City labor relations office outlines public‑safety bargaining and contract timelines

Roxanna Stevens, Deputy Chief and Deputy Labor Relations Officer, briefed the Public Safety Committee on March 31 on the role and recent activity of the City of Austin Labor Relations Office.

Stevens said the office negotiates and implements public‑safety labor agreements under the authority of the city manager, administers contract compliance, and provides alternative dispute resolution services for non‑sworn municipal employees. She said the office was created in February 2009 to negotiate and administer contracts for public‑safety unions and to assist departments with investigations and mediations.

Current contract status: Stevens listed active public‑safety agreements in effect at the time of the briefing: the Austin EMS Association agreement effective Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2027 (amended July 18, 2024 to integrate the office of the chief medical officer and to make paramedic practitioners sworn EMS personnel); the Austin Police Association agreement ratified Oct. 29, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2029; and the Austin Firefighters Association arbitration award dated Sept. 8, 2023 effective through Sept. 30, 2025. She said the office is preparing to negotiate a new fire contract before the Sept. 30, 2025 expiration.

Stevens described the office’s role in implementation after contract ratification, including cross‑departmental implementation meetings with HR, budget and department leadership, audit of contract compliance, and early dispute resolution efforts to avoid formal appeals.

Ending: Stevens said the office provides ombudsman services for municipal civil‑service appeals and offers mediation and facilitated resolution options for non‑sworn employees; committee members had no further questions at the end of the briefing.