The overview
Under the terms of the agreement, firefighters would receive a 20% wage increase over three years, including a 7% wage increase in fiscal year 2024-25, 8% in FY 2025-26 and 5% in FY 2026-27. The total cost of the contract is $109.6 million over three years.
According to city documents, city officials and the union have met 13 times since negotiations began on Feb. 29. This is the first time city officials and the fire union have agreed on terms of a contract since 2009.
“This is a good contract,” San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh said in a news release. “It provides wages that would keep our firefighters among the best paid in the state. That was our goal, and we achieved that goal.”
In addition to increasing firefighters’ wages, the contract enhances the city’s process for promotions, provides more accountability in the city’s sick leave process and offers firefighters a more robust parental leave benefit, according to city documents.
Quote of note
“This tentative agreement demonstrates that we are writing a new chapter for labor relations within the city organization. I am thrilled that we were able to reach this point in a professional and timely manner,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.
What’s next
Before the tentative agreement is finalized, union members must ratify the terms and the San Antonio City Council must approve the contract.
