It was in the fall of 1962 when William "Howie" McClennan, 3rd District Vice President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, was speaking at the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters. Ernest C."Ernie" Greenlaw, in attendance at the meeting, was introduced to Howie. This was the first contact on the road to organizing what was to become "I.A.F.F. Local #1476". During the following winter and into spring of 1963, the process of affiliating with the I.A.F.F. was initiated with 19 fire fighters, 2 lieutenants and 2 captains signing membership applications. On June 4, 1963 the "Certificate of Affiliation" or "Charter" was issued by the I.A.F.F., forming Local # 1476. The Charter was signed by I.A.F.F. general President William Buck, 3rd District Vice President William Howard McClennan and Secretary-Treasurer John Kabachus. Charter Membership of Local # 1476 listed included: John J Hayworth, Ernest C. Greenlaw, Earle R. Angell, Reginald R. Benner, H. Leroy Brackett, John E. Campell, Thomas H. Cook, Norman W, Cribby, Ralph B. Cribby, James A. Gorman, Edward B. Gorwood, Robert H. Leeman, Llewellyn M. McGouldrick, Frank W. McPhearson, Duane H. Merrill Jr., Albert W. Nugent, Donald M. Perry, Franklin H. Prout, Herbert Pusey, Francis O. Richardson Jr. George W. Ridley Sr., Wendell L. Shaw and Kenneth M. Whitten. Upon affiliating with the I.A.F.F., the first elected president of Local # 1476, John J."Jack" Hayworth, requested from City Manager Bernal B. Allen that he engage in negotiations in an attempt to formulate a working agreement between the city and the fire fighters. Mr. Allen informed President Hayworth that he would like to talk with him but that he had no legal right to. With this response from Mr. Allen it was obvious that he wasn't about to engage in negotiations until something urged him along. With this in mind, President Hayworth, Secretary - Treasurer Greenlaw and the president of Lewiston Local # 785 drove to Providence, Rhode Island to speak with 3rd District V.P. Howie McClennan and Frank Montanaro, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Rhode Island. Frank showed them the "Rhode Island Arbitration Law". With a copy of this law, language was drafted with the intent of pursuing a similar statute within the State of Maine. The language was presented as legislation in Augusta, by Lewiston State Representative Louis Jalbert. During 1965, the state legislature passed and Governor John Reed signed into law an act establishing the "Fire Fighters Arbitration Law". Once this law as enacted, the local submitted to the state through then Labor Secretary Marion Martin to be certified as the bargaining agent for the South Portland Fire Fighters. She came to South Portland for the election. Once the election to certify was complete, Mrs. Martin went to Bernal Allen and made him aware of the certification of the bargaining unit. Within the next year Local # 1476 requested to negotiate with the city. At this time the City of South Portland not only had a right to talk to the Local, but now had an obligation to negotiate with the Local. In effect Local # 1476 was successful in "urging along" Bernal Allen into negotiations. The city created its' bargaining committee consisting of the City Manager, a City Counselor, and a Civil Service Commissioner. Members of the first committee were Bernal Allen, Ralph Kilgore and John Gill. The first negotiating committee representing Local # 1476 consisted of President Ernest Greenlaw, Vice President John Hayworth and Secretary - Treasurer Edward Gorwood. Sessions were held at Cash Corner Station Central Fire Station and City Hall. Within one year the first contract was ratified by Local # 1476 and the South Portland City Council. It is obvious that the actions of City Manager Bernal Allen, (not to negotiate) and the determination of Local # 1476, (to negotiate) resulted in the "The Fire Fighters Arbitration Law". With enactment of this law, I.A.F.F. Locals in Portland, Lewiston and Auburn gained the right to negotiate with their respective employers, where they had no such right before this time. Work Week Upon organization of Local # 1476 in 1963, the membership was working 24 hour shifts averaging 63 hours per week. They worked a 2 platoon system of which there was one Captain and one Lieutenant assigned to a platoon at each of the two permanent stations. Effective December 1, 1965 the work week was reduced to average 56 hours per week. This included a third platoon which added one more lieutenant's position at each station and subsequently increased the size of the permanent department. On January 1, 1969, the work week was reduced to average 55 hours per week. Two years, on January 1, 1971 the work week was reduced to average 54 hours per week. Also the 24 hour shifts were abolished and the 10 hour day, 14 hour night shifts were instituted. Every January 1st for the next 3 years showed a reduction in average hours per week. In 1972 the work week was reduced to 52 hours. In 1973, it was reduced to 50 hours and in 1974 it was reduced to average 48 hours per week. On June 4, 1976 a fourth platoon and one lieutenant's position for each station was added reducing the work week to average 42 hours per week. Throughout this period of decreasing hours, from 63 in 1963 to 42 in 1976, the size of the permanent department grew from 35 members at the Local's inception in 1963, to 56 members at the time of achieving the 42 hour work week. Items of interest from Local #1476 Meeting minutes The first meeting of I.A.F.F. Local # 1476 was held at Central Fire Station on May 28,1963.There were approximately 33 men in attendance. Elections were held. John Hayworth was elected President; Bruce Gorwood was elected as Vice President and Ernest Greenlaw was elected as Secretary-Treasurer. A committee was appointed to formulate By-laws for the local. These By-laws were finalized and voted on at a meeting on May 24, 1964. At the meeting of October 24, 1966 President Greenlaw notified membership that legal notice to bargain had been served to the city. Between February and June of 1967 the subject of shoulder patches was brought up. A committee consisting of J. D. Foley, T. H. Cook and R. H. Skillings was appointed to look into it. The shoulder patch design was voted on and it carried unanimously by the membership to be used exclusively by the permanent personnel on dress uniforms. Chief Bragdon accepted this patch to be worn on the permanent personnel's uniforms. The end result is the uniform patch that is worn today. It was mentioned at the September 25, 1967 meeting that Brother Duane Merrill had finished the Local flag. The May 27, 1968 meeting minutes reflect a solvent blood bank had been started with the police department also involved. At the October 28, 1968 meeting the membership voted to sponsor a labor seminar at Central Fire station. This wasn't the first of such ventures as the Local had promoted several seminars of this type. In 1973 as well as many other years, the Local members made an effort to raise money for MDA. At the November 1973 meeting, the Local voted to man the salvation army Kettle at the Maine Mall. Local members continue to annually "Man the Kettle" at the Maine Mall. It has now been a tradition for over twenty years. In 1975, the membership organized the "76" Club. This was a fund set up for Local # 1476 members who were in financial distress. On September 25, 1978 the Local became incorporated under the name of "South Portland Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local # 1476". Due to Charter change, elections traditionally held in the month of June were now going to be held in November. |
