As firefighters we have always stood with our fellow Public Sector Working Families in defending pension rights and benefits. We cannot sit idly by now even as more and more voices rise up to include police and firefighters in the current reform talks.

We know there could be a bill introduced any day now that not only reduces benefits for the statewide systems, but if the Illinois Municipal League and its members have their way, our names will be in the legislation as well.

Downstate and Suburban Mayors and Managers have made it a point through the media that they echo Mayor Emanuel's request that local government employees need to be included in the potential pension reform bill that addresses the 5 statewide systems.

The time to act is now.

Please go to WeAreOneIllinois.org today and contact your legislators.

Then, pass this along to your family and friends because now is the time to go all in and we cannot wait for someone else to speak up for us.

See the latest commercial now playing across Illinois for We Are One Illinois.

Also, don't forget to check out the AFFI's "We Are One" & "Promises" Videos and share them with family and friends.

With nearly 700 delegates from across the country convened at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, the 2012 IAFF Legislative Conference kicked off with a call for IAFF members to fight back on the national level as they have on the state and local levels.

Speaking to the delegates, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger commended IAFF members for reminding state leaders that IAFF members will not be pushed around and that “if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.”

Schaitberger emphasized that while the state fights are critical, national-level battles are just as important. “We’re here because Congress and this federal government still matter because what happens on Capitol Hill, in the White House and throughout the federal administration still matters,” he said.

This week, IAFF members will lobby their members of Congress to reverse recent spending cuts to the Staffing for Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants and will weigh in on legislation related to retirement benefits, including pensions and mandatory Social Security. Additionally, fire fighters will let their legislative leaders know that attacks on the IAFF federal members’ salaries and benefits will not be tolerated.

This is a big election year. The nation will vote for president, numerous U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representative seats, as well as state-level offices. In addition, the IAFF’s own Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin (PFFW) President Mahlon Mitchell, who is speaking at the legislative conference, will be vying for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor.

General President Schaitberger said the importance of this election could not be stressed enough, “What’s at stake is the very future of our country, the labor movement and our members’ future.”

The IAFF will be heavily involved in the 2012 presidential election. And the International will also work hard against candidates like Mitt Romney who “opposes the SAFER and FIRE Act grant programs that have kept thousands of IAFF members on the job.”

He said, “We will be chasing him all over this country to make sure that the only view he has of the White House is from a tourist bus.”

Other high-profile speakers include-- U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, White House Political Director
Patrick Gaspard, PFFW President and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor candidate Mahlon Mitchell, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and U.S. Senator John Kerry.

Click here to hear IAFF General President Schaitberger’s speech in its entirety, a complete list of speakers and full coverage of the 2012 IAFF Legislative Conference.

The IAFF has developed a new web site that will be a valuable resource for IAFF members who participate in pipe and drum bands or honor guard teams. The Pipe & Drum Band and Honor Guard web site provides information on IAFF member pipe and drum bands and honor guards, including every U.S. and Canadian IAFF-affiliated pipe and drum band and IAFF-affiliated honor guards. This new web site also allows IAFF affiliates or band/honor guard contacts to add or update their information.

The popularity of pipe and drum bands and honor guard teams among the brothers and sisters of the IAFF has vastly increased. Today, there are close to 150 IAFF-affiliated bands and dozens of regional Honor Guards that include thousands of IAFF members. IAFF members who participate in pipe and drum bands and honor guard teams can use this new resource to identify opportunities to represent their fire department, their local and the IAFF, including holiday parades, symposiums and memorial services throughout the United States, Canada and around the world. Most importantly, these members stand ready to serve in the event of a line-of-duty death.

That's why it's vital to each band or honor guard representative that the exchange of information be both accurate and up-to-date. While most fire departments have an internal honor guard, the IAFF can only include those available to assist state or provincial wide.

Click here to visit the Pipe & Drum Band and Honor Guard web site.

Maryville Fire Department struck Box Alarm 2401 at approximately 1030 this morning.  The fire was located at Division Street and Route 159.  Collinsville responded with an engine and truck to assist.  Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, and Troy also assisted with manpower, apparatus, and change-of-quarters assignments.

Click here for a few photos