Good Morning,
Just a reminder of our annual shopping trip,this Wednesday December 10th. We will start our Journey at 12:30 pm, GameWorks. If you’re showing up later, no worries, just reach out to Stivers 253-905-1295 or someone you know that’s already on the Shopping Trip Journey. Don’t let the atmospheric river get in the way of fun times and life long stories.
Contract Update for the Membership
We are still finalizing a couple remaining non-financial articles. Once those are completed, we will release a full red-lined version of the proposed CBA to all members. Our goal is to have that available shortly after the union meeting—ideally within a day or two.
At the upcoming meeting, we will walk through a high-level overview of the major improvements and changes to the CBA. We will also outline the exact voting process so everyone clearly understands the timeline and what to expect. The intent is to keep this simple, transparent, and seamless for the membership.
A special session remains an option if it becomes truly necessary, but at this point we do not anticipate needing one. After the red-lined contract is released, members will have time to review the full proposal, ask questions, and get clarification. That should provide everyone with what they need to make an informed vote—without turning the proposal itself into a debate. The language has been negotiated; our goal now is to ensure members fully understand it.
We appreciate everyone’s patience and engagement as we bring this across the finish line. We’re looking forward to wrapping this up cleanly and confidently for the membership.
My Best,
Ryan Freed
President Local 1352
Valley Professional Firefighters
Voting procedures and timelines for 2025 Elections
For the position of Vice President –
Voting for the position of vice president will be held via an online vote through the Locals secure website. Voting will open at 0900 on Monday 12/01/2025 and will close at 1700 on Tuesday 12/09/2025.
If you are unable to login to the secure area of the Locals website, please reach out to either Secretary/Treasurer Eliason at (206) 356-6085 or Communications Director Simpson at (253) 212-6622, as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to access the voting area.
For the position of President –
Voting for the position of President will be held via a paper secret ballot vote to conform to rules of the IAFF. Voting will open at 0900 on Monday 12/01/2025 and will close at 1730 on Tuesday 12/09/2025.
Official ballots will be distributed to each station on Tuesday 11/25/2025 for members to pick up.
You must be present and sign the roster before casting your ballot, proxy voting is not allowed.
To cast your ballot, Election Chair Laidlaw will be making rounds to each of the stations with the secure ballot box and the official roster to collect your ballot during the open voting period covering each shift at least one time.
If you are off the day the ballot box makes the rounds at your station, please reach out to Elections Chair Laidlaw (206) 257-8007 or President Ryan Freed (206) 919-5867, to coordinate casting your ballot.
If you will not be on shift at any point during the open voting period or able to attend the union meeting on the closing day of voting please refer to Article VII, Section 2 of the Constitution & Bylaws noted below.
Section 2 – Alternate Voting Methods:
If a member in good standing will not be available to vote during the official voting period, that member may petition the Secretary for use an alternative voting process. This process is only available for elections and referendum votes, and not a floor vote.
A member wishing to use the alternative voting process will notify the Secretary, in writing, a minimum of ten (10) business days before the official opening of the voting period. The member must express their desire to use the alternative voting process, and the reason for not being available to vote during the official voting period. Upon receipt of written application for the alternative voting process, the Secretary is authorized to make appropriate arrangements to receive the applying member’s vote. Examples of these arrangements are:
Preparing an advanced ballot
Voting via electronic resources such as email, telephone, text, etc.
Other reasonable and fair arrangements as determined by the Secretary
The Secretary will keep all alternative votes secret.
If you wish to petition for the above outlined alternative voting methods, please reach out to Secretary/Treasurer Eliason via email ([email protected]) or Text (206) 356-6085, no later than Friday 11/21/2025.
Brothers and Sisters,
Today we honor those who have served and those who continue to serve—both in the armed forces and on the streets of our own communities. The same drive that led you to raise your hand for military service shows up every day in the way you show up for others here.
Service doesn’t stop when the uniform changes. It’s a mindset—a commitment to something bigger than yourself. That spirit runs deep in this organization, and it’s what makes us who we are.
To all our veterans and active service members—thank you for setting that example.
Proud to serve beside you,
Ryan Freed
President Local 1352
Valley Professional Firefighters
Friendly reminder that we have a union meeting tomorrow night, 6pm at station 31. Come try out a meeting, you might just like it. We have some nice topics in store; contract negotiations update, executive board elections (nominations still open for President, Vice President, & Board Position 1). Nominations will be accepted through tomorrow and close at the end of the union meeting. Nominations can be done in person at the meeting or by contacting Brother Laidlaw.
Christmas season is right around the corner and the Toys for kids team will be asking for all of us to join in and help collect donations for one of our most impactful events this local does.
In less exciting news, we have have some older L1352 T-shirts at 31, please take as many as you like.
That’s about all, can’t wait to see everyone’s dirty mustaches tomorrow.
As many of you know, for the past 5 years Chief John and myself have put on an annual mustache competition. This years mustache competition proceeds will be 100% donated to the lionheart foundation in the honor of Chief Bill Mack, and with that being said this year I want to open the competition to the entire zone. For those in attendance of Chief Mack’s funeral, the impact he had on not only his own department but also every neighboring agency was palpable. So this years competition will be held in the month of November and broken into three categories:
1. Salty and you know it – for those already rocking a sweet stache
2. Fresh face- who can grow the best mustache in one month
3. Fake it till you make it – for those with less fertile upper lip glands but want to participate
The competition will conclude with a 5K Stache dash at point Ruston waterfront in Tacoma followed by an awards ceremony and refreshments at 7 seas brewery on November 30th. The entry fee will be $40.
You do not have to participate in the 5k to be entered in the mustache competition, and you also don’t have to grow a mustache to donate to a great cause. The goal is a fun event for a good cause, and I would love to see this year be the most participation we’ve had yet for Chief Mack.
All donations can be sent to my venmo: @brett-connelly-1 or you can always leave cash in my locker if venmo is not your thing.
Thank you all, and excited to see a great turnout on the 30th!
Fraternally in lip hair,
Brett Connelly
Special thanks to Erica Bartlett and John Stivers for taking the time to help sign waive in support of Mayor Nancy Backus and City Council Member Lisa Stirgus today!
If you are available tomorrow morning, 10/29 0630-0830, any and all help would be much appreciated!
The location has changed to the Starbucks on the corner of 15th st NE, and I st NE. Hope to see you all there!
Contact Sequist for any questions or concerns.
(253)232-3473
Sign waiving help needed! Looking for people to support Mayor Nancy Backus and Auburn Council Member Lisa Stirgus in their campaigns.
10/29 and 10/30, meeting at Cross St/ A St SE @0630-0830
11/4, Lakeland Hills meeting at Lake Tapps Pkwy/ Lakeland Hills Way @1830-2030
Union apparel is encouraged but not required, please do not wear any VRFA gear.
Contact Sequist if you have questions.
(253)232-3473
Thank you to everyone that was able to make it to the Union Banquet this past weekend. It was a great evening with the fire family and I believe everyone had a good time. I personally was not able to stay for the Bill Mack Memorial craps table action, but I hope he was looking down on you, smiling, and hopefully giving a little luck. A big thank you to John Stivers and Blake Laidlaw for organizing such a great event.
At the last union meeting we had a presentation from a financial advisor group. It’s a local team from Enumclaw consisting of a father and his two sons. The father is a retired Seattle Firefighter, so they understand our needs and our retirement system. They offer a free consultation. If you would like to see their PowerPoint presentation, just reach out to Simpson.
We are in full swing for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you are still in need of the Navy Breast Cancer shirt, please contact Simpson via email or cell, 253-212-6622
Lastly, nominations are currently open for Local 1352 President, Vice President, and Board Position #1/Polictical Liaison. You can nominate anyone by contacting Blake Laidlaw or at the next union meeting on November 11th. Nominations will close after that union meeting. VP and Board Position #1 will be an online vote. President will be a hand written ballot vote. More information on that process as we get closer.
