Overview

• The city and the Austin Firefighters Association announced a tentative four-year contract late Friday as the current pact nears October expiration, with the deal awaiting a membership vote and then Council consideration next month.
• Year 1 sets a pay scale adjustment of at least 2.9%, yielding roughly 4.2% increases for most current employees and a 5.5% bump for entry-level firefighters.
• Years 2 through 4 deliver a cumulative 10.5% in raises, applied as 3%, 3.5% and 4%.
• The agreement phases in the reduced “Austin Schedule” to a 49.8-hour average week, requires hiring additional full-time firefighters, and uses a temporary 53-hour schedule for 18 months before full implementation in October 2027.
• The pact also allows flexible hiring of already-certified firefighters and a streamlined promotions process, and the city says Austin would be the first major Texas metro to move toward this schedule.