November 24,2010

Delegates from across the United States and Canada gathered at the 50th IAFF Convention in 2010 where they engaged in significant discussion about the need for fire fighters to continue to support each other through these tough economic times and stand with our brothers and sisters across the labor movement as attacks come from all sides.

The logic is simple. Fire fighters, like everyone, work hard to earn a living.  If we stand together, we will all be better off. So, when we spend our money – to provide for our family, for recreation, for whatever – we want it staying here at home, in the U.S. or Canada supporting other union workers. We don’t want our hard-earned dollars going to China or Indonesia or some other place.

This new Get It Union web site was built by our union -- the International Association of Fire Fighters -- because our members want to put their money where their mouth is. They asked for a web site that can be a resource to find and buy union made products. 

Since there isn’t an Amazon.com for union made stuff, we built this site by using what’s already on the Internet, including many resources from our sister unions,  to help you find links on the web to products made and services performed by union workers. And if you can’t find it union made, we also have links to some very good sites built by like-minded Americans and Canadians so you can find and buy stuff made in the U.S.A. or Canada.

We built this site with IAFF foremost in our thoughts, but it is open to everyone because there are a lot of consumers out there who, like us, want to “Get It Union.”

We are proud to launch it just in time for the AFL-CIO’s Buy Union Week – November 26-December 5. We will continue to improve it as we go, with your help – so please send us your feedback and favorite links and lists. 

Now get shopping and do your part to help fix our economy and keep good union jobs and businesses strong in the U.S.A. and Canada.

In Solidarity,

Harold A. Schaitberger
General President