UPFFA TO REPRESENT FIREFIGHTERS AT MASHANTUCKET PEQOUT RESERVATION

Twenty two (22) members of the Mahantucket Pequot Fire Department voted unanimously to have the UPFFA (Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut) to represent them in contract talks with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Government.

Matthew Flor, a spokesperson for the UPFFA said, "The process of organizing the fire fighters has been a mutually respectful and cooperative one between the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Mashantucket Employment Rights Office. The fire fighters and their new association look forward to further developing a long-term, harmonious relationship beginning with their upcoming contract negotiations in the future."

The Mashantucket Pequots supposedly issued the following statement: "the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation looks forward to positive working relationship with the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut. We appreciate this organization's respectful approach to the Tribe's sovereignty and willingness to cooperate with the Mashantucket Employment Rights Office for the duration of their Registration and electoral processes. We echo the values of this organization, to provide reasonable and necessary safety and support to emergency service personnel, and we embrace the forthcoming negotiations process."

On investigation, we have been told that supposedly a similar movement, to unionize the fire fighters of the Mohegan Tribal Fire Department by the UPFFA is underway. .

The UPFFA represents about 4,000 professional fire fighters in the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut chapter is part of the larger International Association of Fire Fighters (an AFL-CIO union) with 295,000 members in the United States and Canada.