Resigning from Local 1889 of the International Association of Fire Fighters was not an easy decision for Mehlville Fire Protection District firefighter Tim White, but it was one he felt he had no choice but to make.

Asked why he resigned, White told the Call, “It was a difficult decision considering that my father is a founding member. I felt it was my duty as an individual who works for the taxpayers to work with whoever they elect to chart the future of their fire district. Also, I wanted to work with the board on the pension proposal as well as many other issues and this kind of activity is not allowed within the union organizational structure unless you are a union officer.”

White noted the current board ran on a reform platform.

“The reform was to cut taxes and yet take care of their firefighters and paramedics who serve them. This is a challenging thing to do. We all know that people running for an office give promises to their taxpayers and get elected and then don’t follow through with those promises,” he said.

“This board promised that they would reform this fire district. If they don’t do it, then they have lied to the people and it will destroy their integrity. On the the other hand, the taxpayers also want balance in the pay and benefits to their firefighters and paramedics and to take care of them — not too much, but not too little. It’s hard to find that balance, but that’s the assignment from the voting taxpayers.”

White said he believes members of Local 1889 are “caring and compassionate people.”

“Right now, they are working on two charities. They are working for a little girl with an inoperable brain tumor and her family. Also, they are having their heads shaved for a charity involving support for those who go through chemotherapy,” he said. “Also, I want the taxpayers to know that when the call comes in, they really do put themselves in very difficult situations and don’t give it a second thought.

“They give 110 percent and the taxpayers should be very proud. If this were not true, I would say so.”

White, who presented a pension proposal to the board Friday, said his offer is not an attempt to break the union.

“… I certainly have no desire whatsoever to break this union. It is a union that my dad was a founder of and a charter member, and I absolutely have no intent of breaking that union. I will never do anything within my faith to harm them, but I’ll do everything within my faith to help them. And that is my intention and that is my goal,” he said.

Next: White elaborates on what he hopes to accomplish.