AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Calling it a "shameful day" for the City of Austin, members of the Austin EMS Association are blasting the city's first counteroffer made during ongoing labor negotiations.
Austin's EMS medics are the first of all three public safety agencies that are set to renegotiate their labor contracts this year.
Base starting pay for entry-level medics is $19.56 an hour, under the association's current agreement with the city. Under the city's proposed offer, that starting wage would rise only to $19.70 an hour.
The association had been seeking an entry-level pay of $27 an hour.
EMS Association President Selena Xie blasted the city's offer. "We know our worth, and, well, that ain’t it," according to a tweet from the Association.
A spokesman for the City of Austin called the contract offer "unprecedented." “Our total package was a 51% increase in new money compared to the last contract they approved [in 2018]. The entry-level pay for Paramedics would be more than 5% higher than any other governmental entity in Texas."
According to the city, EMS employees receive pay increases based on their tenure with the department. Under the new contract offer, the city says 70% of ATCEMS employees would receive a 15% increase over the next four years, while 29% of the employees would receive a 24% increase over the length of the agreement.
“We value our medics and will continue to do what we can as a City to attract and retain the best Medics for our citizens. But we are unable to meet their request for a 55% base wage increase over 4 years and must remain fiscally responsible," the city statement said.
The association and the City are expected to meet with a mediator in May.