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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🚒 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! LET'S FINISH STRONG! 🗳️
Portsmouth Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 539 is calling on our members, families, and supporters to help us make a difference this Election Day!
Tuesday, November 3rd, we need volunteers to assist with handing out campaign literature at polling locations throughout Portsmouth in support of our endorsed City Council candidates:
MOODY • TILLAGE • HUGEL
We've worked hard getting our message out into the community. Now it's time for one final push!
Whether you can give an hour, a few hours, or the entire day, your help will make a difference.
📍 Where: Portsmouth polling locations
📅 When: Tuesday, November 3rd
📱 Interested in helping? Contact President Turner at 757-679-5897.
Our strength comes from our members and our willingness to stand together for a safer Portsmouth.
LET'S SHOW UP, STAND TOGETHER, AND FINISH STRONG!
🚒 WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US!
#IAFFLocal539 #PortsmouthFirefighters #ElectionDay2026 #MoodyTillageHugel #SaferPortsmouth #Volunteer
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🚒 WE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS! PORTSMOUTH DESERVES BETTER!
Public safety should never be compromised by decisions that reduce emergency response capabilities.
There was a time when Portsmouth made the decision to take fire apparatus out of service, reducing the resources available to protect our neighborhoods, businesses, and families.
We've seen what happens when staffing shortages, limited resources, and inadequate planning affect our ability to deliver emergency services.
We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes.
Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Local 539 believes our citizens deserve:
🚒 Fire Trucks That Stay in Service – Maintaining reliable fire protection and the apparatus necessary to respond when emergencies happen.
👨🚒 Adequate Firefighter Staffing – Working toward four-person staffing on fire apparatus to improve safety, operational effectiveness, and emergency response.
🚑 Reliable Paramedic Coverage – Ensuring properly staffed ambulances and qualified medical professionals are available when our citizens need them most.
📈 Investment in Public Safety – Prioritizing recruitment, retention, competitive compensation, and the resources necessary to build a stronger fire department.
Portsmouth should be moving forward, not returning to a time when fire trucks were taken out of service and our community was left with fewer emergency response resources.
That's why Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Local 539 proudly endorses MOODY, TILLAGE, and HUGEL for Portsmouth City Council.
We need leaders who recognize that public safety isn't an expense to minimize. It's an investment in the lives and well-being of the people we serve.
Our firefighters are committed to protecting Portsmouth. We need a City Council equally committed to supporting them.
🗳️ On November 3rd, vote MOODY, TILLAGE, and HUGEL!
KEEP OUR TRUCKS IN SERVICE. STAFF OUR APPARATUS. PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
🚒 WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US!
Vernon L. Tillage Bill Moody Mark Hugel
#WeCantGoBackwards #SaferPortsmouth #PublicSafetyFirst #PortsmouthFirefighters #IAFFLocal539 #MoodyTillageHugel
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🚒 STRONG LEADERSHIP BUILDS A SAFER PORTSMOUTH!
Investing in firefighters means investing in the safety of every family, neighborhood, and business in Portsmouth.
Every day, Portsmouth's firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics answer the call. They deserve the staffing, resources, compensation, and support necessary to provide the highest level of service to our community.
But building a stronger fire department requires more than promises. It requires leadership willing to listen, make difficult decisions, and deliver results.
Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Local 539 has been advocating for meaningful improvements that benefit both our members and the citizens we serve:
🚒 Four-Person Staffing – Ensuring adequate personnel on fire apparatus to improve firefighter safety and emergency response capabilities.
💰 Competitive Compensation – Fully funding our pay plan, addressing pay inequities, and conducting a comprehensive regional pay study to recruit and retain experienced professionals.
🚑 Stronger Emergency Medical Services – Providing properly staffed ambulances, qualified personnel, and reliable resources when seconds matter.
⏰ Better Work Schedules – Establishing a realistic transition to a 48-hour workweek, with a long-term goal of 42 hours, to improve retention, reduce fatigue, and support firefighter families.
🤝 Accountability and Collaboration – Giving frontline professionals a meaningful voice in decisions that directly impact public safety.
These aren't simply firefighter issues. They're Portsmouth issues.
When we retain experienced firefighters, strengthen emergency response capabilities, and invest in public safety, our entire community benefits.
That's why Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Local 539 proudly endorses MOODY, TILLAGE, and HUGEL for Portsmouth City Council.
We need leaders who understand that a safer Portsmouth starts with supporting the professionals who protect it.
Our mission is simple: Safer Firefighters. Stronger Emergency Services. A Safer Portsmouth.
🚒 WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US!
Mark Hugel Bill Moody Councilman Vernon L. Tillage
🗳️ This November 3rd, make your voice heard. Vote for a safer Portsmouth!
#SaferPortsmouth #PublicSafetyFirst #PortsmouthFirefighters #IAFFLocal539 #MoodyTillageHugel #WeSupportThoseWhoSupportUs
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