EMS and city reach tentative contract agreement

Though it’s not yet official, Austin EMS Association members and City Council now have a contract to vote on. The proposed contract, which will be effective for one year if approved, includes starting pay of $22/hour for EMTs and $30.03/hour for paramedics. Current employees would receive raises ranging from 4 to 11.2 percent, dependent on position and tenure. Negotiations for the new contract began in November, and have largely focused on wages; an initial offer that would raise new medic pay by 14 cents an hour was loudly rejected. In a statement to the press, Emergency Medical Services chief Robert Luckritz said, “I am very pleased that the city and EMS Association have come to a tentative agreement. This agreement will allow us to continue to focus on recruitment and retention of our sworn staff through improvement of their quality of life, while helping us enhance the already exceptional care provided by our Austin-Travis County EMS clinicians to the residents and visitors of Austin and Travis County.” After a vote by the union, Council is expected to vote on the contract on Sept. 1. If both parties approve it, the contract will go into effect.