State Personnel - BWI Airport Fire and Rescue Department - Collective Bargaining and Arbitration Processes

SB 373 requires the State and the union representing uniformed fire employees at BWI Airport Fire and Rescue Department to reach a new collective bargaining agreement by September 30 of the year before the current agreement expires. If negotiations reach an impasse (defined as mutual agreement or failure to agree by October 1), both parties must submit their final offers within 48 hours and select an arbitrator from a list of 15 provided by the American Arbitration Association through an alternating strike process. The arbitrator will make a binding decision on wages, hours, and working conditions, with recommendations due by November 20. This replaces the previous fact-finder process for this specific department, ensuring a structured resolution timeline.