IAFF 10th District Report | Frank Lima

Your Firefighter Union
Team 10th at Work

If you’ve been on the job and reading the pages of this newspaper for a few years, the picture may look familiar, but you may not be used to seeing it in this spot.

Since 2016, I’ve had the incredible honor to represent you as your International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Vice President representing the IAFF 10th District. Before that, for four years, I was proud to be the president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112 and, as such, a member of the CPF Executive Board in the 8th District seat.

The 10th District is the largest district in the IAFF, both geographically and on a per-capita basis. There are more than 47,000 firefighters in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Guam. We’re proud to now be referred to as #Team10th, and our mission is to provide support and a strong voice for all IAFF locals, large and small. In the 10th District, we accomplish great things with three District Field Service Representatives (DFSR’s), several State Representatives, and local leaders with a strong belief in solidarity and labor.

In the 10th District, roughly 30,000 firefighters are also members of California Professional Firefighters. Having served on the CPF Executive Board, I can speak firsthand about what a powerhouse this organization is, and the work it does on your behalf every day. For close to four decades, CPF has been a trail blazer in our IAFF, winning fights in Sacramento that pave the way for a better life for all of us.

This kind of success comes from remembering why we fight for each other, for our profession as firefighters and for our families.

I don’t need to tell you that 2018 was a busy year in the 10th District. The IAFF was up and down California during the disastrous wildland fires. We were also on scene at the floods and lava disasters in Hawaii. IAFF was on the ground at the Camp Fire in Paradise, the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, the Carr Fire in Redding, the shooting of Captain David Rosa in Long Beach and just hours after the Borderine Bar shooting in Ventura. At every stop, our IAFF Foundation, along with CPF’s California Fire Foundation and CAL FIRE Local 2881’s Benevolent Fund, worked to ensure that our members who lost homes had what they needed to get back on their feet.

The IAFF doesn’t just show up when disaster strikes. Along with CPF, we are a steadfast resource for your local unions and we fight at your side every step. At our recent Affiliate Leadership Training Summit (ALTS) in Los Angeles, your leaders and hundreds of others from across the country came together for over 150 training sessions on every aspect of firefighting and the union movement – all of it designed to help them better represent you.

Just as CPF is a powerhouse in Sacramento, your IAFF is also a powerful force in Sacramento, every state, every Canadian province, and in Washington DC. Our philosophy on political action is simple: We stand with those who stand with us on the issues that specifically matter to the lives and careers of firefighters: fair pay, good health care, secure retirement with dignity, health and safety on the job, and the right to fairly negotiate in the collective bargaining process to name a just a few.

Here in California, CPF and IAFF are also strong voices in the larger labor movement. During the IAFF ALTS Conference, I was proud to march alongside IAFF General President Schaitberger, General Secretary Treasurer Kelly, CPF President Rice, Brothers Dave Gillotte of LA County Firefighters Local 1014 and Freddy Escobar of my own Local 112 in support of the United Teachers of Los Angeles, fighting for smaller class sizes, better schools, fair pay, and the kids.

The lesson of the teachers’ success in their job action strike is the same one that guides all of us who have the honor to work on your behalf. In solidarity, there is strength, and in strength there is power.

I wanted to personally thank CPF President Rice who has brought great vision and leadership to the CPF Executive Board as well as a tremendous partnership with the IAFF and Team 10th District.

In solidarity,

Frank Líma