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 sick‑leave buyback — to fund 54 additional full‑time firefighter positions. The city plans to add 22 FTEs in year one and 32 FTEs in year two to reach that total.

Stevens outlined targeted pay adjustments aimed at improving recruitment: the contract raises the entry‑level step (step 0) and stages additional across‑the‑board increases in years two through four. She gave the projected four‑year cost as $63,000,000 with a year‑one cost of $5,913,706 and said pay raises and monetary items become effective the pay period beginning Jan. 11, 2026; a lump‑sum payment of $1,100 per firefighter will cover the interim period through Jan. 10, 2026.

Council members pressed staff on fiscal and operational questions. Carrie Lang, director of budget and organizational excellence, said the contract was included in the city's financial forecast and that the budget team will monitor overtime monthly, make administrative adjustments as needed this fiscal year, and plan for future budgets so the agreement remains within current assumptions. Chief Financial Officer Ed Vannino said the contract intentionally leaves the designation of a "severe financial crisis" to the CFO's judgment rather than a fixed numerical trigger and cited the 2008–09 revenue collapse as an example of circumstances that would likely warrant such a declaration.

On risks tied to temporary reductions in service (commonly termed "brownouts" or "blackouts"), Stevens said the contract includes a joint labor‑management process: a committee of three city representatives and three AFA representatives must convene to consider closures, and any subsequent decisions would be presented as a public advisory item to council with reasons and implementation details.

Assistant Chief Tom Bokey said the new schedule and improved pay should aid recruitment and retention; he outlined plans to run three cadet classes before the Oct. 1, 2027 implementation date to help staff the new schedule.

Members of the AFA, including outgoing president Bob Nicks and president‑elect David Gerard, spoke in support during public comment and at the post‑meeting signing ceremony. Nicks said the agreement "keeps neighborhood fire stations open" and provides a framework to address true emergencies.

After deliberation, the council adopted the tentative agreement (item 1). It then approved item 2, an ordinance amending the general fund operating budget to fund the agreement, and item 3, an ordinance increasing authorized strength consistent with the FTE additions required by the contract. The motions were adopted by council action; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

What happens next: the contract takes effect as outlined above and the city will begin budgeting and hiring to phase in the additional positions. Council and staff said they will track implementation metrics — including overtime trends, recruitment outcomes and response times — as the agreement is carried out.

Sources and attribution: quotes and details in this report come from the Dec. 18, 2025 Austin City Council special called meeting transcript and on‑record remarks by City Manager Bridal, Roxy Stevens (deputy labor relations officer), Carrie Lang (director of budget and organizational excellence), Chief Financial Officer Ed Vannino, Assistant Chief Tom Bokey and AFA leadership Bob Nicks and David Gerard.