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The history of career fire protection in
Chambersburg dates back to the late 1800’s.
As far back as anyone can remember, there has always been
someone paid. It
wasn’t until January 18, 1960 that the paid apparatus drivers
in Chambersburg formed what was then known as the Chambersburg
Paid Fire Apparatus Drivers Association.
In June of that
same year, a motion was made by a member of the fledgling
association to contact someone from the International
Association of Firefighters. The purpose of this inquiry was to determine the cost to
the association to join the IAFF and what benefits the IAFF
could provide. In
October of 1960, after much deliberation, the association
decided not to join the IAFF at that time.
At that same meeting, a letter was drafted by the association
and sent to the Borough requesting that the Borough recognize
the association as the collective bargaining unit for the
apparatus drivers. This
represented yet another hurdle in getting us where we are today.
Between 1966 and
1968, the members of the local continued to inquire about
joining the IAFF. Several
meetings were held with IAFF staff members.
It was through these meetings that the IAFF advised the
association to change their name. On May 15, 1968, the association formally applied for
status as the Uniformed Firemen’s Association of Chambersburg,
PA.
Finally, on December
2, 1968, the association received its charter from the IAFF and the name changed yet
again to The Uniformed Firemen’s Association of Chambersburg,
PA IAFF Local 1813. With
this came negotiations for the first contract.
The first contract was ratified on December 18, 1969. It is with this contract that the 18 members of the local
received their first full set of turn out gear.
Prior to this, the members were forced to wear whatever
gear was assigned to their open cab piece of apparatus
regardless of size or condition. This contract also brought about an improvement to the
pension plan. According
to this contract, the base pay for a probationary fireman in 1970
was $5,800.00 annually.
In
1971, the local opted to join the Pennsylvania State Fire
Fighters Association, which later became known as the
Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. Currently, the IAFF Local 1813 also belongs to the
Central Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association.
Over the last forty
years, great strides have been taken by the local on behalf of
its members. This
included a trip to arbitration that proved successful. The local was able to have the residency requirement
lifted thus allowing American Citizens to live where they want
no matter who they work for.
Currently, the local has 18 members who serve on numerous
committees to keep the local running. Our members enjoy a hard fought for 24/48 work schedule. The members are assigned six to a shift. Each member of the local is assigned to a piece of
apparatus. The two
junior members are assigned to the ambulance which runs over
3,000 calls per year. One
member is assigned to an engine at Headquarters Fire Station. One member is assigned to the truck at Headquarters Fire
Station. One member
is assigned to the Franklin Street Fire Station driving an
engine. Another
member is assigned to a
relief position.
Our current contract expires December 31, 2006 and we will be
working hard to again ensure the best for our membership.
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