Special Magisterate Recommendations:
City of Orlando Workers Fight Back and Win Important Gains
After months of negotiations, numerous bargaining sessions, and our decision to take our fight to impasse, the Special Magistrate has issued his recommendations.
Let’s be clear: this is not the agreement we originally sought. We fought for stronger wage increases because we know the value of the work our members perform every day to keep the City of Orlando running.
But we also know something else: when workers stand together and fight, we make progress.
The Stakes Have Become Even Bigger
When we made the difficult decision to declare impasse, the threat posed by Ballot Measure 3 and drastic changes to Florida’s property tax system had not yet become a reality.
Today, that threat is real.
Powerful interests are pushing changes that could dramatically reduce local government revenues and force cities to do more with less. In the end, working families and public services are left paying the price.
Public workers should not be forced to shoulder the burden of political decisions beyond their control.
That is why this fight has become bigger than our contract. It is about protecting the future of public services and ensuring that the workers who serve our communities receive the respect and investment they deserve.
We Fought Back — And We Won Important Gains
Because members stood together and refused to back down, the Special Magistrate recommended several significant victories:
- ✅ A retroactive 4% wage increase effective September 28, 2025.
- ✅ A retroactive contract effective October 1, 2025, preserving contract gains and back pay.
- ✅ Upgrading Civilian Paramedics from S16 to S14.
- ✅ A new meal stipend for communications employees.
- ✅ Stronger due process protections during disciplinary investigations, including paid status after 30 days and written notice to the Union when investigations are extended.
- ✅ Implementation of the agreed-upon JAT study changes.
These gains did not happen by accident.
They happened because workers stood together and fought.
How the Union’s Proposals Compared to the City’s and the Special Magistrate’s Recommendations
| Issue |
Union Proposal |
City Proposal |
Special Magistrate Award |
| Wages |
6% / 5% / 4%, retroactive to Sept. 28, 2025 |
4% / 4% / 4%, effective after ratification |
4% / 4% / 4%, with retroactive pay to Sept. 28, 2025 |
| Contract Effective Date |
Oct. 1, 2025 |
After ratification |
Union wins. Contract effective Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Contract Duration |
Three years |
Shortened term beginning at ratification |
Union wins. Three-year agreement |
| Civilian Paramedics |
S16 → S14 |
S16 → S15 |
Union wins. S16 → S14 |
| Meal Stipend |
$15 stipend |
Conditional |
Adopted |
| Article 22 Discipline |
Stronger protections |
Status quo |
Significant Union improvements |
| Leave Buydown |
120 hours |
80 hours |
Status quo |
| Promotion Pay |
7% per pay grade |
Status quo |
City position adopted |
| FTO Pay |
Double stipends |
Status quo |
City position adopted |
What’s Next?
The parties will meet again to discuss the Special Magistrate’s recommendations on:
Thursday, June 25, 2026
10:00 AM
These recommendations are an important step, but they are not the end of our fight.
Throughout history, working people have never been handed fairness.
We have had to organize for it.
We have had to fight for it.
And time and time again, when workers stand together and refuse to be divided, we make progress.
When We Fight, We Win.
After months of negotiations, numerous bargaining sessions, and our decision to take our fight to impasse, the Special Magistrate has issued his recommendations.
First, we want to be clear: this is not the agreement we originally sought. We fought for stronger wage increases because we know the value of the work you do every day for the City of Orlando.
But we also know something else: when workers stand together and fight, we make progress.
