After a six-year effort by Portsmouth Fire Fighters Local 539, the Portsmouth City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance establishing a framework for collective bargaining between eligible public employees and the city.
The ordinance provides fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and other eligible employees with a formal process to organize, select a bargaining representative, and negotiate wages, benefits, and other workplace conditions.
“Local 539 members should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished. It’s because of their hard work and determination that Portsmouth fire fighters will finally have a seat at the bargaining table,” said 4th District Vice President Andrew Pantelis.
Local 539 says the vote is the culmination of years of organizing, advocacy, and setbacks.
“The law changed in 2020 when the prohibition on collective bargaining was repealed statewide. And we have been trying the Local option in every way possible for six years,” Local 539 President Tiffany Stuart said. “So, to finally get the winning hand feels really great.”
Virginia lawmakers ended the statewide ban on collective bargaining for public employees in 2020, allowing local governments to adopt ordinances authorizing collective bargaining. Portsmouth approved a resolution to move forward soon after the change, but the process encountered several obstacles.
The law changed in 2020 when the prohibition on collective bargaining was repealed statewide. And we have been trying the Local option in every way possible for six years. So, to finally get the winning hand feels really great.
Local 539 President Tiffany Stuart
“Portsmouth has been in a six-year fight to get to this point,” said Virginia Professional Fire Fighters President Kurt Detrick, who previously served as Local 539 president. “Without the framework, our Locals don’t have any ability to actually begin the negotiation process or even be recognized by their city or county as the bargaining agent.”
With the ordinance now approved, Stuart said Local 539 has already sent its letter of intent to the city manager.
“So there’s still a lot of ground rules to set, but we’ve got a runway of about a year and a half before we’ll actually be able to bargain,” said Stuart.
For Local 539 members, top bargaining priorities include addressing inadequate staffing levels and improving workplace conditions.
“We’re currently below the NFPA’s recommended levels,” Stuart said, adding that apparatus issues, station conditions, and facility maintenance remain key priorities for members.
Detrick said resources from the VPFF and IAFF, including financial analyses and wage studies, made a major difference during the years-long fight.
“The IAFF has been amazing throughout this process. I can’t thank General President Edward Kelly, DVP Andrew Pantelis, AGP Chris Bartley, and everyone on the IAFF staff for their years of help. These things aren’t easy to accomplish in some localities. We’ve used municipal financial analyses and wage studies to show the city council why this is needed,” Detrick said.
“I don’t think Locals can do this without strong partnerships with state associations and the IAFF,” Detrick said. “It’s definitely a team effort.”
The Portsmouth vote comes as other localities across Virginia move toward adopting collective bargaining ordinances for public employees.
We’ll keep pushing for statewide bargaining legislation to ensure every Virginia fire fighter has a say in decisions that affect their jobs, their families, and the communities they serve.
4th District Vice President Andrew Pantelis
Despite Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s recent veto of legislation that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for public employees, fire fighters across the Commonwealth are seeing progress in their fight for a seat at the table – even in the absence of a statewide framework.
“We’ll keep pushing for statewide bargaining legislation to ensure every Virginia fire fighter has a say in decisions that affect their jobs, their families, and the communities they serve,” said Pantelis.
Detrick pointed to efforts in Newport News – which recently adopted an ordinance with a delayed 2028 enactment – and Roanoke City, which has begun considering a bargaining ordinance, as key examples.
The VPFF also remains committed to its fight for statewide collective bargaining rights for fire fighters.
“It doesn’t matter what zip code. Every fire fighter in Virginia deserves a contract,” said Detrick.
