PLEASE -"ANYBODY BUT ED"

Never in my 46 year history at the IAFF has one person's desire to win office had such a profoundly negative effect on the entire IAFF membership and our overall Firefighter community reputation. I have witnessed over the years many -many very highly competitive campaigns for every elected position at the IAFF -NEVER has any candidate's ambitions denigrated our great unions reputation in the eyes of our members and the public like Ed has.

In recent decades OUR IAFF has become a powerhouse.

Well financed -thanks to the members, Excellent staff, a wide range of services, tremendous respect in our communities, a highly respected political entity which has brought about results beyond my wildest imagination. This did not happen without tremendous dedication and team play. (See note below)

Like many others, I thought that at some point an orderly transition might occur at the IAFF with Harold stepping down and Ed likely standing for President. Ed's experience at the IAFF as Secretary/Treasurer and performance in that position could have been his qualification to assume the Presidency.

But then what happened?

IAFF Secretary/Treasurer Ed Kelly decided he did not wish to "wait" for any orderly transition and went looking for "some dirt" on President Harold Schaitberger. Sure enough if you look hard enough you can usually conjure up some "evil deed" even if you have to go back 20 years. The Pension issue that Ed found and twisted to suit his personal agenda has succeeded in having Harold step down. NOT because of any wrong doing on Harold's part (see report from IAFF Claims committee Sept 19/2020) but because Ed ensured the pension story went PUBLIC putting Harold and us all in a "guilty until proven innocent" scenario. Ed's actions tarnished every IAFF member and every previous Elected IAFF Vice President and Executive Officer completely unnecessarily.

Harold, who has contributed more to the IAFF in the last 46 years "than any other person" in its' history (my opinion see below) once again put the IAFF "he loves" above himself and stepped aside.

The "extensive-thorough" IAFF Claims Committee report issued Sept 19,2020 on the "Harold Pension matter" determined that there was "no wrongdoing" by Harold receiving his IAFF staff pension "earned" while he was IAFF staff. An apology from Ed will undoubtedly be forthcoming soon but of course it won't get any media coverage.

But the irreparable damage to our reputations as IAFF members and Harold is done. The folks at City Hall and all our adversaries know we have been dealt a credibility blow that will take the wind out of our sails for the foreseeable future.

As IAFF members we have had our IAFF name and our President's reputation smeared across the media undoing decades of good work which, until then, had the IAFF and us as members prouder than at any time in OUR memorable HISTORY.

ALL BECAUSE ED COULD NOT WAIT.

Who was ED concerned about? You? Me? The IAFF? NONE of the above . ONLY the " kid" from Boston.

Ed's campaign of "take our Union Back even if we have to burn it down first" {his words) infers that someone has takes it away?

That selfish highly misleading assertion diminishes every person who has served as an elected representative on the IAFF Executive Board and the many Principal officers who have served us (certainly at least in the last 20 years).

Ed, instead of going through "normal channels" your IAFF 16 member elected Board immediately went outside spending, it turns out, several hundred thousand dollars (your dues) to investigate a 20 year old "perceived discrepancy".

I notice Ed often poses alone in FF turnout gear in his PROMO ads. Maybe he can't find anybody in Boston to be in the promo with him. Maybe they have experienced the "it's all about Ed" the person we are now aware of. He suggests that we "be safe" "be strong" be Firefighters. Not a word about "being smart" - can't help but wonder?

The first lesson we were all taught when we went on the Fire Department is that we are a team "lives depend on that". When we "hired" Ed as Secretary/Treasurer we gave him a 16 person IAFF TEAM duly "democratically elected from throughout the IAFF". We gave him "our best" to help HIM do the job for all of us.

Not for Ed - Find a 20 year old issue "go outside" "go public" around your duly elected representatives, diminish the reputation of every IAFF member, "take out our highly respected President Harold.

Ed "Team Player" NOT- He would not get elected to be in charge of the "coffee fund " on any crew I ever worked with. We love "yes love" and protect and respect our "crew" because we need them to do the same for us.

But if you're an IAFF member you already know that.

HERE IS A QUESTION WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE ANSWER TO

Whether you are a Republican or Democrat here are some facts. Harold is a "personal friend" of the recently elected PRESIDENT of the United States of America. Because of the pandemic Local governments are experiencing tremendous financial shortfalls (which are going to get worse before they get better) and those local governments are hoping-praying that the Federal Government will help them finance local services including "emergency services".

If your local government is forced to cut costs and your staff or equipment are not "federally assisted" , well you get the picture.

Be sure to give Ed a call and thank him.

Of course there was even a possibility that Harold might have been part of the new Biden administration given his long standing close relationship with the President. I'm not sure how President Biden takes the "assassination" of his friend Harold - personally I'm guessing - and if he does Ed and the IAFF will be on the "do not call" list at the White House. Just imagine what could have been before Ed sidelined our "Best Guy." Who does that???

So what is YOUR CLEAR DUTY as an IAFF elected representative. Help save the IAFF and get us back on track .

YOU need to "cast aside - cut out " those who would be KING" for their own ends and find and definitely VOTE for someone who loves the IAFF not themselves.

Ed needs to be stopped -

In the early going until all the facts emerged, Ed was campaigning with some success (often misrepresenting facts) portraying himself as "the heir apparent". Surely now that the facts are clear, even if you BOUGHT THE "BS" from Ed early and signed on you need to do the right thing and "step off" this unfolding "Greek Tragedy".

Firefighters need the IAFF and now especially the IAFF needs you.

VOTE PLEASE-

When your Ballot arrives - Vote! It's important - Be on the right side of HISTORY.

My Qualifications to comment on this "impending tragedy" are the fact that I have 46 years (yes 46) as an IAFF member including: - IAFF Vice President Emeritus 13th district representing Ontario­ Manitoba - for 18 years at the IAFF Board Attendance at every IAFF convention over last 46 years.

(I thought I had seen it all).

As a member of Local 1212 Mississauga I was Elected to all Executive positions Secretary, President, Vice President, Treasurer. I served in an elected local position virtually my whole time of Fire Service employment.

Fraternally and Respectfully of this GREAT IAFF,

Elliott Hastings

IAFF VICE PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Note - While I have indicated repeatedly in this letter the HUGE undeniable role Harold has played in the IAFF -he knows -we all know that great staff, 16 vice presidents, and a biennial convention where the entire membership participates have also dramatically impacted on the huge success of the IAFF.

Harold regularly acknowledges that.

Note - Please feel free to distribute this in any manner you deem appropriate or helpful. You might well be the difference.