By Matthew Medsger
Boston Herald
BOSTON — The Walz are closing in on Boston, or at least one of them is.
Minnesota governor and Democratic nominee to the vice presidency Tim Walz will be in the seaport on Wednesday to address the International Association of Firefighters 57th International Convention.
Walz will deliver morning remarks to, “one of the largest labor unions, representing nearly 350,000 firefighters, emergency medical workers, and rescue workers across the United States and Canada.”
The Biden-Harris administration has been good to emergency workers, according to the Harris-Walz campaign.
Joe Biden reauthorized the Assistance for Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) contained in the Fire Grants and Safety Act when he signed it into law last month. Biden also signed the First Responders Fair RETIRE Act in December of 2022. The vice president “worked hand in hand with President Biden” to get those bills over the finish line, her team says, and the pair made for the “most pro-union administration in history.”
Walz, meanwhile, is a former teacher’s union member, who they say “has a strong record of standing up for unions and delivering for workers — from joining the picket line and passing the most pro-worker package of laws in Minnesota history, to guaranteeing Minnesota workers paid sick, medical, and family leave.”
“The Harris-Walz ticket has a proven track record of delivering for firefighters – a stark contrast with Donald Trump, JD Vance, and their anti-worker, anti-union agenda. Throughout Vice President Kamala Harris’ time in public service, she has always put workers first,” the campaign wrote.
The firefighters convention started Sunday at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and will run through Thursday.
The biennial event, according to organizers, “is where members vote on resolutions and constitutional amendments that shape the future of our profession and our great union.” The organization’s last event was held in Ottawa, Canada, and the next will be held in Arlington, Texas.
After the reauthorization of AFG and SAFER grants in July, IAFF General President Edward Kelly said the union is “grateful to President Biden for his leadership and dedication to the fire service.” The IAFF endorsed Biden ahead of 2020, but has not endorsed a candidate this cycle.
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