Sacramento, CA – California’s two largest fire service organizations – California Professional Firefighters and California State Firefighters Association – have agreed to speak with one voice in Sacramento on the issues that matter to front line firefighters and paramedics.
After months of dialog and debate at two statewide conferences, the Executive Boards of CPF and CSFA have agreed on a set of principles that will, when implemented, strengthen the hand of firefighters at the State Capitol, set the stage for new alliances at the local level and relieve the tensions that have characterized the past relationship between the two organizations.
The agreement is formalized in a memorandum of understanding signed by CPF President Lou Paulson and CSFA President Kevin Nida and dated October 11, 2004. It was formalized at an unprecedented joint meeting of the CPF and CSFA Executive Boards held on October 26th, 2004. Among the key provisions of the pact:
- CPF and CSFA agree not to adopt conflicting positions on labor-related fire service legislation;
- CPF and CSFA agree not to adopt conflicting positions on local and legislative election endorsements
- CSFA agrees it will not make endorsements in elections for any statewide constitutional office, nor will it endorse nominees for key paid full-time fire service appointments, including State Fire Marshal, OES Director and Director and Deputy Director of CDF;
- CPF agrees not to interfere with or discourage membership in CSFA, and encourage CPF locals to abide by the same principle (CSFA makes a similar commitment with respect to CPF);
- The two organizations agree to consult on endorsements for statewide ballot propositions;
- CPF and CSFA Presidents agree to quarterly meetings and the Executive Boards agree to semi-annual joint meetings;
- CSFA and CPF agree to promote and lead a revitalized “California Fire Service Coalition”.
The MOU is the product of nearly a year of negotiation between designated representatives of both organizations. CPF’s Committee for a United Firefighter Voice, chaired by Orange County Professional Firefighters Association President Joseph Kerr, met with a team of CSFA representatives led by CSFA Board Member Charles Knapp on three different occasions to negotiate details.
The resulting agreement was finalized through action by both organizations’ Executive Boards and CSFA’s approval of a change in its By Laws at its September, 2004 Conference.
“Our profession has always found its greatest strength in its solidarity and unity of purpose,” said Lou Paulson, President of California Professional Firefighters. “This agreement speaks to the future in a voice loud and clear: ‘When it really counts … for our members and for our citizens … firefighters will stand together.'”
“This agreement allows our organizations and members to come together and begin a new chapter in the California fire service,” said Kevin Nida, President of CSFA. “Now we can continue our important work of firefighters working for firefighters with a stronger and more united voice.”
For information about both organizations, visit:
California Professional Firefighters or California State Firefighters Association.
