Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor And Employment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves IAFF contract, grants firefighters 2.75% cost-of-living increase and other provisions
Summary
The council enacted CB 14-2025 and adopted CR 13-2025 to ratify a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1619 and to update the county salary schedule; the agreement includes a 2.75% cost-of-living adjustment effective April 6, 2025, and carries a fiscal impact of about $15.4 million.
Prince George's County Council members voted to enact CB 14-2025, ratifying a collective bargaining agreement between the county and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1619, and to adopt CR 13-2025, which amends the county salary schedule to reflect the contract terms.
The public hearing included remarks from Grant Walker, president of IAFF Local 1619, who told the council he represents roughly 1,800 active and retired members and said the agreement would help address chronic staffing pressures, mandatory overtime and infrastructure needs in fire and EMS. "This contract will make a step in the right direction for closing the gap between our neighboring jurisdictions," Walker said.
Key provisions: The agreement provides a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.75 percent to employees covered under the contract, effective April 6, 2025. The contract also addresses merit increase timing for employees identified in a prior letter of understanding dated May 5, 2022.
Fiscal impact: County staff reported the changes to the salary schedule would have an estimated fiscal impact of $15,400,000 for the county.
Votes and procedure: The motion to enact CB 14-2025 was moved by Council Member Harrison and seconded by Council Member Watson; the motion carried on the floor with recorded ayes. The companion resolution CR 13-2025 to amend the salary schedule was reported favorably by the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and adopted by the full council (roll-call vote recorded as 10 ayes). The committee review and accompanying settlement summary were entered into the record.
Implementation: The salary-alteration effective date and merit timing are described in the agreement and will be processed by the Office of Human Resource Management and payroll as provided in the collective bargaining settlement.
Sources: Public hearing testimony by Grant Walker, committee reports and roll-call votes recorded in the council meeting minutes.
