Welcome to the website of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Local 416
Indianapolis resides in Marion County, Indiana. According to the 2000 Census, its population is listed as 791,926, making it the 12th largest city in the U.S. The International Association of Fire Fighters granted Indianapolis Firefighters their Charter in October of 1934. In 1968 a consolidation of city and county governments, known as UniGov, was created by then Mayor Richard Lugar. Public Safety was the only large omission in this act due to political influences from around the state. Today, Indianapolis is Marion County and its citizens are served by 12 different fire departments; all except the Indianapolis Airport Fire department are represented by Local 416. Currently our membership includes over 2,300 firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers and retirees.
In 1994, the leadership of six other IAFF locals within Marion County began discussions and merged with Local 416 to take advantage of common efficiencies and increase their political base. The rapid growth in and around Marion County brought on new career departments and expansion of smaller established ones between 1996 and 2002 thus changing the name to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Local 416. At this time the Local represented over 2800 members and 22 different departments in four counties. The goal all along with representing outside departments was to aid in their growth, develop leadership, and teach leaders how to run a union so they can create their own local. The success of this concept became evident in 2004 and late 2006 as Carmel Local 4444, Hamilton County Local 4416 and Hendricks County Local 4406 were formed.
In 2005 a different type of consolidation became the issue of the day as Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson proposed finishing 1968’s UniGov by consolidating all Marion County fire departments with IFD. Local 416 has long suggested fire consolidation was the proper thing for a city of our size. When Mayor Peterson made his suggestion, Local 416 immediately sought the resources of the IAFF in determining the feasibility of such a plan. Not surprisingly, such a plan caused quite a political firestorm. Local 416 tapped its 20-plus year history of political involvement with the Local 416 PAC to support the plan in both the city-county government as well as the state legislature. As of today, this battle still rages with only one Township Department, Washington Township, being consolidated with IFD.
Local 416 is continuing its activity in this matter. Our long battle for political recognition has yielded four Local 416 members sitting on the City-County Council (two from each party) and one member recently elected as a Township Trustee.
Local 416 believes the citizens of Indianapolis as well as all our members will be best served if this proposal is enacted and will continue our political activity to ensure the success of this landmark legislation.
In 1994, the leadership of six other IAFF locals within Marion County began discussions and merged with Local 416 to take advantage of common efficiencies and increase their political base. The rapid growth in and around Marion County brought on new career departments and expansion of smaller established ones between 1996 and 2002 thus changing the name to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Local 416. At this time the Local represented over 2800 members and 22 different departments in four counties. The goal all along with representing outside departments was to aid in their growth, develop leadership, and teach leaders how to run a union so they can create their own local. The success of this concept became evident in 2004 and late 2006 as Carmel Local 4444, Hamilton County Local 4416 and Hendricks County Local 4406 were formed.
In 2005 a different type of consolidation became the issue of the day as Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson proposed finishing 1968’s UniGov by consolidating all Marion County fire departments with IFD. Local 416 has long suggested fire consolidation was the proper thing for a city of our size. When Mayor Peterson made his suggestion, Local 416 immediately sought the resources of the IAFF in determining the feasibility of such a plan. Not surprisingly, such a plan caused quite a political firestorm. Local 416 tapped its 20-plus year history of political involvement with the Local 416 PAC to support the plan in both the city-county government as well as the state legislature. As of today, this battle still rages with only one Township Department, Washington Township, being consolidated with IFD.
Local 416 is continuing its activity in this matter. Our long battle for political recognition has yielded four Local 416 members sitting on the City-County Council (two from each party) and one member recently elected as a Township Trustee.
Local 416 believes the citizens of Indianapolis as well as all our members will be best served if this proposal is enacted and will continue our political activity to ensure the success of this landmark legislation.
