WSCFF Home  |  About the WSCFF

The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF) was founded on September 1, 1939, and represents 130 affiliated local fire fighter unions and more than 6900 affiliated members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) within the state.

The WSCFF’s mission is to provide the best possible working conditions, the safest work environment, and the fairest wages and benefits to fulfill the needs of the men and women in this profession.  The council is active on local and national fronts with regard to issues that affect its members.  

The WSCFF administers several major programs in addition to political action. Education is provided through regional classes and one comprehensive educational seminar per year.  An annual Convention is held to elect officers and determine policy and direction of the WSCFF.  Legal assistance is provided through direct response financial loans or retention of counsel.  Representation is provided when needed and requested for contract negotiations, mediation, interest arbitration, grievance arbitration, and other matters.  

The WSCFF’s Board of Directors is made up of its executive officers and an elected representative from 11 geographic regions (WSCFF districts across the state).  Since WSCFF and legislative districts are not the same, there is some overlap whereby WSCFF board members represent multiple legislative districts. The WSCFF is affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) and Canadian Labor Congress (CLC).

Mission Statement

 “It is the Mission of the WSCFF to coordinate the statewide efforts of professional fire fighters by providing creative leadership and dedicated service, resulting in a unified, progressive membership that strives to improve social attitudes and promote legislation to benefit the fire and EMS communities and the citizens we serve, with a foundation anchored in the principles of honesty, integrity and commitment.” 

The WSCFF holds an annual convention where delegates from members locals gather to decide the goals and objectives and to elect officers of the WSCFF. Elections are held each years for the office of vice president. All other officers are elected for two-year terms. The WSCFF also hosts a legislative conference every January in Olympia.  Firefighters convene to learn about the legislative agenda for the year and to lobby their legislators. Each spring, the WSCFF co-hosts an educational seminar with the IAFF to educate local members about collective bargaining, pensions, labor relations, etc. The WSCFF does not train firefighters for active duty (that is done by the individual employers).  We are the state level of the labor union.