By Tanisha Bhat
The Capital
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Annapolis City Council approved collective bargaining agreements for police officers, firefighters and trade unions Monday night, with two aldermen abstaining from voting.
The development comes after the council’s approval of the clerical workers’ agreement two weeks ago. The contracts for all four city unions will apply for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The council last approved collective bargaining agreements with the unions in 2024.
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“I am pleased all our labor agreements passed unanimously,” said Mayor Jared Littmann, a Democrat, in a statement. “The negotiations involved some give and take on both sides, but the final agreements show respect and appreciation for staff and highlight the fiscal discipline that taxpayers are seeking.”
Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge, a Democrat, abstained from voting on the firefighter agreement only, while Ward 3 Alderman Keanuú Smith-Brown, a Democrat, abstained from voting on all three agreements.
Smith-Brown said he abstained because he felt the agreements “fall short” of meeting the needs of the city’s employees. However, he did not clarify what he would have changed.
“I abstained, not necessarily in disagreement with the reality that there has to be some type of agreement, but just standing on the principles that our workforce or our staff deserve more,” he said. “If it came down to a deciding vote, of course, I would have reconsidered.”
Savidge told the Capital Gazette that he abstained from voting because the firefighters’ union has become more political, rather than focused on staffing concerns.
“I don’t want to send a message that it’s acceptable to have the union leadership be so political with their actions. At the same time, I don’t want to hold up the overall agreement,” he said. “So, I made the choice to not let a conflict with their leadership affect the contract.”
Last month, the International Association of Fire Fighters voted to censure Savidge during its conference in Texas over his pushback to funding more paramedics. The move only shows public disapproval and doesn’t carry any formal consequences.
The Annapolis Professional Firefighters Local 1926, which represents the city’s firefighters and paramedics, submitted the censure resolutions for review at the conference. Savidge said the censure partially contributed to his abstention.
“I’ve been on the council for nine years now, and I’ve led a number of funding initiatives for them,” he said. “They’ve ignored the objective facts and their own strategic plan, and instead decided to become political. That’s the behavior that I can’t condone with a yes or no vote.”
Joe Pilat, president of the city fire union, said in a statement to the Capital Gazette that Savidge should have cast a vote.
“After years of questioning nearly every investment in public safety, when it was finally time to take a position, he chose not to take one at all,” Pilat said of Savidge. “You don’t have to agree with us, but elected office requires the courage to cast a vote and stand behind it. Abstaining when it’s your turn to be accountable is the opposite of that.”
Under the approved agreement, members of the firefighter union will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal 2027 and 2028. The city estimates the total cost of the pay increase to be $200,000.
The police union, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, will see a 1% cost-of-living adjustment in fiscal 2027 and a 2% adjustment in fiscal 2028. Their starting salaries for new officers will also increase by 1%. Five officers will also see a one-pay-scale increase.
All three aspects of the police pay increases are expected to cost the city approximately $375,000. The agreement also adds grandparents-in-law as eligible family members for bereavement leave.
The trade union, represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3406, includes public works and central services employees. Under their agreement, the group will also see a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for both fiscal years, costing about $100,000.
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