The Brief
- The City of Austin and the Firefighters Association have reached a tentative four-year labor contract agreement.
- The deal includes a significant pay increase (most current employees get 4.2% Year 1) and a reduced work week (from 53 to 49.8 hours) by October 2027.
- The agreement still requires ratification by the Firefighter’s Association members and approval by the Austin City Council next month.
AUSTIN – Back and forth negotiations between the Austin Firefighters Association and the City of Austin are now potentially coming to a close.
New Pay Structure
What we know:
On Friday night, the two parties agreed on a tentative four-year labor contract agreement, one that could bring some big changes to the department.
- Year 1 – A pay scale adjustment that increases employee pay by 2.9% or more based on position and tenure within the department. Most current employees will see an increase of 4.2%.
- Year 2, 3, 4 – A cumulative 10.5% wage increase over the final three years of the agreement – 3%, 3.5% and 4%, respectively.
The proposed deal also includes a 5.5% wage increase for entry-level firefighters, an attempt to hopefully fill vacant roles in the department.
A Major Shift in Work Hours
What they’re saying:
“We ought to find the young people who want to do it and give them the rewards it takes. If you’re young, you’re healthy, you’re smart enough, there other players out there that would like to hire you,” says Ron Delord, an attorney for the Austin Firefighter’s Association.…