A contract dispute between St. Johns County and its firefighters reached a formal impasse after the union filed on January 19. The county has called in a special magistrate to help resolve the issue and scheduled an executive session of the Board of County Commissioners to discuss strategy. Officials emphasized that Fire Rescue services will continue uninterrupted while the matter is being addressed.
Union's proposals at impasse
The impasse began when the firefighters' union filed on January 19, seeking changes to working conditions. The union is proposing a shift from the current one-day-on, two-days-off schedule to a one-day-on, three-days-off rotation, with higher hourly pay to compensate for fewer workdays. The union is also requesting that the county hire approximately 125 additional firefighters over the next two years and approve an hourly pay increase of about 33 percent, according to St. Johns County.
IAFF Local 3865 serves as the bargaining representative for St. Johns County Fire Rescue, representing the county’s professional firefighters and paramedics. The union provides member resources and information on its website.
County response and the process ahead
County negotiators responded with a counteroffer that includes an 18 to 20 percent pay increase spread over three years. They emphasized that any schedule changes must demonstrate a clear improvement in service before approval. St. Johns County has characterized the negotiation as a balance between reducing firefighter fatigue and maintaining readiness to respond to emergencies.
Under Florida law, when an impasse is declared, a special magistrate is appointed to hold hearings, identify disputed issues, and issue a recommended decision. The recommendations are not binding unless a party misses the deadline to reject them. The statute specifies timelines for submitting and rejecting the magistrate’s proposal, providing a structured process for resolving public-sector labor disputes, as per Florida Statutes.
Timeline and what residents should expect
The county said it has scheduled an executive session of the Board to review the impasse, with any final decisions to follow the special magistrate’s recommendation and a subsequent public hearing. Officials have emphasized that Fire Rescue services will continue operating normally while negotiations are ongoing.
County documents note that the negotiations could take several weeks, depending on the magistrate’s hearing schedule and whether either side rejects the recommendations, which would return unresolved issues to the Board for a final decision. Both the union and the county said they are continuing negotiations, with additional sessions and public meetings already scheduled as the impasse process proceeds.
