Ajax Firefighters - IAFF Local 1092

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Who We Are (Back To Top of Page)

We are the Firefighters of the Ajax Fire & Emergency Services. When a firetruck shows up at an emergency anywhere in the Town of Ajax it is us you see stepping off the truck. We are the Firefighters you see going into burning buildings, responding to motor vehicle accidents, providing medical aid, responding to activated fire alarms and responding to any type of rescue emergency that requires our expertise. We also assist the Police and Paramedics whenever our assistance is requested. We are the Suppression Crews you see going out into the public and into schools teaching fire safety through various programs such as the Learn Not To Burn program, the Safe at Home Program, and TAPPC. It is our job, along with the Fire Prevention and Public Safety Division to proactively prevent fires and
tragedies.

We are the Fire Prevention Officers and Inspectors whose responsibility it is to ensure that buildings are safe for the public and occupants by ensuring those buildings meet the requirements of the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code.

We are members of the Training Division whose responsibility it is to ensure that members of the Department are trained and maintain their training to the highest level possible. We are constantly evaluating new procedures and equipment to allow Firefighters to do their jobs more effectively.

We are the Dispatchers who answer 911 calls and whose job it is to ensure responders can quickly and efficiently get to the scene of an emergency. We ensure that all communication at an emergency scene is handled in a professional manner.

Together we are the members of the Ajax Professional Firefighters Association and we are here to serve the public.

Our Organization (Back To Top of Page)

The Ajax Professional Firefighters Association is the association representing all firefighters, fire prevention officers and inspectors and the training officers of the Ajax Fire & Emergency Services. Our Association is responsible for but not limited to:

negotiating collective agreements between the Town of Ajax (the employer) and the firefighters of the association
ensuring the collective rights and individual rights of our members (active and retired) are protected and respected
striving to improve the health and safety of our members

The members of our Association also have a vested interest in the publics safety and therefore the Association:

continues to push for improvements in the fire department that provide better levels of protection to the citizens we have sworn to protect
takes a stand against those issues that have a negative impact on the public's safety

The members of our Association are also community minded. To that extent, our members continue to participate in many charity fund raising events throughout our community and provincially. Some of the organizations we have contributed to include Breast Cancer Research, Ross Tilly Skin Bank (used by burn victims) and the Ajax/Pickering Hospital.

Our Affiliations (Back To Top of Page)

The members of the Ajax Professional Firefighters Association are proud to be members of and proudly affiliated with the International Association of Firefighters, the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association and our neighboring firefighter associations, the Whitby Professional Firefighters Association and the Pickering Professional Firefighters Association.

International Association of Firefighters

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the 16th largest union among the 64 national unions that makeup the AFL-CIO. The IAFF represents more than 267,000 full-time professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who protect 80 percent of the nation’s population. More than 2,900 affiliates and their members protect nearly 6,000 communities in every state in the Unites States and every province in Canada.

Ontario Professional Firefighters Association

The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association represents approximately 9500 professional fire fighters from seventy-five Locals. These Locals are represented by Seven Districts in the OPFFA.

The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association has evolved into an organization whose primary purpose is to provide career fire fighters with the highest level of service and expertise to assist them in all aspects of their professional lives.

This service comes in the form of research and distribution of information, representation at all government levels, 'hands on' assistance at the local level with local problems - negotiations, grievances, workers compensation, pensions, etc. - and education to prepare fire fighters for effective collective bargaining and the administration of their collective agreements. Many of these resources are available to our affiliate locals through our Online Database.

We are recognized by the Ontario Government as an authoritative voice for Fire Fighters in this province.

Whitby Professional Firefighters Association

The Whitby Professional Firefighters Association is responsible for providing fire protection and emergency services to the residents of the Town of Whitby located just east of The Town of Ajax. They can be located on the web at: www.iaff2036.org

Pickering Professional Firefighters Association

The Pickering Professional Firefighters Association is responsible for providing fire protection and emergency services to the citizens of the City of Pickering located just west of the Town of Ajax. They can be located on the web at: www.pickeringfire.com

Our History (Back To Top of Page)

International Association of Firefighters History

The IAFF was established on Feb. 28, 1918, for the sole benefit of rank-and-file fire fighters in the United States and Canada. It was on this date that 36 fire fighter delegates attended the first IAFF Convention and adopted the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. The objectives incorporated into that Constitution remain in its preamble to this day.

First Convention

First annual IAFF Convention
Washington, D.C., Feb 27, 1918

At that meeting the delegates decided to dedicate their union to the following objectives (modified only slightly over time):

To organize all fire fighters and emergency medical or rescue workers;
To secure just compensation for their services and equitable settlement of their grievances;
To promote as safe and healthy a working environment for fire fighters as is possible through modern technology;
To promote the establishment of just and reasonable working conditions;
To place the members of the Association on a higher plane of skill and efficiency;
To promote harmonious relations between fire fighters and their employers;
To encourage the formation of local unions, state and provincial associations and joint councils;
To encourage the formation of sick and death benefit funds;
To promote the research and treatment of burns and other related health problems common to fire fighters;
To encourage the establishment of schools of instruction for imparting knowledge of modern and improved methods of fire fighting and prevention; and
To cultivate friendship and fellowship among its members.

[From the Preamble of the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Association of Fire Fighters AFL-CIO, CLC]

Throughout the last 83 years, the members and staff of the IAFF have worked tirelessly to fulfill each of these charges. As a result of their work, the IAFF was the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the twentieth century, from the introduction of shift schedules early in the century to the enactment of the 2-in/2-out safety regulation near its close. With extremely active political and legislative programs, and with recognized experts in the fields of occupational health and safety, fire-based emergency medical services and hazardous materials training, the IAFF has long occupied a special place in the North American fire service.

Today, the IAFF is the primary advocate for providing fire fighters and paramedics with the tools they need to perform their jobs. The union also provides a strong voice in the development and implementation of new training and equipment, and has worked hard to advance the proper staffing of fire and EMS department.

Our Color Guard (Back To Top of Page)

Fire and Emergency Services has a new Colour Guard, which provides a ceremonial presence at events such as parades and memorials.

For several years, firefighter Jim O'Hara had been interested in seeing the Ajax department's Colour Guard become active again. Back in the 70s and 80s, he says, there was a large contingent of firefighters involved. But when he joined the force in 1991, he was disappointed to find the group was no longer active.

Jim says Fire Chief Randy Wilson supported re-instituting the group, but for various reasons it didn't get off the ground. The events of September 11 spurred interest again, and by Remembrance Day, the Colour Guard was established and ready to take part in the Legion's parade.

The Colour Guard proudly represents their department and the Town at public events. They intend to "troop the colours" whenever possible, showing local, provincial and Canadian flags, along with the US flag to show their solidarity.

According to the Internet:
The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle; they were trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognize those of his own regiment.