Austin firefighters are set to receive a pay bump, a shortened work week and another paid holiday off as the city and Austin Firefighters Association entered a new labor agreement Sept. 8.
The arbitration agreement—a legally binding contract settled by a third party—went into effect immediately and runs through Sept. 30, 2025.
The agreement includes:
- Base wage increases of 4% for fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25
- A one-time payment equal to 2% annual base pay, plus additional pay for the lack of increased base pay in FY 2022-23
- Adding Juneteenth as a paid day off
- Shortening firefighters' work week by one hour
- Ending random drug testing and post-accident drug testing. Firefighters who have a cannabis prescription, are using it appropriately and not impaired on the job will not be disciplined.
The agreement ended over 14 months of negotiations between the city and AFA, the labor union that supports Austin firefighters; however, Austin firefighters are saying the new contract isn’t enough.
