Tag: Camille Acevedo

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Firefighter contract negotiations are set to begin soon in Marion County.

The professional fire fighters of Marion County say work hours are a top issue for the 2026 fiscal year, as increased growth has led to more overtime.

The current contract will expire in June 2026. The union and the county have opened contract talks for the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year.

The union is requesting changes to its work schedules, wage increase and other benefits. They represent more than 500 first responders, both active and retired in Marion County Fire Rescue.

“The industry for the fire service is very competitive right now, and that’s due to retirements, the departments in the state and the need for qualified people to work,” Marion County Professional Firefighters Second Vice President Joseph Romani said.

Romani said that on average, Marion County firefighters are working 56-hour weeks, which he said has contributed to employee burnout and fatigue. He said if they lose members, they have to keep the same level of service since the county is growing at an excessive rate.

The union is requesting no more than 42-hour work weeks with the overall goal of better retention and staying competitive against other fire departments across the state. 

Romani says the signing of House Bill 929 has created a surge in Florida fire departments adopting new work schedules.

“The hope is we can secure a contract that is competitive and responsible enough to keep the members we have here,” Romani says.

Marion County sent a statement saying in part, “We are looking forward to a successful year of negotiations. The county is looking forward to the best outcome for our employees, the department and the citizens of Marion County.”

“The job will take a lot out of you, it will take a lot of heart sacrifice and do things to your body,” Romani says. “I want to make sure we are doing our part to set the future for whoever chooses to serve Marion County in the future.”

The county and union are set to discuss the contract further in September. Romani says the goal is to make these changes ahead of the next fiscal year that starts in October. These changes would be set in place through 2029.