Jeff Cook for Union President Issues Platform

Jeff Cook for Union President

No excuses - just common sense leadership

A CAMPAIGN WITH REAL VISION - A CAMPAIGN WITH REAL PLANS

Our Union is at a crossroads. We can choose to work to build stronger relationships with key constituencies, such as the fire administration, or we can remain on a stagnant course. We can be proactive in heightening our visibility, or we can wait and continue to hope that someone else will stick up for us. I believe that our Union can be a powerful force in representing our interests. I am the candidate who will push for the solutions that we all know need to be implemented. No excuses, just leadership.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY PLANS FOR OUR UNION:

MAXIMIZE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING- A strong new contract is paramount and the President-elect should be included in the negotiations before taking office in October. Success can only be achieved if we ensure the safety of our membership while retaining our benefits. A professional negotiator can help represent our best interests in efforts to bring us in line with other comparable fire departments. ENHANCE COMMUNICATIONS - We can improve our outreach and public relations efforts.

• Internally, we need to better leverage existing resources, such as the Internet and e-mail, to connect members with important information, with our leadership and with each other.
• Externally, we can better engage the media to help tell our story. We must be more active in sharing our message with key audiences and associations and in advancing non-partisan legislative relationships.

TACKLE OUR BUDGET - Our dollars should be allocated in a targeted manner based on the most pressing needs. We can eliminate wasteful spending and redirect funds for the greatest good.

CREATE GRIEVANCE TOOL - By capturing and organizing past grievance information in a centralized database, we can determine the best courses of action to benefit our members.

EMPOWER ELECTED BOARD - Trustees should be given voting rights. Responsibilities should be balanced between the Board and President to improve the antiquated dictatorial structure. A Union leadership team can be more effective than one person trying to act alone.

EXPLORE BUILDING A NEW HALL - We have the third largest membership in IAFF and our building is too small for day-to-day operations or for meetings. We need a new place to gather. This should be a long-term goal with a specific action plan.

TAP INTO NETWORKS - International and state associations offer significant resources we can apply to benefit us as a Union membership and as individual Fire Fighters. It's time for us to take advantage of the existing tools available to us.

For more information or to help the campaign, contact Jeff Cook for Union President at:
(PHONE NUMBER) or (E-MAIL ADDRESS)