Austin City Council approves four-year contract with firefighters, preserves four‑person staffing

AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council unanimously adopted a four‑year collective bargaining agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association on Dec. 18, approving pay increases, a new shift schedule to begin in 2027 and measures intended to preserve four‑person staffing across apparatus.

City Manager Bridal introduced the tentative agreement and said the city will maintain the mandatory four‑person staffing ordinance through mutual agreement with the AFA in exchange for the union withdrawing its charter petition. Roxy Stevens, deputy labor relations officer, described the contract as a "true and complete agreement" through Sept. 2029 and walked council through its principal elements.

The contract phases an "Austin schedule" beginning in the third year that Stevens described as a 1‑3‑2‑3 cycle (one day on, three off; two days on, three off) with an alternative 24/48 shift available by request for hardship. Stevens said the agreement reduces the average work week to about 49.8 hours in year three, and the AFA agreed to cost‑sharing measures — including returning two Kelly days and suspending a…