DELEGATES REJECT EDZO’S “VISION”

IAFF delegates voting on the future of our union tuned into the convention this last week and delivered a stunning defeat to Edzo’s “vision” for the union.

As he yelled into the camera, IAFF brothers and sisters wondered why their GST could be so wrong on a resolution (resolution 1) that is designed to keep the union financially stable. It’s his job, right?

When we’re talking about the ideas of the person who will be leading our union, this shit matters.

Here’s what we’re talking about.

Edzo campaigned hard against no new per capita at this year’s convention. It’s literally his #1 issue.

He stood up first before all the delegates and gave a speech before voting began on the first per capita resolution. It’s the resolution that makes sure the IAFF can continue to cover the costs of doing business, Resolution 1.

He knows the importance of this resolution – he’s been the GST for four years. Even after committee chairs read the history on the resolution, about how the IAFF went broke in the 1980s because of unfunded COLAs, he continued to lie right to delegates’ faces about improving services without adjusting for inflation.

You can fool people with that bullshit some of the time, but apparently not delegates, who rejected his vision overwhelmingly.

Edzo lost the first and most important vote against his entire campaign platform.

What’s worse, many delegates whose local’s logos are splashed all over Edzo’s website spoke out STRONGLY AGAINST EDZO’S #1 CAMPAIGN PLATFORM and continued to pass resolutions agreeing to dues increases, because they know financial stability is the only way to get the programs and services they need and deserve.

We’re not sure how those leaders can support Edzo if they so strongly disagree with his only campaign platform and vision for our union, but we’ve heard from locals across the U.S. and Canada who are rethinking their support based on Ed’s total failure to understand basic concepts.

Edzo proved he doesn’t have real support. It’s another of his lies.

There’s good reason even his “supporters” voted against him time and again throughout the convention - his ideas would be disastrous for the IAFF.

We are at the end of 20 years of the same leader. We don’t need to begin the new era with a guy whose vision is completely at odds with a strong union. It’s no wonder why we receive so many stories about the bullying and abuse from Ed’s camp.

Bullying is the last resort of a failed leader.

As we all saw, delegates saw through his bullshit. For the future of our union, let’s hope they remember that when they get their ballots.