AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin announced in a press release Friday that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association for a four-year labor contract.
The announcement of an agreement follows tense negotiations between city and fire representatives as the current contract will expire in October.
According to the release, the new agreement will increase pay for firefighters every year of the contract, with a variable first year pay scale adjustment of at least 2.9% based on position and tenure, followed by a cumulative 10.5% pay increase over the final three years.
The adjustment in the first year is expected to increase most current employee salaries by 4.2% the release said, and will result in a 5.5% salary increase for entry-level firefighters to assist in recruitment.
In addition to the salary increases, the release details the city’s commitment to implement a new reduced work schedule by October 2027 known as the “Austin Schedule” which will result in an average 49.8-hour work week.
The release said the city will hire more full-time firefighters to facilitate the new schedule, and in exchange firefighters will return to a 53 hour schedule for 18 months.
Additionally the agreement will provide more flexibility in hiring, including firefighters already certified, and will streamline the promotion process, the release said.
“I am pleased we have reached a tentative agreement that invests in our firefighters, ensuring not only pay increases, but also a work schedule that prioritizes firefighter wellness,” City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in the release. “Ultimately, this tentative agreement makes all of us safer and is an important step in the right direction.”
“The AFA is pleased to reach a tentative agreement to take to our membership for consideration that includes an implementation plan for a new work schedule that will provide the much needed recovery time between their arduous work shifts,” the AFA Bargaining Team said according to the release. “We also appreciate the fair and equitable pay advancements that will help with the recruitment and retention of our workforce.”
According to the release, the Austin Firefighters Association membership must ratify the tentative agreement and then it will be presented to the Austin City Council for consideration in October.
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