On September 10, 1995, four career firefighters of the Grand Chute Fire Department held a meeting to discuss organizing as a local in the IAFF (International Association of Firefighters). At the meeting principal officers were elected and information on how the union works was discussed. Newly elected President, Bryan Knauer, stated he had a meeting setup on September 14, 1995 with IAFF 5th District Vice President Charlie Buss to cover the details of organizing. The local was then chartered five days later as IAFF Local 3655. In the following weeks Local 3655 established its "Constitution & By-Laws" and began negotiations on its first collective bargaining agreement. In 1996 Local 3655 became members of the PFFW (Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin) and the Northeastern Firefighters Association. As negotiations continued on the first collective bargaining agreement, Assistant Chief Richard Trilling was deemed management by the Town and was withdrawn from the local. Richard Trilling was then made the first "Honorary Member" of Local 3655, and to this day the only one. On June 5, 1996 the first collective bargaining agreement was signed and enacted after lengthy negotiations. Over the years our local has grown to 27 members. Local 3655 has continued to be active with the IAFF, PFFW, and Northeastern Firefighters Association. Our members participate in the annual "MDA Fill the Boot" drive, and participate in other charity fund drives and activities.
