The FBU has joined with unions representing firefighters in 12 countries to form the International Firefighter Unions Alliance (IFFUA). Agreed at a conference in Vancouver, Canada, March 30-April 1  2009 , the new international alliance encompasses unions from Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom in Europe, Israel in the Middle East, Canada, Mexico and the United States in the Americas, as well as Australia and New Zealand. It is hoped that by the next IFFUA conference, in 2012, firefighter unions from all continents of the world will be participating in the alliance.

The FBU was represented at the conference by General Secretary Matt Wrack, President Mick Shaw and Vice President Alan McLean.

The founding conference agreed an interim constitution that would promote in all countries of the world:   

• independent trade unionism and full trade union rights for the firefighting profession;  
• the best levels of remuneration, working conditions and retirement pension provision;  
• the highest standards of fire fighting professionalism in order to achieve the highest level of community safety;  
• the highest standards of safety for firefighters;  
• would seek to ensure that the firefighting profession and consequently fire fighter unions are representative of the communities that they serve, vigorously opposing discrimination on grounds of religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, disability, age or trade union activity.

The IFFUA will also seek to ensure that the interests of firefighters are represented in international legislative and standard setting bodies and as part of the international labour movement will work in cooperation with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Global Unions Council.

The Vancouver conference was the product of three years’ discussions between firefighters’ unions from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. 

Conference discussions revealed that firefighters throughout the world face many similar challenges. It was also clear that these challenges were intensifying as a result of the international economic crisis.

Having the ability to learn from each others’ experiences and particularly from each others’ successes, is of great importance, as is an international trade union voice for the firefighting profession. The alliance should also be in a position to promote and help develop independent trade unionism for firefighters in those countries where there are significant barriers to its development, particularly in the developing world.

General Secretary Matt Wrack has been elected to a steering committee which will oversee the development of the alliance between now and the 2012 conference and to draw up proposals for a permanent constitution; the establishment of an office; funding and staffing.  

For more information see the IFFUA website: www.iffua.org

The FBU is running a number of online political campaigns on international issues. Click here to Lobby Your MP.