SJC Provides Update on Union Collective Bargaining Negotiations

• 9 February 2026
• Category: SJC News
• Tags: 2026 Fire Rescue

An executive session of the Board of County Commissioners to address the impasse has been scheduled in accordance with Florida law.

On January 19, 2026, the St. Johns County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics, IAFF Local 3865 (the Union), representing a unionized workforce within the County’s Fire Rescue Department, formally filed impasse during collective union bargaining with St. Johns County. Under Florida law, impasse is a procedural step that initiates the appointment of a Special Magistrate, who will review unresolved union bargaining proposals and provide a non-binding recommendation to the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners.

The Union bargaining team decided to file impasse, related to the Union’s proposals seeking an increase to firefighters’ days off. St. Johns County firefighters currently work a schedule of a one-day-on, two-days-off schedule. The Union has proposed modifying this structure to a one-day-on, three-days-off schedule.

In addition to the proposed schedule change, the Union bargaining team has requested increases in firefighter hourly compensation and staffing to support firefighters’ additional days off.

Specifically, the Union’s proposal includes:

• A 33 percent increase in firefighter hourly compensation to account for fewer days worked under a one-day-on, three-days-off schedule
• An approximate 33 percent increase in the Fire Rescue workforce, or at minimum 125 additional firefighters over two years, to staff the additional day off

The County has carefully evaluated the Union bargaining team’s proposals and counter-offered an 18-20% pay increase over the period of three years in lieu of the Union bargaining team’s proposal. While reducing firefighter fatigue is a critical consideration, the County must also assess whether the proposed changes provide any increase in level of service to our residents.

Firefighter safety, mental health, and operational readiness are core priorities for St. Johns County. These priorities are addressed through comprehensive planning, staffing strategies, training, equipment, and long-term investment—not through a single policy or scheduling change.

Statement from Fire Chief Sean McGee

“Our responsibility as a Fire Rescue Department is to ensure firefighter safety and that our residents receive reliable, high-quality emergency services. That responsibility requires careful staffing and an experienced workforce. Rapid department expansion can diminish standards, experience and operational readiness. Rapid expansion without maintaining qualifications and training does not serve firefighters or our residents.”

Over the past three years, the Board of County Commissioners has made historic investments in Fire Rescue staffing, facilities, training, and wellness initiatives, including:

• Construction and staffing of four new fire stations
• Construction of the first regional Fire Rescue Training Facility
• Renovations to existing fire stations to improve living and working conditions
• Approval of eighteen (18) additional firefighter positions to reduce overtime
• Purchase of a second set of personalized protective firefighting gear for each firefighter
• No-cost mental health counseling for firefighters, their families, and retirees
• Establishment of a Fire Rescue Chaplain service
• Addition of a full-time Health and Safety Coordinator
• Continued investment in firefighter compensation increases

As one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida, St. Johns County must balance service expansion with financial sustainability, operational readiness, and long-term affordability for residents.

Statement from Joy Andrews, County Administrator

“St. Johns County values our firefighters and takes our responsibility to support their well-being seriously. At the same time, we are accountable to the residents who fund these services and rely on us to make responsible financial decisions. We remain committed to investing in Fire Rescue in ways that deliver improvements while maintaining fiscal responsibility, and we will continue to engage in good-faith negotiations to balance the Union bargaining team’s requests with the needs of our residents.”

As part of the statutory impasse process, an executive session of the Board of County Commissioners has been scheduled in accordance with Florida law. Any final decisions regarding unresolved Union bargaining items will be made by the Commission following the Special Magistrate’s non-binding recommendation and a public hearing.

Fire Rescue services continue to operate without interruption, and the safety of St. Johns County residents and visitors remains the County’s highest priority.

For more information on Fire Rescue programs, public safety investments, and the County’s budget, residents are encouraged to visit www.sjcfl.us.