Austin firefighters have overwhelmingly rejected a new labor contract negotiated with city officials over seven months of meetings this year. With just more than 78% of union members voting on the contract, 582 firefighters voted against adopting the document while just 160 voted in favor.
Under the new contract, firefighters would have received raises beginning next year and would have a commitment from the city to fully fund retirees’ pensions, says City Council Member Mike Martinez, a former firefighter. But members rejected the agreement amid concerns that a specific clause could lower hiring standards and place both firefighters and the public at risk.
Under the negotiated agreement, the incoming fire chief, Rhoda Mae Kerr, would have been given flexibility to attract a more diverse field of firefighter candidates, says Martinez. Indeed, diversifying the Austin Fire Department has long been a goal for city officials: AFD was under a federal decree over hiring issues until 1982, and things have not appreciably improved since then. Currently, with more than 1,000 employees, there are still only 50 women, 50 African-Americans, and just more than 100 Hispanic firefighters, notes Martinez.
It seems, however, that the new hiring provision has been interpreted by some union members to mean that the chief would have the power to weaken the skills requirements that firefighter recruits must demonstrate, thus weakening the department as a whole. Martinez denies that would happen, because state law, not employment contracts, mandates requirements for firefighter skills.
In a press statement, City Manager Marc Ott said he was “disappointed that this contract was not approved.” The city “diligently worked in good faith to negotiate and create a contract that was beneficial for both sides,” he said. The contract would have “represented our continued commitment” to the city’s firefighters (including pay and benefits – at present, AFD firefighters are the highest paid in Texas, Ott notes).
With the contract axed, firefighters will continue to work under state civil service law, and their wages will be set by city officials. Whether there will be a second chance for a new contract remains to be seen – at present, Ott does not appear inclined to head back to the bargaining table. “I have been advised by the city’s legal counsel that we have fulfilled our statutory obligation for collective bargaining this fiscal year,” he said, “and I will recommend to the City Council that we do not engage in negotiations in the near future.”
This article appears in December 5 • 2008.