The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ratified a tentative collective bargaining agreement between the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3756 and the county government.
The 8-0-1 vote of approval came nine days after the agreement was ratified by union members.
IAFF Local 3756 submitted a request to begin the bargaining process in December 2022 and began meeting with the county Feb. 28, 2023. During the deliberations, the two groups met 30 times.
Proposals that were not tentatively agreed to by Dec. 20, 2023, were not included in the fiscal year 2025 budget process. The board’s vote serves as a good faith commitment to appropriate any additional funding needed to meet the terms of the agreement.
County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she didn’t know when she had ever been happier to make a motion.
“Our employees are every bit the public servants that this board is, if not more,” she said.
Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (Algonkian) agreed, saying the agreement would allow firefighters a seat at the bargaining table.
“We are making history right now. This is the first ever collective bargaining contract in Loudoun County, with our firefighters coming through first,” she said.
IAFF Local 3756 President John Myers said a lot of blood, sweat and tears had gone into the agreement.
“It improves the salary and benefits of our members to help the employee retention,” he said. “It improves the county's ability to be competitive in the regional labor market and ensure the department will continue to thrive and grow as the community grows and thrives itself.”
He said the agreement would help maintain proper staffing for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, as well.
“I'd like to thank the members of Loudoun County community. Throughout the years, the members of our community have always stood by our side, as we pushed for a more equitable environment. Without the voice of their community members, none of this would have happened today. We cannot express how grateful we are to serve a community that publicly expresses their support for our first responders,” Myers said.
Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said they had reservations about collective bargaining in general, but they support the agreement.
“I'm really happy for the firefighters themselves,” Kershner said. “Obviously, I have ongoing concerns with the collective bargaining process.”
The terms of the agreement are expected to cost an additional $11.1 million in FY 2025, $15.8 million in FY 2026 and $20.3 million in FY 2027.
The tentative agreement includes a 9.4% increase to the uniformed salary scale and an average 3% step increase for uniformed personnel for a total average uniformed pay increase of 12.4% in FY 2025. Civilian personnel would receive a 7% merit increase.
It also includes 2.5% salary scale increases and an average 3% step increase for uniformed personnel in FY 2026 and 2027. Civilian personnel would receive 5.5% merit increases.
Revised values for stipends and specialty pay including new stipends for certain specialties and skills maintenance pay would go into effect during FY 2025 with pay for most of the specialties incrementally adjusted in FY 2026 and FY 2027.
The agreement also includes funding for a full-time union representative to oversee business and represent the union at various meetings and serve as the county’s main point of contact. It also establishes a leave bank of 750 hours for other union business such as conferences and seminars.
It increases annual leave accrual rates by 0.5 additional hours per pay period, which equates to an average of 13 additional hours per year for full-time employees covered by the agreement and increases the maximum amount of accrued annual leave that can be carried over from 364 hours to 400 hours.
Under the agreement, the county’s match to employee contributions to their deferred compensation plans would be adjusted from $20 per pay period to $20 per pay period or 1% of salary, whichever is greater into the 401 (a) retirement plan account, up to $1,000.
Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) was absent for the meeting.
(21) comments
Same old union-busting comments from the people who would cry the most if their house were on fire. Employers do not have employees' best interests at heart. Unions have brought shorter work weeks, higher wages, and have ended child labor. All this drivel about going to other employers to get higher wages; pshaw, the employers have the leverage and unions balance it. And the same old drivel about democrats buying votes from unions - that's not what's happening. Unions support politicians that support working people. Quit being such a cheerleader for the ultra-wealthy robber barons.
Isn't it great when the "Republicans" vote like Democrats? The two "Republicans" continue to disappoint at nearly every opportunity. Thanks, Matt and Caleb. Way to stand on conviction.
Pandora's box was so-called history also!
Isn’t Virginia a right to work state? Oh I forgot that Loudoun County is not, don’t worry about the costs, Loudoun taxpayers foot the bill’s
And get nothing extra for the extra costs
VA is a RTW state. That means that employees may be represented by a union, but they cannot be required to pay union dues, or to become members of the Union.
That is all. RTW does not prevent employees from unionizing, or prevent non-supportive employees from being represented by a duly elected union.
Timely, that this story cones out the day the newly increased real estate tax bills arrive...
Runing Loudoun one union at a time!
Yeah, those evil fire fighters who risk their lives for you are such monsters.
Ruining Loudoun
Our democrat supervisors seem to have forgotten they represent their constituents, taxpayers that expect efficiency and effectiveness from county employees.
They have prioritized county employees and their union buddies at the expense of rest of us.
Now these unions and unionized public employees will reward our democrat supervisors with political contributions and support.
This arrangement is a scam that democrats use universally to remain in power at the expense of the citizens they are supposed to serve.
Vote them out and return power to citizens, not unions.
Funny enough, you failed to recognize that the Republicans on the Board voted for their CBA. The dems ran on supporting unions and labor and the voters voted them in, so they are indeed representing their constituents. Unions have existed for decades in Loudoun. All this CBA does is give them a voice and seat at the table on how they county deals with their wages and benefits. Prior Boards have eroded and taken away county employee benefits. The unions got political and found supervisors that actually support the working class. Fire Fighters, teachers, and county employees deserve to be fairly compensated and comparable to the region. CBA's help ensure that. If Republicans stopped trying to shaft the working class, there wouldn't be a need for unions.
Democrats shaft the working class by buying union political support with taxpayer money. Raising taxes on constituents is the inevitable result of public employee collective bargaining. Rolling out the dem talking points about republicans not supporting the working class is bogus. How has the working class benefit from expensive county employee compensation and higher taxes.
I support firefighters but not a union ploy to siphon off their paycheck with union dues that are used to pay off our elected representatives for bloated compensation contracts.
Public employee unions are structurally corrupt. Even Franklin Roosevelt recognized this and opposed them. There are other ways to ensure fair compensation without corruption.
I really can't fathom why you guys can't comprehend why there is a need for unions and why they support politician's that support their labor issues. Employees are paid poorly and they have their benefits taken away. They form unions and fight to get politicians in office who won't take their benefits away and make their pay comparable to their peers. Then you hurr durr that unions support politicians that support unions. Of course unions are going to lobby for union and pro labor candidates. Why would they support politicians that want too take their benefits away? Are you that dense?
It's like the NRA lobbying and supporting pro gun candidates. Are you shocked when they support Republicans and those Republicans support pro gun bills ans kill anti gun kills? That's the point of lobbying.
If employees are being "paid poorly" (whatever that means?), they have the absolute right to offer their labor to a different employer.
Good grief, this is not only basic economics, it's basic human behavior and based in fundamental human rights.
“Our employees are every bit the public servants that this board is, if not more,” she said."
They are 50 times more important than Chair 47% and the minions on the board.
I understand her joy; those union donations are really going to kick in now.
While inevitable, I'm still disappointed -- there was a real community bond between the people and our firefighters. Now, it's just another hand in our pockets.
Inevitable only because Queen Phyllis I and her lapdogs have to pay back union leadership. They honestly do not give a rat's rump roast about the people they supposedly represent. They are Democrats. They are elite people who know what is best for everyone, and by golly they are going to do it. Get ready for more of this as we descend deeper into turning into Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, and Russia after 1917.
So you're big mad fire fighters are getting comparbale wages and benefits to the region? Your pockets have always paid for public services.
I'm "big mad" that (d) politicians are buying votes with my tax dollars.
And I'm "big mad" that tens of millions of dollars of additional costs will result in ZERO net benefit to those who foot the bill.
I'm also "big mad" that shills who don't live in this county and don't pay taxes in this county think they are entitled to have an opinion on the matter.
Bottom line: If someone doesn't like their wages and benefits, they are free to work elsewhere. That's how it works in this country.
You can put words in my mouth all day long EG - don't mean nothing to me. I said I'm disappointed. I've cut checks to Volunteers for years, 1 and 6. When you watch your home burn down, as I have, I was in awe of those volunteers who showed up and fought their hearts out all night long.
I understand modern training requirements and specialization has doomed the volunteer system. Been coming for years.
So riddle me this; per the $$ provided for unionization, will improved response times be realized? What number of advanced apparatus will be purchased? How many tankers will be added to to the task force? How many dry hydrants will be installed? Will a new station finally be located near me? (I'm still inside the toast zone according to my insurance company.) For the tens of millions of dollars this will cost, will my fire service be any better than it is now? We currently have a superb fire service, which my pockets have been paying for for a long long time.
Other than big union boss man in the tennis shoes looking for a beach house, what is the end of the hose line, tangible increase in service to the community?
Hooray! This was a long time coming. But I think it was inevitable. Unions are the wave of the future. Loudoun is no exception. Congratulations Loudoun Firefighters!
I don't see how firefighters being unionized increase their response time. This is yet another expense that makes Loudoun County more unaffordable for the average person. If we really want to gauge support, we should make this cost optional on our property taxes and see how many people support this. In addition, I donate to my local fire department every year in addition to funding them through my taxes. I believe I deserve a refund for being overcharged.
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