NEWS
Member health & wellness
IAFF Center of Excellence
The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD and other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.
Historic milestone • September 22, 2026
Portsmouth Passes Collective Bargaining Ordinance
On September 22, 2026, Portsmouth City Council unanimously passed its collective bargaining ordinance. IAFF Local 539 thanks the City Council and City Manager for helping bring this historic step forward for Portsmouth’s public employees.
Know the issues
What Is Collective Bargaining?
Collective bargaining is how employees, through their union, negotiate with their employer over pay, benefits, hours and working conditions. It gives workers a shared voice and a process for reaching a written agreement and addressing workplace concerns.
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🚒 RETENTION KEEPS US STRONG. A SAFER PORTSMOUTH STARTS WITH EXPERIENCED FIREFIGHTERS.
Recruiting firefighters is important. Retaining the experienced professionals we already have is essential.
Portsmouth has invested years in training and developing highly skilled firefighters, paramedics, and officers. When we lose those professionals to neighboring jurisdictions offering more competitive compensation, we lose more than personnel—we lose experience, institutional knowledge, and leadership.
Our firefighters deserve a commitment to:
✅ A Fully Funded Pay Plan – Delivering on promised compensation improvements and ensuring fair, equitable pay based on experience, qualifications, and years of service.
✅ A Comprehensive Regional Pay Study – Keeping Portsmouth competitive with neighboring Hampton Roads fire departments so we can recruit and retain qualified professionals.
✅ Career Progression and Pay Equity – Recognizing experience, professional development, and advancement through a transparent and consistently applied compensation system.
✅ Long-Term Retention – Investing in the professionals who have dedicated their careers to protecting Portsmouth.
We cannot expect to maintain the highest level of emergency services while continuing to lose experienced personnel to surrounding jurisdictions.
Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Local 539 proudly supports MOODY, TILLAGE, and HUGEL for Portsmouth City Council because we believe investing in our firefighters is investing in the safety of our community.
Competitive Pay. Experienced Firefighters. A Stronger Portsmouth.
🚒 We support those who support us!
Bill Moody Councilman Vernon L. Tillage Mark Hugel
#RetentionMatters #fullyfundedpayplan #regionalpayequity #portsmouthfirefighters #iafflocal539 #saferPortsmouth #moodytillagehugel
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🚒 FOUR-PERSON STAFFING SAVES LIVES.
When a fire breaks out, every second matters—and so does every firefighter.
Four-person staffing isn't just about adding another firefighter to an apparatus. It's about ensuring our crews have the personnel necessary to perform critical fireground operations, improve accountability, conduct search and rescue, and protect the lives of both firefighters and the citizens we serve.
Portsmouth deserves a fire department equipped and staffed to meet the needs of our growing community.
Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Local 539 proudly supports MOODY, TILLAGE, and HUGEL for Portsmouth City Council.
We support leaders who recognize that investing in public safety means investing in the firefighters who answer the call.
Safe Staffing. Stronger Firefighters. A Safer Portsmouth.
🚒 We support those who support us!
Mark Hugel. Councilman Vernon L. Tillage. Bill Moody
#FourPersonStaffing #SafeStaffing #SaferPortsmouth #Local539 #PortsmouthFirefighters
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