BOS ratifies collective bargaining agreement for firefighters

During its May 7, meeting, the Board of Supervisors ratified a tentative collective bargaining agreement between the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3756 and the Loudoun County government. The ratification serves as the Board’s good faith commitment to appropriate funds necessary to implement the terms of the CBA.

“This is a historic vote for our firefighters and for Loudoun County,” said Chair Phyllis J. Randall. “I am thrilled and honored that the Board voted to help to keep the firefighters we train in Loudoun County, to demonstrate our appreciation of our firefighters, and to commit to giving our firefighters a seat at the table to negotiate the terms and conditions under which these dedicated public servants work on behalf of the Loudoun community.”

This is the first CBA to be ratified in Loudoun following an amendment to the Code of Virginia permitting collective bargaining for public employees as a local option and the Board of Supervisors’ adoption of a collective bargaining ordinance in December 2021. The CBA is the result of 30 bargaining sessions and two days of mediation held between February 2023 and February 2024. 

The CBA between the county and IAFF Local 3756 has a total cumulative fiscal impact above the pre-contract baseline (the status quo of pay, benefits and other provisions in effect as of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 of approximately $47.2 million over three years. The FY 2025 Adopted Budget includes funding for costs associated with the first year of the CBA, including one new position for a county-funded full-time union representative. 

The CBA contains the following provisions: 

• Compensation – Wages and Specialty Pay: Increases for the uniformed salary scale plus step increases for uniformed personnel in each of the next three fiscal years. Additional stipends and specialty pay, and increased values for existing stipends and specialty pay are effective for FY 2025. 
• Union Activities: One full-time union representative. A Union Leave Bank of 750 hours annually for bargaining unit employees to use for other union business.  
• Annual Leave: Effective in FY 2025, an increase to the maximum amount of accrued annual leave that can be carried over from year to year and paid out upon separation. In FY 2026, an increase to annual leave accrual rates. 
• County 401(a) Matching Contributions: Beginning in FY 2026, an increase in the county’s match to employee contributions to the 457(b) deferred compensation plan. 

The IAFF was certified in September 2022 as the exclusive bargaining agent for Loudoun’s fire and rescue bargaining unit members. Fiscal provisions in the CBA for future fiscal years must be approved by the Board during its annual budget development and approval process. The annual costs over the next three fiscal years to fund the CBA range from $11.1 million to $20.3 million. Fiscal year budgets are adopted by the Board annually in April.