Fremont City Council Meeting: 11/18/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Resources
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Labor Relations
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5587) DOC ID: 5587
Updated: 11/14/2025 9:31 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
FREMONT FIRE FIGHTERS, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, LOCAL 1689 (IAFF) MOU - Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Successor Memorandum of Understanding with the Fremont Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1689 (IAFF)
Contact Persons:
Name: Tina Gallegos Brian Stott
Title: Human Resources Director Assistant City Manager
Div/Dept: Human Resources City Manager's Office
Phone: 510-494-4652 510-494-4660
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: In November 2025, following completion of the meet-and-confer process, the City of Fremont (City) and the Fremont Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1689 (IAFF) concluded labor negotiations for a successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The bargaining unit consists of 126 members, including Fire Fighters, Fire Engineers, and Fire Captains. The proposed successor MOU incorporates modest compensation and health-benefit allowance increases (inclusive of a parity clause), along with non-economic clarifying language edits. Additionally, the Staff Assignment Premium provision of the MOU was revised to address Fire Department operational needs by allowing paramedics to retain their paramedic pay while on a staff assignment, which will have a minor economic impact. All other substantive provisions of the MOU remain unchanged. The effective date of the successor MOU will be November 16, 2025 (the start of the first full pay period following IAFF ratification), through June 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND: The City’s MOU with IAFF expired on June 30, 2025. Following multiple negotiation sessions, the City presented its Last, Best, and Final Offer (LBFO) to IAFF on October 17, 2025. On November 11, 2025, IAFF members voted to accept the City’s LBFO, and thus the parties have reached a tentative agreement for a successor MOU. California Government Code Section 3505.1 requires the City Council to vote on the proposed successor MOU at a duly noticed public meeting.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The significant changes in the proposed successor MOU include:
1. Employee Compensation:
a) Effective the start of the first full pay period following IAFF ratification of the tentative agreement, IAFF members will receive a base wage increase of
1.3%.
2. Health Benefit Allowance:
a) Effective the first of the month following IAFF ratification of the tentative agreement, the unit’s health benefit allowance will be increased by $100 per month (from $2,700 per month to $2,800 per month).
Council Staff Report (ID # 5587) Meeting of November 18, 2025 Updated: 11/14/2025 9:31 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
b) Effective January 1, 2026, the unit’s health benefit allowance will be increased by an additional $100 per month (from $2,800 per month to $2,900 per month).
3. Staff Assignment Premium
a) Effective the first of the month following IAFF ratification, IAFF members that are licensed as paramedics will continue to receive paramedic premium pay while on Staff Assignments (typically related to recruit Fire Training Academies).
4. Parity or “Me Too”:
a) If, during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding, the City grants an across-the-board wage increase to another bargaining unit greater than the
1.3% provided in Article 2, Section 2.1, the City agrees to extend the equivalent general wage increase to all IAFF classifications listed in Appendix A. This provision does not apply to increases that are the result of any market equity increases or increases based on internal relationships (e.g., compaction). This provision will sunset at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026.
b) If during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding, the City grants a larger Health Benefit Allowance increase to another bargaining unit, the same allowance shall be granted to IAFF classifications listed in Appendix A.
FISCAL IMPACT:
1. Compensation Increase:
a) Fiscal Year 2025/26 Anticipated Fiscal Impact: $369,586
2. Health Benefit Allowance:
a) Fiscal Year 2025/26 Anticipated Fiscal Impact: $123,278
3. Staff Assignment Premium:
a) Fiscal Year 2025/26 Anticipated Fiscal Impact: $27,665
Staff will return to the City Council with recommended adjustments to the FY 2025/26 Adopted Budget reflecting the terms of the approved MOU.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The proposed approval of a successor MOU is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5), and it has no possibility of having a significant effect on the environment, as specified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance.
LINKS: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
• IAFF Resolution 2025
Council Staff Report (ID # 5587) Meeting of November 18, 2025 Updated: 11/14/2025 9:31 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving the tentative agreement reached with the Fremont Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1689 (IAFF) for a successor MOU and authorizing the City Manager to execute an MOU for the period of November 16, 2025, through June 30, 2026, between the City of Fremont and the IAFF.