About Us
The Professional Firefighters of Spokane County Fire District 9
received its IAFF charter in September of 1983. The district hired its 1st
paid
firefighters in 1972; however the 3 members were non-union for 11 years before
we chartered.
Local 2916 unionized with 14 people: 3 dispatchers and 11
firefighters. Two years prior to becoming a union, the department hired the first
paramedics of District 9. FF/PM Rick Kartevold, Rick Oliver, Bill Carl, and Gary Mauri were all hired in 1981 as the locals 1st
Firefighter/Paramedics.
This marks one of the 1st progressive
movements the fire district made by stepping outside the traditional roles of
the fire service, and hiring Paramedics to staff the completely new ALS Squad
which responded on all the medical alarms inside the department.
At that time, management had a work agreement with its paid
employees. The firefighters had an association, which was better than nothing,
but did not have the bargaining power of a union. Although there were
numerous members that had a part in the organizing of the Local, one
key member was instrumental in this process. That was FF/PM Rick Oliver.
Rick also was elected to serve as Local 2916's first President. Not to long after the Local's start the first contract
was negotiated and signed.
This initiated the start of fair compensation and safer working
conditions for not only the existing paid firefighters, but for future
firefighters as well.
Throughout the Local's history there has been key events that have shaped
the union's operations as well as its numbers. For example, in 1983 when Local 2916 chartered with the IAFF, we had 11 firefighters and 3 dispatchers who all
operated out of one station.
Today, we operate as a Local incorporating professional firefighters from two fire districts; Spokane County Fire District 9 and 10. District 9 now includes four, 24/7 fully staffed stations and one part-time station. District 10 includes one fully staffed station during day-time hours. Local 2916 now has 55 active members.
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