Collective Bargaining Agreement Update

We are pleased to announce that your MCVFRA bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with Montgomery County at 2110 hrs. tonight for our 6th collectively bargained agreement (CBA)!  We met for many hours over the past 4 months tackling a host of complex areas including discipline, grievance procedures, LOSAP, and volunteer rights plus policies, procedures, and processes affecting the service. 

We completed all bargaining and discussions with respect, professionalism, and compromise producing a three-year tentative agreement that your team signed tonight. 

We thank Burtonsville VFD President Tami Bulla, Hillandale VFD Vice President John Bork, Cabin John Park VFD Past President Lee Hunter, Gaithersburg-WG VFD President Steve Hayes, Takoma Park VFD President Elmer Hamm, and Silver Spring VFD Past President Deana Cairo for their tireless work, dedicated service, and excellent counsel as your 2019-2020 bargaining team. 

Specifics of the agreement will follow in the coming days as well as the schedule and process for ratification which follows our by-laws and past practices. 

Congratulations to our members, our excellent bargaining team, the County’s team lead by Chief Negotiator Bill Scott, Esq., and the County Executive for an excellent agreement reached without mediation, arbitration, or a cross word uttered. Professional all the way and a great agreement with significant benefits and improvements. 

Sincerely,

Eric N. Bernard 
Executive Director and Chief Negotiator 
Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association