, the D.C. City Council failed to overturn Mayor Vincent Gray’s veto of the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA)—a bill that would have raised the minimum wage at large retail stores in the district from $8.25 to $12.50. The seven votes in favor (with six oppos...
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Solar panel rooftops and fire fighters

It is no secret that the solar industry is booming. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are reportedly being installed every four minutes. The number is only expected to increase with experts predicting that a system will be installed every minute and 28 seconds by 2016. In addition, the U.S. is expected to reach one million cumulative residential solar installations by that time. States like Arizona, Calif...
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A 98-Year-Old Labor Reporter Who Loved Avant-Garde Music

This week, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka ran unopposed for the presidency of the AFL-CIO—but only because his opponent, labor activist Harry Kelber, died before the election. While foul play is not suspected (he died from natural causes in late March), the death of 98-year-old union dissident Harry Kelber still came as a shock to me. Harry had gotten so good at living, and at finding beauty and...
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Unite Here and Hyatt Hit Hiccups in Peace Process

A widely heralded union peace agreement  that would end a global boycott of Hyatt Hotels Corp and usher in a new era of better labor relations at the sprawling lodgings chain is hitting some potholes on the road to completion, but both sides are still expressing confidence in its ultimate success. Announced July 1, Hyatt's "national agreement" with the Unite Here union was advertised as the way to...
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