Over 75 Years of Strength in Unity
For over 75 years, IAFF Local 964 has stood as the unified voice of Baltimore's fire command officers — Battalion Chiefs, Captains, and Lieutenants who lead from the front lines every day. What started as an act of determination in 1948 remains a story of solidarity, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to those who serve.
1942
The Roots of Our Union
In the dark days of February 1942, when organized labor — especially among public-sector employees — was often viewed as adversarial to the “public good,” IAFF Local 734 Baltimore Fire Fighters ("Local 734") was chartered to represent all uniformed members of the Baltimore City Fire Department, up to and including Battalion Chiefs. At least three of the original charter members were officers themselves. Dues were collected by hand, one member at a time, because that was the only way to keep the fledgling union alive.
1944
General Order 11-44
On January 20, 1944, the Department issued General Order 11-44. It expressly prohibited any officer from participating in or maintaining membership in Local 734. Every officer was ordered to file a form between February 1 and February 15, 1944, declaring whether they were or were not members. Although the order did not spell out the penalty in writing, the verbal message was unmistakable: continued membership would result in dismissal. The clear intent was to decapitate the union’s leadership and cause Local 734 to collapse. Over eighty years later, history shows that plan failed.
1947
Taft-Hartley Act
In June 1947, the Taft-Hartley Act (Labor Management Relations Act) finally provided legal clarity: supervisors had the right to organize. A group of Baltimore City Fire Department officers — including the three known original charter members of Local 734 — petitioned to rejoin their union. The City’s response was blunt: officers could organize, but they must do so separate and apart from Local 734.
1948
Local 964 is Chartered
With no alternative, IAFF Local 964 Baltimore Fire Officers was officially chartered on February 20, 1948.
Note: Article 12, Section 4-2(b)(3) of the Baltimore City Code still prohibits supervisors and non-supervisors from belonging to the same union — the very reason Local 964 exists as the dedicated voice of command officers today.
1981–2022
A Home of Our Own
In 1981, following the disbanding of Engine Company #22 and Truck Company #17, Local 964 purchased our current Union Hall on Linwood Avenue. That building has served as the heart of our union ever since. Major renovations in 2004/2005 modernized the facility, and further updates in 2022 brought the second-floor meeting area fully into the 21st century — a fitting reflection of our continued commitment to excellence.
Seventy-Five Years and Counting
Leadership has changed over the decades, but our dedication to securing fair wages, quality healthcare, safe staffing, and the best possible working conditions for the officers who lead Baltimore’s Bravest has never wavered. From the hand-collected dues of 1942 to the modern advocacy of today, Local 964 has stood as the proud and unified voice of command officers — Battalion Chiefs, Captains, and Lieutenants — who run toward danger so others don’t have to.
In Unitate Fortitudo — Strength in Unity — is more than our motto. It is the story of who we are, where we came from, and the legacy we continue to build for the next 75 years and beyond.
