By Jane Roh, CourerPostOnline.com:
For more than three decades, Michael Schaffer has willingly run into burning buildings.
He’s performed CPR on children. He’s freed people trapped in crashed vehicles. He’s even rescued cats and dogs.
Last June, the union Schaffer has belonged to for 21 years brought him up on charges for volunteering with the fire department where he resides.
The International Association of Fire Fighters forbids members from volunteering for departments that already employ some IAFF firefighters or are viewed as targets by the IAFF for expansion.
Photo of Michael Schaffer by John Ziomek, Courier-Post.
Schaffer’s hometown firehouse is all-volunteer and employs no union workers directly. But through mutual aid agreements, the firehouse — in the West Berlin section of Berlin Township — makes runs in neighboring towns that employ some IAFF firefighters.
Rather than risk expulsion by his “brothers” for doing something that he loves and that runs in the family, Schaffer resigned last month from his union, Cherry Hill Firefighters Local 2663.
Now, in a department of more than 100 paid firefighters, he is the only career firefighter who is not a member of the IAFF.
But he may not be the only one for long: The union warns it’s bringing other members up on the same charges.
Schaffer said he was a proud union man for more than two decades and he’d love to be a union man again, but he’s puzzled by the IAFF rule that led to his situation.
Violating the rule
Schaffer takes some responsibility for the events that led to his resignation from Local 2663.
“The IAFF bylaws state that career firemen are not allowed to do any kind of duty in another IAFF town. I knew that. It’s my fault,” Schaffer said.
But Schaffer said he wasn’t the only Cherry Hill firefighter violating the rule, which until last summer had not been enforced.
It’s common practice for firefighters who don’t live where they work to volunteer with the station that serves their neighborhood, firefighters say.
For instance, Berlin Township’s lone fire company comprises 50 volunteers, quite a few of whom are career firefighters in bigger towns.
But leaders of Cherry Hill’s two IAFF locals, 2633 and 3198, began issuing warnings last year that a crackdown was under way.
“As union president I’ve sworn to protect and uphold the bylaws,” said Cherry Hill Local 2663 President Joe Gerace in a five-minute interview he said he had to cut short. “If you don’t follow the rules, then you don’t join the union, or you withdraw your membership.”
Schaffer had gone on runs within West Berlin, which was not a violation since it’s all-volunteer. But he’s also gone on runs with West Berlin into nearby Winslow. The IAFF local there not only had no desire to enforce the volunteering rule — it told Cherry Hill’s local that it needed the extra help.
In a letter to Gerace last November, Victor Farinelli, shop steward for Winslow’s IAFF members, wrote: “During the hours that we work, we get little to no assistance from our volunteer stations. We cover 58 square miles with one crew, and for the safety of our members, we need all the help we can get. We really appreciate the professional fighters having our back some days.”
Winslow’s department has 15 career firefighters who belong to the union, and 80 active volunteers.
“While we agree with your thoughts on this subject, please understand that in no way are your members stopping us from hiring more firefighters. We have just hired our 15th firefighter and another is in this year’s budget,” Farinelli continued. “We are new to this, and don’t want to create issues with other locals but instead want to create good working relationships. As we grow, we will be looking for advice and guidance. Please, if you have any question with this matter or any others in the future, feel free to reach out to us directly.”
Farinelli said he never heard back from Gerace.
Gerace would not directly respond to questions about why he chose to enforce the rule when other fire departments do not. He did not respond to follow-up calls asking why he never replied to Farinelli and why he was enforcing a rule when its purpose — eliminating IAFF competition — did not seem to exist.
“I don’t write the rules, I just follow the rules,” Gerace said in the shortened interview. “There are others out there and they’re all coming up on charges. Michael was just the first one.”
Cherry Hill Fire Chief Robert Giorgio said the matter was a labor dispute and did not involve his fire district. He did not return additional requests for comment.
Money vs. help
Union members acknowledge that volunteer firefighters are a touchy subject. The point of the union rule is to eliminate obstacles to IAFF expansion, but towns such as Winslow and Berlin Township insist they cannot afford the salaries, pensions and benefits demanded by mostly career departments such as Cherry Hill’s. Nor, they point out, would residents and taxpayers stand for the additional expense.
“Especially with the economic times, if we went to a paid department, it would kill our town with taxes. People would have to move out,” said West Berlin Fire Chief Joe Jackson.
Jackson, who is also Berlin Township’s police chief, said he backs Schaffer in this dispute.
“The IAFF’s official version is that they do not want their members working for entities they view as competition,” said David Finger, spokesman for the Washington-based National Volunteer Fire Council. “If there were no volunteer firefighters and no private ambulance services employing their members on a part-time basis, then those communities would have to look for full-time firefighters to cross-train their personnel and provide more emergency services.
“I don’t know if they would acknowledge that as a motivation,” Finger said. “They would say it’s a health and safety issue.”
Most communities in the United States are protected by volunteer firefighters, whom Finger says save taxpayers $40 billion every year. All cities and most large towns like Cherry Hill, however, depend on an almost entirely paid service.
The national IAFF declined to comment on the matter.
Standing strong
Schaffer must still pay $35 out of every pay period to the union because of contract obligations, though he receives none of the union benefits. He said he harbors no ill will toward the IAFF, but hopes union leaders rethink their approach to enforcing the rule.
“I don’t work for the union. I work for the fire department. This in no way is going to affect my job at all,” Shaffer said. “I don’t feel any repercussions so far. I stood by what I thought was right.”
His backers have some pointed words for his predicament, however.
“He loves doing his job and he does it 24 hours a day,” Jackson said. “In lieu of going through the process of being brought up on charges, he decided to take a stand. He believes the union should not tell him what to do when he’s off duty.”
His father, Michael Schaffer Sr., started as a volunteer firefighter at age 16 in 1963. He retired from the Cherry Hill Fire Department in 1992.
“Guys for the longest time could be a career firefighter in Cherry Hill and volunteer for their own communities to give a little back,” recalled the elder Schaffer, who praised the township’s fire department and Giorgio’s leadership.
“The union took it too many steps too far,” he said. “Not one firefighter responding to an emergency alters the hiring procedure for that municipality.”
Also on STATter911 …
- Quick Takes – March 3, 2010
- Career – volunteer issues make news in New Jersey. VFC effectively closed. Read the story from Cherry Hill. – November 1, 2009
- Updated Quick Takes – March 4, 2010
- Holiday staffing is again an issue in Prince George’s County. Career staff paid to stay home. Union calls it ‘extremely dangerous for the citizens’. Chief says they are providing ‘quality service’ while contolling expenses. – May 24, 2010
Mike, (doesn’t matter how I feel on what you did)
It’s quite funny how your badass brother firefighters are so damn tough they post things on here as Anonymous, call you all kind of names,trash you…. They’re a bunch of Internet- Toughguys Mike.
Great Spineless Brotherhood you have, no wonder Mike made the decision he did.
I can understand the IAFF making an issue of members volunteering in towns with other IAFF locals. But that isn’t the situation in this case. Mike runs with his VFD who got called into another town on mutual aid. This other town is a combination department with an IAFF local. To me that seems a rather liberal interpretation of the bylaws to disallow that.
If the source of mutual aid is an issue for the Union, then Cherry Hill should stop calling in the surrounding VFD or combo depts for mutual aid.
This all stems from the Voorhees Fire District so called “PROFESSIONAL” Firefighters Local 3249 complaining about this issue for years. Their point and case was that if these guys kept volunteering in thier town it decreased the chances of hiring more “PROFESSIONALS” and building the union membership greater. Voorhees is a combination fire service which is primarily Volunteer Firefighters supplemented by Career Firefighters Monday thru Friday 6am-5pm. The Volunteers cover the weekends and holidays. What is my point? That is easy. When your coverage is 24/7 365 days of the year you can have every right to complain who comes into your town. Until then you should be thanking every mutual aid company and individule that backs you up when it is needed most. If it were up to me. I would boycott any volunteer mutual aid into both Cherry Hill and Voorhees until they realize what is the best interest for the community they work in.
Brother Schaffer, I am not a volunter firefighter, and I live in a small city with one of the best fire departments in the world with no volunteers. Im not pretending to know or understand the facts, but as a fireman for almost 23 years in the Bronx NY., and a family man myself, I certainly got your back on this one!
Stay strong and positive, when lives are on the line there is no time for this PETTY BS.
Mainstreet Citizen….Do you forget that as firefighters we answer to the public everytime the bells go off….whether it be for a working fire or a motor vehicle accident or simply unattended cooking…we answer the public’s call. Stack these calls for service over a 25 year career and the health effects on these individuals alone deserves some sort of backing. That is where the union comes in. The union bargains for us…gets us the benefits we need to deal with the intangibles of the job we do.
John Q Public needs to realize that our services can be taken advantage of at anytime …but our health..our benefits and our families cannot and should not…..hence the union exists.
As a card carrying member/ ex volunteer….i support the union because the union supports me and my family. I am still an inactive member of my vlunteer fire company where I help in a way that does not violate my bylaws. I know what I signed up for and I love doing it…..and when you work in a hostile profession …sometimes you need a big brother to make sure the corrupt and greedy politicians that represent the public do not run us over.
Ok enough about the IAFf and how good it is and serves their membership. What this man did is without doubt a good thing. Why the question obviously occurs. I personally donot like, nor respect the IAFF. I am a retired Lieutenant. I Resigned from the Union. I was tired and didnot agree with the us and them Career vs. Volunteers Mentality/Attitude. The IAFF speaks they are trying overcome obstacles such as Volunteers so they can enhance the IAFF purpose. What the IAFf seems to either ignore or doesnot fully realize the fact, yes there are Volunteers who serve and protect their communities. The Fire and EMS Service is Professional, doesnot indicate Career Employees share the Professional Concept. There are some good well Trained Career Firefighters, and yes there are some good well Trained Volunteer Firefighters. For those who think and worship the IAFF as their sole crutch to lean on, each one of those individuals should keep in mind if the unwarranted and
May Day, May Day, Dreaded call with themselves, a Volunteer crew just may pull them out of a Burning Structure. This same issue applies to Volunteer Firefighters who criticize Career Firefighters. The end result is always “ACCOUNTABILITY” for everyone. The IAFF is nothing more than a group ofagitaing store front Lawyers who are self centered/selfish individuals.
“To all Brothers and Sisters both Career and Volunteer alike, please continue to maintain your High Level Professional Standards in the performance of your Fire/EMS Responsibilities”
As for those who worship the IAFF grow up climb out of your sand box, recess is over. “Firefighter Safety Everyone Goes Home, is what 21st Century Fire/EMS Service is about”.
Everyone Have a Nice Day
If any of you knew both Gerace and Bones there would be no comparison. Absolute Pinhead vs stand up guy. Bones I always have your back brother.
EVERYONE,
Don’t get your panties all ruffled. Both sides have the right to do what they want. If the union forbids it, so be it. If he chooses to stay or resign that’s his choice. There’s a good arguments for BOTH sides of this issue. Be glad that we live in a society where we a free to make these choices. (for a little while longer anyway) Bottom line….. It’s their business.
My 2 Cents !!
GROW UP!!!! This is not a Career vs. Volunteer issue. The local which Bones was a member of; modified its rules to allow its members to volunteer. The only stipulation is that they do not respond into a town with IAFF represented firefighters! Speaking of volunteering; Membership in the Union is VOLUNTARY!!! If you choose to join you agree to abide by their by-laws, if not don’t join! Bones opted to resign his membership rather than not responding to towns with IAFF employees. He is NOT subjected to any animosity at his work place. He did not call the press his Father did, to stir the pot! The reason this is an issue is because the local andthe IAFF chooses not to enforce their rules 100% If it says not to work in a profession covered by the AFL-CIO ( side work, volunteering etc.) then that’s how it should be.
It come down to one thing BY-LAWS
It was made clear to me early in my paid career that volunteering is wrong. (Taking jobs away from deserving union members, etc.)
Somehow, that doesn’t translate to taking away somebody’s job when I’m asked by the IAFF to volunteer for:
•EMS coverage at somebody’s kids sports tournament
•Fill the Boot
•Habitat for Humanity
•Paint Your Heart Out
•etc.
I stick to my union’s principles though. When asked, I reply that “I Don’t Volunteer”. If MDA wants to raise funds, they should hire a fund raising professional. If habitat for Humanity wants to build a house, they should hire professional tradesmen and pay union scale.
(Oh and BTW, have you ever noticed how many “union men” and officers don’t have a problem living in an area that is not protected by union firefighters? WTFBBQ.)
Brotherhood is UNION…not volunteers! Volunteers are want to bees…who couldn’t make it as a professional firefighters.. Do you see volunteer steel workers, volunteer auto makers… volunteer mail carriers….I think NOT!
If you are a BROTHER…you ARE UNION! PERIOD!
I do not think the IAFF should tell you what you can or can not do on YOUR own time.
Wayne Why don’t you learn to spell??? I see why you’re a paid puke!! You’re an idiot not smart enough to do anything else. You would not know what a brother is if it hit you in the butt. Go to you’re little pathetic station and get that little paycheck that would not support a family if it had to. You’re not only an idiot but a riot to listen to!! Now I see why the vollies and public think you guys are JERKS!!
I have been around the business for over 30 years and I’ll stack up a group of volunteers against a career crew and guaranteed their equal or even better.And they could easily be professional FF’s,( train, then rest, then wash the truck, then rest, then answer a call or two, then rest, then watch TV, wash the toilets, cut the lawn, then go home….vs. the volunteers train, then go back to a full time job or family, then answer calls, then upkeep at their home, and more calls, Don’t even compare !!
And Wayne, you obviously are NOT a FF, paid or Vol, the Brotherhood was created by volunteers and I see more Brotherhood amongst the volunteers then I do with the Paid guys, the only brotherhood there is the paying that weekly dues, great brotherhood there, pay me, follow me or get out
Michael, you make over 80,000 a year as a Cherry Hill firefighter ($81,559 in 2008 to be exact). Who do you think bargained for such outstanding wages for you?! The IAFF thats who. You are one ungrateful SOB. So you have over 20 years on the job huh? Why don’t you take your 50% PFRS pension and go be a full time volunteer.
“Brotherhood is UNION…not volunteers!”
Translation: “I’m a firefighter for the pay and bennies. Nothing more.”
“Volunteers are want to bees…who couldn’t make it as a professional firefighters.”
I guess the thousands of union firefighters who also volunteer are just figments of our imagination.
“Do you see volunteer steel workers, volunteer auto makers… ”
Thank you for pointing out two industries that have been absolutely murdered by their unions. Labor pool, anybody?
“If you are a BROTHER…you ARE UNION! PERIOD!”
Luckily I know enough union firefighters who actually have a clue about the meaning of the word “brotherhood” to know that you’re just a thug with a complex.
1st of all, Wayne, you’re ignorant to believe that. Secondly, The attitude should be that of which was stated earlier. Do all of the IAFF members get their car repaired at a dealership with Union workers? Do they shop at Wal-Mart? Do they shop at an all union supermarket?? Do they buy home improvement items at a Union Shop. Absolutely NOT!! It is not even possible to say yes. Do you buy american made Union automobiles? NO. So quit with the putting Union guys out of work excuse. You get a paycheck, from the City/Town you work for period. That’s the ONLY difference. Ben Franklin is rolling in his grave.
First Big Dog! It appears you are the idiot here. Attacking someone you probably don’t even know because he voiced his opinion, and then bashed him over his salary that he supports his family with. Am I doing the same thing? I think not, your ignorance opened you up to my response. I am a career firefighter and have a Masters degree, I also make a measly 6 figure salary and another 6 figure salary consulting on saving the lives of our brothers. Oh Wayne neglected to spell wannabes (slang) which means Want to be, how dare he? Do us all a favor and drinkk a Tall glass of Shut the F–K up!
Joe you my friend are in denial! I invite you to bring your best game to my Ladder Company! My men on a bad day would discourage you and any team that you would bring. We work 24 hr shifts and I mean work! Feel free to put your money where your mouth is! And our work day isn’t the only time we contribute to the safety of our CUSTOMERS and our brother and sister firefighters. Get your facts straight, whatever is the cause of your ignorance is not throughout the profession!
I don’t know BH the Steelworkers are still pretty strong. The auto workers on the other hand are a bad example. They put themselves out of business, they are the extreme in this discussion. I think they demanded to have someone wipe their behind when they were finished.LOL
itzall6 You must be a volunteer. You are more than entitiled to your opinion. Remember firemen weekend. Polish you buckle, trim your beard and buy another pager. You think Joe is a pinhead? Man up and identify yourself! Don’t call people names unless you are going to man up coward. Joe has a job to do, not for one member but for 100+ members, and then to 450000 members overall! You think the IAFF has only a few hundred members? There is over 450000 members!
Lets see here…If you live in America and don’t buy AMERICAN..Who does it hurt?Lets see…finance CHINA? Japan..
Secondly…I am a retired PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER and STILL A IAFF member… I worked for a MAJOR fire Dept. And did NOT SQUIRREL.(volunteer) If I went to Big Dogs employeer and said…I’ll work for FREE Lay him off… Who would it hurt.. NOT ME! So keep on volunteering… FIREFIGHTERS make the money and bennies because of UNIONS! They deserve what they get!
wow,
It is amazing to me how great Unions can be or how quickly they can screw a good thing up.Do these career firefifgters in that Metropolis in Cherry Hill, N.J. realize how many New York City Firefighters volunteer outof the City? Check it out you may be surpised. Some say they are the best in the world! I guess they see firefighting as it is —- wheter a check or no check, it is firefighting! The head of the Union should be happy the taxpayers are paying salaries. Him and his Brothers and Sisters are getting PAID for doing the greatest job in the world!Getting paid for something they love to do! Not many people in the world get to say that!!
Don’t be Greedy, enjoy what you have, leave your members volunteer if they want. If anything it will help them stay sharp.
LC.
Larry, I’m sure this information would surprise some people; but what does it matter? They are not the end all be all of the fire service! Oh boy look what FDNY does, it must be okay! Give us a break!
Wayne, A lot of paid “professional” firefighters in this area were or still are volunteers so your comments contradict themselves. As far as brotherhood , you don’t know the meaning. You would rather have another firefighter die from lack of support because of a union by law. You surely do not know the meaning of brotherhood!!! You are a prime example of a robotic union drone (controlled by high salaries and benefits) who cannot comprehend that not all Americans can afford your salaries and still believe in helping their fellow neighbor without financial gain. Mike is the prime example of what all Americans should strive to be and stand up for what they believe in.
MG
Listen to All. Bones does what he does not because he likes taking jobs away from people because he has a passion for the job. As it was put in the article the shop steward from Winslow states:
“we need all the help we can get being a single engine that covers 52 square miles. I would like to thank my brother firefighters for watching our backs”.
Not to mention Winslow is not hiring anybody for the next year due to their budget failing. On top of that we are all forgetting were we started. We all were vol.s at first and some of us are forgetting this. So let’s not knock those guys who aren’t on the job/ in the union. It’s not like they don’t work for a living as well. I’m sure they all have full time jobs doing what ever and they still vol. on top of that so these types of guys / women including bones has my support.
While everyone is debating about the decision Michael made, and how Joe is the bad guy. The real trouble makers just sit back, read all this nonsense and laugh. The Voorhees Career Staff are the root of all this mess. I don’t see any of them on here making any statements or opinons.
Good luck trying to get workmans comp or heart&lung if your employer finds out you are volunteering elsewhere. Especially if you can’t prove the injury or illness occurred while you were working.
After reading the story and comments regarding Michael Schaffer and Local 2663, I wanted to weigh in with my thoughts. I know my opinion will not be popular with some, but I applaud Cherry Hill Firefighters Local 2663 for their decision to enforce the IAFF’s by-laws. Mr. Schaffer knew when he took his job it would entail joining the local and that by being part of the IAFF, there was a possibility that he would be prohibited from volunteering. Being shocked is tantamount to taking out an adjustable rate mortgage on a new house and being shocked that your payments went up because the prime rate increased.
I am not going to digress into attacks against volunteers, but I will simply state that, I wish more locals would uphold Resolution 2. If you don’t agree with it, don’t be a member of the IAFF. It’s just that simple!
Good job to the brothers and sisters of Local 2663! I hope other locals will follow your example.
Resolution 2 directs the IAFF to delete Article XV, Section 3 and insert a new subsection to the list of defined misconduct as “working a secondary job part-time, paid on call, volunteer or otherwise as a firefighter, emergency medical services worker, public safety or law enforcement officer, or as a worker in a related service, whether in the public or private sector, where such job is within the work jurisdiction of any affiliate or which adversely impacts the interests of any affiliate or the IAFF.
HEY PROUD TO BE A IAFF BROTHER!
All I have to say is AMEN BROTHER!
I’m just a taxpayer who wants to get what I pay for. If I have paid for your training and/or continuing education stay in my neighborhood. If I pay for your insurance stay healthy, don’t go and get yourself hurt on your day off on my dime. I don’t care if your are paid or not but choose one. Those of us who live in areas with union departments do so for a reason, and we pay for it. Those who don’t make that choice for themselves. Please stop giving my investment away.