AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The City of Austin and the Austin Firefighters Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor deal, according to a statement released Friday evening.
“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. “Ultimately, this tentative agreement makes all of us safer and is an important step in the right direction.”
The four year proposal includes pay increases across the deal, including a 5.5% increase in entry-level pay. The overall pay scale adjustment for the first year starts at 2.9% and increases based on position and tenure, with most current employees seeing an increase of 4.2%.
The remaining three years of the deal will see pay increases of 3, 3.5, and 4 percent.
The proposal also includes a reduced work schedule known as the "Austin Schedule" - firefighters will work one day on shift, three days of rest, two days on shift, and three days of rest, which amounts to a 49.8 hour work week on average. Under the agreement, that schedule will be fully implemented by October 2027; in the interim, firefighters will return to a 53-hour work schedule for 18 months while the city hires additional firefighters.
“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. We also appreciate the fair and equitable pay advancements that will help with the recruitment and retention of our workforce,” said the AFA Bargaining Team.
The tentative agreement must be ratified by the Austin Firefighters Association’s membership and will be presented for City Council consideration in October.