A message from Mark 

Make Your Vote Count to Protect our Profession  

Re-Elect Mark Sanders for 8th District VP

My mission, as your 8th District Vice President, has been to bring battle tested experience to the local affiliate leaders and state association officers that make up this great 8th District of the IAFF. Together, we can prepare our union for the many diverse challenges that lie ahead.

In a day when the right to vote is taken for granted and participation seems to be less and less in the public process, I am proud to know that IAFF members cherish this right and utilize it to protect our profession. That is why I encourage you to Make Your Vote Count For Proven Leadership.

As your district vice president, I have worked with state associations and local affiliates to assist in anticipating and preparing for the challenges we face and emerging victorious. 

We have seen unwarranted attacks on our pension and disability systems.  These attacks on our retirements are being fought with the work of the IAFF Pension Committee.  As your 8th District Vice President, I have seen to it that defending the secure future of fire fighter defined benefit pension systems remains a priority.   I will continue that crucial work.

Safe staffing and deployment levels are one of our greatest safety concerns as professional fire fighters. In 1998, by taking information and data provided by the IAFF, I took the lead in developing the  strategy to utilize the evidence through political action and collective bargaining that ultimately secured 4 person minimum staffing on all fire apparatus in Cincinnati. This work was the basis for my being selected as a charter member of the NFPA 1710 Technical Committee on Staffing and Deployment. During the past 15 years, I have used this experience to testify on behalf of many IAFF locals as they fight to maintain or increase staffing levels and I have brought that experience to the district to help fight for our members. 

Most importantly,  I believe nothing can take the place of harmonious labor management relations. That is one of the reasons that I helped negotiate the first Labor Management Committee process for my local.    Through my experiences of preparing for and leading both traditional bargaining and interest based bargaining, Local 48 was able to negotiate fair contracts that protected our members.   I bring a dedication to  the process of securing the best contracts possible.  Why does that matter for an IAFF District VP?  Because your fundamental job as a union leader is to provide your members a voice at work through your CBA. The DVP's fundamental job is to assist you in that in  that process.  

Ultimately, my commitment is to do what I have done for the past four years - to be there, in person and on the ground; to advocate for our members interests in any type of forum; to bring the resources of the IAFF to the 8th District; and to assist our locals in fighting back.