1942 Boston Fire Fighters Organize Under the IAFF

In the wake of the Boston Police Strike of 1919, unionization by public employees was not popular among the public. The Police Strike was blamed for looting and other crimes which occurred in the city during the police officers’ organizing campaign and strike. Striking police officers were fired and replace by scabs after the strike.

During the 1940’s, public employees began another effort to organize. This trend started when Boston Fire Fighters voted to join the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). The Fire Fighters gained the support of Boston Mayor Tobin and formed Local 718 of the IAFF. With union representation, Boston Fire Fighters were able to win many of the rights that they had been denied for so long, including the 8-hour day.

As a result of the Fire Fighters’ successful organizing campaign, many other state, county, and municipal workers began to affiliate with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The first two groups to unionize were corrections officers and highway employees and were followed by employees of the Department of Mental Retardation. In 1962 President Kennedy issued and executive order that encouraged more federal employees to organize.