Fort Worth and Local 440 reach MOU for MedStar transition; council to consider agreement Jan. 28

Fort Worth city negotiators and Local 440 reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering the transition of MedStar Emergency Medical Services (EMS) employees into the Fort Worth Fire Department and the city’s civil service structure, city staff said during the Jan. 14 work session.

The MOU, which city staff said the union’s membership already ratified, governs EMTs, paramedics and telecommunicators moving to the city and is intended to align EMS bargaining with the city’s existing fire collective bargaining cycle. City staff told council the MOU is effective July 1, 2025 — the day the transition is planned to conclude — and that the council will consider a Municipal Order (M&C) to approve the agreement at the Jan. 28 work session.

Why it matters: The agreement creates a promotional and rank structure for newly city‑employed EMS personnel, sets operational targets and lays out a two‑year financial framework staff said is needed to implement the change. Council members and staff said they are focused on ensuring service continuity, employee payroll accuracy and long‑term funding for EMS operations.

Ke…