New Orleans to Reap Benefits of Fire Fighters and Mayor Nagin’s Combined Efforts

Announce Signing of New Labor Agreement Today

New Orleans, LA – International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger and New Orleans Fire Fighters Local 632 President Nick Felton met with Mayor Ray Nagin yesterday and reached an agreement that provides for the signing of the New Orleans fire fighters’ collective bargaining agreement and an informal partnership to work together at all levels of government to improve the funding and resources available for protecting the city and its citizens.

Mayor Nagin’s decision to approve the collective bargaining agreement comes after intervention from President Schaitberger, who urged the mayor to sign the contract while promising to use the considerable influence of the IAFF in Washington, DC, and the Louisiana State Legislature to get more funding earmarked for the New Orleans Fire Department.

“New Orleans is infamous for its bare-knuckled, big-personality politics,” Schaitberger said. “But the time for that is behind us. We are moving forward to focus on rebuilding the resources of the fire department to protect the citizens not only of New Orleans, but of all the jurisdictions in the Gulf region that were devastated by the hurricanes last year.

“I committed to Mayor Nagin that if he signs our contract, our union would use the influence and power we have built over the past 89 years in Washington, DC, and in the state legislature in Baton Rouge,” Schaitberger said. “The Mayor agreed because, like our New Orleans fire fighters, he is truly committed above all else to the safety and protection of the citizens of this great city.”

“Our fire fighters have waited a long time for the signing of this contract,” Felton said. “They’ve gone to work every day with fewer of their brothers and sisters beside them, with broken equipment and hydrants that don’t have water – all while many of them continue to live in trailers and their families are scattered across the area.”

“The commitment and dedication of these fire fighters is reflected in the work they continue to do, and the work that fire fighters in other devastated communities continue to do,” Schaitberger said. “The signing of this contract is a first step, but we have a lot more work to do across the Gulf region to make sure that they have the personnel, equipment and training they need to continue their great work under these extremely tough circumstances.”

The contract is the product of successful negotiations that concluded Aug. 26, 2005, just before Katrina hit. Fire fighters unanimously ratified the proposed agreement Dec. 3, 2005.

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents more than 275,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who provide emergency medical response to 80 percent of the population in the United States and Canada.

 Click here for IAFF Press Release Archives