South Fulton, GA Local 3920 achieved yet another historic milestone as its members unanimously voted to ratify their collective bargaining agreement, securing approval from the City of South Fulton for a new contract with the support of the IAFF.
“In need of a last-minute legal opinion, we reached out to 12th District Vice President, Walt Dix, after business hours on Friday. He promptly connected us with IAFF’s legal counsel, and IAFF attorney Daniel Sweat,” said David Roseboro, Local 3920 president. “Our collective bargaining agreement was set for the South Fulton City Council’s agenda on Tuesday, Dec. 12.”
Roseboro emphasized the challenges faced during this second round of negotiations with the city but acknowledged the invaluable support from the IAFF in overcoming obstacles.
“We quickly secured a robust legal opinion from Friday to Monday, boosting City Council confidence in accepting our contract. The collective bargaining agreement includes an arbitration process, and through legal discussions with the city’s attorney, and supported by the IAFF, a consensus was reached,” he said. “It was a big win and we’re thankful for the support from General President Edward Kelly, DVP Dix, the IAFF legal team, and retired Capt. Andrea Hall, who helped consult us on this.”
Roseboro said the latest agreement guarantees raises and new incentive plans, taking strides in the right direction. Notably, Local 3920 was the first fire department union to have a collective bargaining agreement in the state of Georgia, with the first agreement signed in 2022 featuring wage increases and enhanced working conditions.
“Having served the city for nine years, and with many captains having tenure of 20 or 30 years, there had been no wage increases for nearly two decades. For us, as fire fighters, these raises were unprecedented, and we had struggled for a long time, often working two to three jobs to support our families,” Roseboro highlighted. “The agreement ensures the protection of our wages and working conditions, which is truly remarkable.”
“The extension of their contract sets the stage for fellow locals in Georgia to assert their entitlement to a collective bargaining agreement and actively pursue one. With negotiations underway in Atlanta, the beginning of the process in Athens, GA, and the impending vote on their ordinance in Savannah, the initial contract, and its renewal in South Fulton bolsters our collective efforts to advance these goals,” said Dix.
