Jumpline MAG_Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 4
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William McAllister IV
Local 1403 President
President’s Report
A STRONG START
-and a Process That’s Working
We commenced negotiations in late February for the successor Collective Bargaining Agreement (2026–2029), and this process has started earlier than at any point this century. In just a
few short years, we’ve gone from being more than a year behind
in the current contract — and another contract behind in preparation — to being on time and on schedule, with this team now
having worked across 4 CBAs spanning 12 years.
Both sides came to the table prepared in late February. We
brought a 101-page proposal built directly from member input
over the past three years. This wasn’t a narrowed version of the
team’s ideas — it is a full picture of what matters to you. Over
that time, we repeatedly asked for input from our membership,
and this 昀椀rst work product is a direct result of your efforts. Thank
you.
The County came in organized on their end as well, with a
clear structure and a team ready to engage. We’ve never come
in and received a complete packet of their proposals at the 昀椀rst meeting. Their opening position — focused on non-monetary items and no
new money — re昀氀ects the uncertainty they’re
dealing with right now. Between a projected
budget gap and what’s coming out of Tallahassee on property tax reform, they’re navigating a
moving target and are not offering anything to
start with. That broader 昀椀nancial context matters, even as we continue to advocate for what
our members have earned.
members who are injured off-duty, and we were deep into Article
43, working through improvements to discipline processes and
member rights. That is the kind of detailed, important work that
takes time but ultimately de昀椀nes the strength of the agreement.
Just as important as the content has been the tone and structure of the process itself.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava deserves credit for
continuing to support a labor process that is organized, respectful, and moving forward in good faith along a timeline to deliver
a successor agreement when the current one expires. That support from the Mayor’s of昀椀ce matters more than people realize —
it sets the expectation that this work is taken seriously.
Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez also
deserves acknowledgment for requesting to have labor
negotiations materially complete by the 昀椀rst Budget Ordinance
hearing in September, so the County’s proposed budget can be evaluated in its totality using actual numbers instead of projections. That
is proactive thinking that brings clarity to a process that should never operate in uncertainty.
And to be clear, this is how negotiations are
supposed to start. Both sides lay out their full
positions — along with what is 昀椀nancially in
their best interests — knowing the real work
happens in the conversations that follow.
What’s been encouraging is exactly that —
the quality and depth of the conversations that
have ensued.
In the 昀椀rst session, we were able to move
quickly and lock in 22 articles as status quo,
with 3 more temporarily agreed to. That takes
nearly half of all possible issues off the table
and creates space to focus on the areas that
need attention.
The second session built on that momentum.
No signatures that day, but meaningful progress
and productive dialogue that helped clarify direction on issues ranging from promotions to
working outside of classi昀椀cations.
There’s still a long
road ahead. But
the way this has
started — prepared,
professional, and
moving — is exactly
how you build
toward a strong
agreement.
By the third session, we had agreed to no
substantial changes in Article 53, affecting our
There’s also been a noticeable addition to the
County’s team. Carla Denise Edwards joining
a group long captained by Jimmy Morales has
added real depth and coordination. You can see
it in how the sessions are running — organized,
responsive, and moving 昀氀uidly. That structure
helps keep the process focused and productive.
Looking ahead, both sides are aligned on
continuing to work through non-monetary items
into early June. That timing is intentional — by
then, we should have a clearer picture of where
things stand in Tallahassee on property tax reform and what the County’s 昀椀nancial landscape
looks like heading into the next budget cycle.
Until then, the focus is exactly where it should
be: tightening current language, protecting
members’ rights, and resolving the parts of
the contract that shape day-to-day operations
— while setting the table for a substantive conversation more narrowly focused on 昀椀nancials
once the key variables are known to all parties.
There’s still a long road ahead. But the way
this has started — prepared, professional, and
moving — is exactly how you build toward a
strong agreement.
We’ll keep pushing forward.
Spring 2026 | JUMPLINE Magazine
