Brothers:

It is with great satisfaction and pride that I am able to say that our dedication, hard work and conviction to make ourselves and our City SAFER has once again paid off with HUGE dividends.  It is humbling that the citizens of our City have overwhelmingly said YES to allocate additional funds for the City’s share of the SAFER Grant awarded to South Burlington.  I am proud to have led this strong Local to such a great victory.  Each and every one of you deserve to take credit for this.  Our strength and unity was clearly apparent to the entire City with the participation of the entire membership of Local 3671.  From the beginning of this process, I stood before City Management and said that no matter how they chose to fund the Grant and these needed six additional positions, my members would put forward 100% to ensure that their City and their brothers were SAFER.  I have to say that you all exceeded my expectations.  From showing up at public forums when even the public did not attend, to being out in force on the rainiest days handing out informational flyers and putting up signs, to standing at the polling locations for hours greeting voters and providing them with a smile and the information they needed to make an educated vote – I commend and thank each and every one of you.  As your President, I also thank each of you for your support and trust throughout this endeavor.  I would be remiss if I did not also thank our Brothers throughout Vermont.  A special thanks to Local 3044, Burlington Firefighters, and Local 4611, Williston Firefighters, who stood on the frontlines with us and helped us secure this vote.  It is also important to acknowledge that a strong labor/management relationship, as well as working along the side of the City Manager and City Council throughout the process, were keys to effectively educate the public on our issues.

We have completed the first part of this exciting new step forward for the South Burlington Fire Department and Local 3671 however we are not yet finished.  Soon the City will hire six new firefighter/EMT’s to serve along side with us.  We will have the very important task of training them to the high standards that we, as well as the citizens of South Burlington, have come to expect.  We will ensure that these additional positions prove to be of the utmost benefit to both the City and the Fire Department.  As Union members, we will all be looked upon to make these new employees the best they can be and continue on the proud tradition of being a career firefighter in South Burlington, a member of the IAFF and Local 3671. 

Again, I thank you all for your hard work and determination to ensure this YES Vote.  With an overwhelming 73% “yes vote” victory, we have proven once again that when the career firefighters of South Burlington get behind something to support it, there is nothing that can stop us.  No matter the call, whether it be emergency or political, we will not only work hard and see it to the end to allow for the best possible outcome, but we will stay true to the cause.  We must never forget where we have come from, but we will remain diligent looking forward to the future.  I believe we have made the citizens we protect proud of their fire department.  Our citizens hold us to exceptional standards and we have always, and will continue to, answer to those demands.  This is their essential service – they should be as proud of it as every member of Local 3671.  We all know that in these tough financial times, services and staffing are in jeopardy.  What we have accomplished is not to be looked lightly upon.  Be proud of what we have accomplished – for the Local, for the Department, for the City, the State and the country.  We are a testament to the SAFER Grant; from start to finish.  Congratulations Brothers!

Fraternally,

Chris Corbin, President

South Burlington Career Firefighters

IAFF Local 3671