Late Friday, the City of Austin and the Austin Firefighters Association reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year labor contract. This agreement proposes pay increases for firefighters over the duration of the contract. In the first year, there will be a pay scale adjustment resulting in most employees receiving a 4.2% increase, while entry-level firefighter salaries will rise by 5.5%. Over the next three years, wages are set to increase cumulatively by 10.5%, with annual raises of 3%, 3.5%, and 4%.
The agreement also introduces a reduced work schedule known as the “Austin Schedule,” which includes one day on shift followed by three days off, then two days on shift followed by another three days off. This schedule results in an average workweek of 49.8 hours and positions Austin as the first major city in Texas to adopt such a model. To implement this schedule fully by October 2027, additional full-time firefighters will be hired, with current staff temporarily returning to a 53-hour workweek for 18 months.
The deal allows for flexible hiring practices, including recruiting already certified firefighters, and aims to streamline promotions within the department.
City Manager T.C. Broadnax expressed satisfaction with the agreement: “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.” The Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) echoed this sentiment: “The AFA is pleased to reach a tentative agreement…that includes an implementation plan for a new work schedule that will provide much-needed recovery time between their arduous work shifts.”
Before becoming official, this tentative agreement requires ratification by AFA members and approval from the City Council in October.
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