Washington County approves first union agreement for emergency workers

Raises, retirement changes and a prohibition against strikes are part of the first union contract between Washington County and emergency workers.

The agreement was reached with members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1605. The pact affects full-time fire and emergency medical employees at the rank of captain and below in the county's Division of Emergency Services, according to R. David Hays, who leads the division.

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"This is the first-ever collective bargaining agreement that (the county and the union) have negotiated," attorney Eric Paltell told the county commissioners Tuesday.

He said contract negotiations began last fall.

"We've shown a lot of compromise, a lot of back and forth from both sides," he said.

The agreement addresses workplace practices, procedures, wages, hours and conditions of employment. The union had previously approved the agreement.

"We were pretty stoked about our first contract, obviously," Terry Doyle said Wednesday. Doyle is a captain with the department and a member of the union's negotiating team.

He said roughly 55 people will be covered under the pact.

"It's kind of historic for us to sign our first contract."

Some of the key provisions include a 3.5% raise in the first year of the three-year pact. That total is derived from a 1% cost of living adjustment and a 2.5% step increase, Paltell said.

Doyle said that's the same raise that other county employees received. It went into effect in July, he said.

For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, any cost of living or step increases "will be the same for these employees as for other Washington County employees," he said.

The two sides agreed to reopen negotiations in January 2023 and January 2024 to see if any changes need to be made to the wage scale because of operational changes or market conditions.

The pact also changed the retirement provision so employees can draw their pensions after 25 years of service, rather than waiting until they reach the 30-year mark.

"That's the case with sheriff's deputies in the county and other county employees," Paltell said. "So it brings them in line with the other public safety employees."

Among other things, the contract also changes the vacation schedule to align with the fact that the employees work 48-hour weeks, rather than the typical 40.

The contact provides the department with flexibility to cope with emergency circumstances, the attorney said.

Also, Paltell said, "There is a prohibition on employees striking or the county locking out employees."

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The financial impact of the contract is included in the division's budget, according to documents presented to the commissioners.

Commissioners President Jeff Cline joined Charlie Burkett, Wayne Keefer and Randy Wagner in voting to approve the contract. Terry Baker, the commissioners' vice president, was absent.

The pact will expire on June 30, 2025, Paltell said.

Local 1605 also represents members of the Hagerstown Fire Department.

Mike Lewis covers business, the economy and other issues. Follow Mike on Twitter: @MiLewis

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County reaches agreement with firefighters union