An unusual firefighter contract
The union agrees to drop its campaign.
As part of a "tentative" agreement reached with the city, the Austin Firefighters Association will abandon a ballot initiative to prohibit the city from reducing its firefighting force.
In a statement, union president Bob Nicks said the tentative contract, which still needs to be approved by union members and City Council, accomplishes nearly the same goal as the SAFER AUSTIN city charter amendment the union has been campaigning for.
The underlying concern for firefighters is that City Council, faced with budget constraints, might repeal the 2018 requirement that every fire apparatus be staffed by four firefighters at all times. The SAFER AUSTIN amendment, which voters would decide on in May, would not only permanently require four-person staffing but would bar the city from shutting down or reducing hours of operation at any fire stations.
