Revised 7 2021
Organized January 1976
Who are the York County / City of Williamsburg / City of Poquoson / James City County Professional Fire Fighters, Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers IAFF Local 2498? The York County / City of Williamsburg / City of Poquoson / James City County Professional Fire Fighters, Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers is a local union representing career professional fire fighters, paramedics and 911 dispatchers of York County, City of Williamsburg, City of Poquoson and James City County Virginia. We are a local of the International Association of Fire Fighters located in Washington DC. We are also associated with the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF), which consists of more than 80 locals representing well over 9,000 fire fighters, medics and dispatchers. Virginia Professional Fire Fighters, medics and dispatchers provide fire protection and EMS services to over 85% of Virginia’s population. As well, the VPFF members provide these and other specialized services to all of Virginia’s major airports and several military installations. Virginia Professional Fire Fighters members consist of Fire Fighters, Fire Officers, Fire Inspectors, Fire Investigators, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Emergency Medical Technicians, Cardiac Technicians, Paramedics, Training Instructors, Water Rescue Specialists, 911 Dispatchers and Homeland Security Officers. We also are members of the AFL/CIO, the Virginia AFL/CIO, the Eastern Virginia Labor Council, the National Fire Protection Agency, VPAP and NCPERS. We, along with the VPFF, and its member locals are active in many endeavors on the federal, state and local levels. Whether it’s raising money for the family of a fire fighter killed in the Line of Duty (LODD) or fighting for legislation to prevent another fire fighter from dying needlessly, our local, and the VPFF are there. Working hand in hand with the VPFF, the IAFF and local unions throughout the United States, Our Local, VPFF, and the IAFF are strong advocates in Washington DC, Richmond Virginia, York County, City of Williamsburg, City of Poquoson, and James City County for the safety and well being of fire fighters, medics and dispatchers as well as their families and the general public. Recent Accomplishments of our organizations in Washington DC are:
• Hazardous Materials Legislation
• Pension Reform Legislation
• Ryan White Act
• Enforcement of OSHA 2-in/2-out
• Age Discrimination Employment Act
• Increased benefits for Public Safety Officers killed in the Line of Duty (PSOB)
• PSOB Heart Attacks
• Protection from the Cadillac Tax
• COVID-19 LODD Coverage
• S.A.F.E.R. Fire Fighters Act Funding
• Homeland Security/FIRE Act Funding
• PTSD Coverage and Protections
Issued being pursued:
• Public Safety Employee Cooperation Act
• Federal Investigations of all Fire Fighter Line of Duty Deaths
• Federal Fire Fighter pay reform
• Protection of the Fair Labor Standard Act
• Collective Bargaining
• S.A.F.E.R. Fire Fighters Act Funding
• Homeland Security/FIRE Act Funding
• Firefighting Research & Development
• Federal Presumption Disability
• Protection of the Affordable Care Act (working to make needed changes)
• Protection of SSI and Medicare
• Medicare upon Retirement
Accomplishments in Richmond Virginia:
• Heart & Lung
• Cancer Presumption (Corrective Language. Added 3 Cancers)
• Disease Presumption
• Increase of Virginia’s Public Safety Officer Benefits
• Increase in VRS Benefits
• 25/50 Retirement
• Over Time Protection
• Increased penalties for assaulting a fire fighter or medic
• Virginia S.A.F.E.R
• Increased Training Funding
• Fire & EMS Board Appointments
• Move Over Law
• Witness Protect (Investigations)
• PTSD Protections
• Collective Bargaining (currently Locality Option)
• COVID -19 Protections
• Banning OSB from Training Centers
• Adding Paramedics without Fire Fighting certification to Heart and Lung
Issues being pursued in Richmond Virginia:
• LEOS for Life
• Increased VRS Benefits
• Enhanced Worker’s Compensation Legislation
• Straight 25 Year Retirement
• Protection of Line of Duty
• Protection of the Affordable Care Act (working to make needed changes)
Accomplishments in York County:
• Allow York County Fire Officers to join the union
• Lobbied to ensure that York County participated in the 25/50 VRS Retirement
• Unlimited Shift Trades
• Ensure purchase of Safer Fire Fighting Turn Out Gear
• Lobby to insure adoption of NFPA 1710 Safe Staffing
• Insure fair application of County Policy
• Took the lead on insuring passage of York County’s Health Care After Retirement
• Increased in Staffing
• Pay Raises
• Adoption of the 1.85 VRS Multiplier
• Increased On Duty Training
• Restored Cash Value to Fire Fighters Sick Leave
• Mandatory Job-Related Physicals/Occupational Med
• Addressing the Pay Compression Issue
• Brought York County in line with Fire Department Tradition ref hiring Family Members
• Allow changes in Retirees Health Care Plans
• Allow Widows to remain on YC Health Care Plan for up to a year after the members death. Issues being pursued in York County:
• Full implementation of NFPA 1710 Safe Staffing
• Bring York County in line with the majority of fire departments regarding fire fighter over time/compensation time
• Full Implementation of the IAFC/IAFF Wellness, Fitness Iniative
• Restoring 24-hour Sick Leave
• Annual COLA/Pay Raises
• Affordable Health Care
• Addressing Paramedic Hiring, Training and Retention
Issues being Pursued in the City of Williamsburg:
• City of Williamsburg joined IAFF Local 2498 in January 2010
• Full Implementation of NFPA 1710 Safe Staffing
• Monitoring of Fire Fighters Mandatory Physicals (NFPA 1582)
• Working towards improvements in Post-Retirement Benefits
• Pay Raises with COLA
• Affordable Health Care
Accomplishments in the City of Williamsburg
• Protection Job Related Injury Fire Fighters and Paramedics
• Created a City of Williamsburg Professional Fallen Fire Fighters Benevolent Fund
• Fair application of policies
• Approval of a Second Fire Station – Changed to a Rebuild of Station 1
• Increase in Staffing Levels
Accomplishments in the City of Poquoson:
• City of Poquoson joined IAFF Local 2498 in Jan 2011
• Protecting Job Related Injured Fire Fighters and Paramedics
• Creation and funding of the City of Poquoson Professional Fallen Fire Fighters and Paramedics Benevolent Fund
• Master Fire Fighter Positions
• Health Care After Retirement
• Paramedic Incentive Pay Increases
Issues being pursued by the City of Poquoson:
• Full Implementation of NFPA 1710
• Full Implementation of NFPA 1582
• Fair Application of Policies
• Annual COLA/Pay Raises
• Affordable Health Care
Accomplishments in James City County:
• Prior to joining IAFF Local 2498 in January 2014 won the right to have their officers in the same local, fought and won to get paid for the FULL 24-hour period.
• Joined IAFF Local 2498 in January 2014
• Protecting Job Related Injured Fire Fighters and Paramedics
• Creation and Funding of the James City County Fallen Professional Fire Fighter and Paramedic Benevolent Fund
• Approval of the 1.85 VRS Multiplier
Issues being pursued in James City County:
• Monitoring of Mandatory Physicals (NFPA 1582)
• Full Implementation of Safe Staffing (NFPA 1710)
• Annual Pay Raises with COLA
• Post-Retirement Health Care Coverage
• Fair Application of Policies
• Increase in Paramedic Incentive Pay
• Affordable Health Care
Our Local, and other area locals focus on issues that are important and unique to their own needs. This may include lobbying local officials and citizens for better equipment, additional staffing, pay and benefits. We are advocates for adequate fire protection for you, your family, your home and or your business, increasing awareness of factors that will impact the Health and Safety of our members. We keep our Citizens and Business Owners aware of Public Safety Issues, and the issues that impact First Responders without Political Spin via our Annual Mass Mailer Fund Raiser letters mailed out each year around Easter Week with our Support Decal Included. We also follow up with our donors during our Previous Donor Thank You Letters sent out each year around Thanksgiving week. We also participate in many charitable organizations such as the Muscular Dystrophy Associations (Fire Fighter Fill the Boot) Fund Drive, The American Cancers Societies (Relay for Life), Summer Burn Camps for Burned Children, Charity Golf Tournaments, Childhood Diabetes Foundation, York County Safety Town just to name a few.
