March 17, 2026
Human Resources
DATE: March 17, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nickie Mastay, Deputy City Manager, Internal Services
Sharrone Taylor, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
Memorandum of Understanding between the City of
Richmond and IAFF Local 188
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated fiscal impact of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with International Association of
Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 188 Fiscal Year 2025-26 is
$1,406,813; Fiscal Year 2026-27 is $1,487,857; Fiscal
Year 2027-28 is $1,587,849 (Terms of agreement are
July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 188 expired on June 30, 2025. IAFF Local 188 and the
City have met and conferred in good faith regarding a
new MOU. On February 13, 2026, the parties reached a
Tentative Agreement which established a new MOU
effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The
agreement has been ratified by the members of IAFF
Local 188. This agreement is subject to final approval by the City Council.
AGENDA
REPORT
March 17, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to APPROVE a successor
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City
of Richmond and International Association of Fire
Fighters (IAFF) Local 188 for the term of July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and DIRECT the city manager, or their
designee, to update the publicly available salary
schedule with the adopted wage increases during the
term of the MOU – Human Resources Department
(Nickie Mastay/Sharrone Taylor 510-620-6602).
DISCUSSION:
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Richmond and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 188 expired on June 30, 2025. In March of 2025, City representatives and IAFF Local 188 representatives began bargaining for a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The City and IAFF Local 188 met on multiple occasions in 2025-2026 and reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on February 13, 2026, to establish a new MOU, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. Members of IAFF Local 188 ratified the TA on March 6, 2026. The major components are delineated below.
MOU Effective Dates: July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028 Salary Adjustments:
o 5% base wage increase effective the pay period including July 1, 2025 o 5% base wage increase effective the pay period including July 1, 2026 o 5% base wage increase effective the pay period including July 1, 2027 Longevity Pay (modification): Effective the first full pay period after City Council approves this MOU, the existing longevity pay will be modified to add a new tier of 7% at 15 years, and advance the 9% tier from 25 to 20 years. Fire Investigator Premium: Modifies the on-call standby pay from 12 hours per week to 2 hours per day (equivalent to 14 hours per week). Incorporates existing side letters granting Cesar Chavez and Juneteenth as holidays and increasing parental leave to four total weeks. Various language changes in areas such as acting pay, fire inspector schedules, fire investigator qualifications, bereavement leave, family and medical care leave, etc.
IAFF Local 188 and the City negotiated in good faith to establish new terms and conditions of employment that would be effective following the expiration of the prior Local 188 MOU. Exhibit A – Memorandum of Understanding of Attachment 1 – Resolution details the new terms and conditions of employment that will be effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
March 17, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
The Human Resources Department requests that City Council adopt the resolution approving a successor MOU between the City of Richmond and IAFF Local 188 with effective dates of July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. City staff further recommend that the City Council direct the City Manager or designee to update the publicly available salary schedule with the adopted wage increases during the term of the MOU.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution and Resolution Exhibit A – Memorandum of Understanding