During a Tuesday meeting, Travis County employees raised grievances related to staff’s presentation of possible adjustments to the county’s pay scale in the FY25-26 budget, including a “modernization” proposal that would designate employees either exempt or non-exempt. Staff says this structural change is necessary to address the county’s issues retaining talent. The difference between exempt […]
AFSCME
This is the union for municipal workers. Locally, Austin regional chapter 1624, dates to 1969.
Posted inPolice
Council weighs financial impact of proposed police contract
As City Council weighs approval of a proposed police contract expected to cost $218 million over five years, city budget staff on Tuesday presented a brighter financial outlook compared to the dire projections given earlier this year. At Tuesday’s work session, there were no warnings of a $60 million budget deficit by 2029. Budget Officer […]
Posted inCity Hall
City releases new telework standards for its employees
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has issued a telework policy for city employees. In a Friday memo, Garza explained that a new standards will, in general, allow for 50 percent telework within a two-week pay period. All executives will continue to work in the office during the work week, as will front-line operational staff like […]
Posted inCity Hall
City manager delays controversial new telework policy
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza is delaying implementation of a controversial new telework policy that will require most city employees to work in the office at least three days per week. In a July 19 email, interim Human Resources Director Rebecca Kennedy announced the policy’s start will be delayed to Jan. 1. “As the City […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental boards push for telework policy for city employees
Two city environmental panels have approved resolutions asking City Council to direct interim City Manager Jesús Garza to reconsider his proposed policy requiring most employees to do their jobs at the office three days a week. Both the Environmental Commission and the Joint Sustainability Committee have recommended that employees be allowed to work from home […]
Posted inTravis County
As city ends remote and telework opportunities, county receives national recognition for its remote work initiative
The National Association of Counties honored Travis County for its remote work program this week, which aimed to make 75 percent of eligible jobs at the county remote. Travis County’s initiative launched at the beginning of the pandemic in May 2020, meaning it has received recognition from NACo just three years later. On Tuesday, the […]
Posted inCity Hall
Manager, AFSCME at odds over mandates to return to offices
The Covid-19 public health emergency officially ended on Thursday and interim City Manager Jesús Garza wasted no time in telling city employees that they need to spend a lot more time in the office now – no less than three days a week for most and five days a week for executives. Garza sent a […]
Posted inCity Hall
City to start major push to recruit employees
The city of Austin announced Monday that it would begin a major campaign this week to promote difficult-to-fill jobs. Worker shortages have been particularly noticeable within Austin-Travis County EMS and the police department. According to information provided by Deborah Jennings in the Human Resources Department, the city currently has 16,316 employees, compared to 16,352 in […]
Posted inBudget
City must raise wages to $22/hour, working group says
Members of the city’s living wage work group urged City Council Tuesday to raise the city’s living wage to $22 an hour for the upcoming fiscal year. They said the wage should apply to all regular and temporary city employees except employees of the summer youth program, regardless of position or number of hours worked. […]
Posted inCity Hall
Unions line up to oppose ‘strong mayor’ plan
Fifteen community leaders, including nine representing labor unions, have written to Andrew Allison, the chair of a political action committee behind a suite of proposed charter amendments that would remake Austin city government, asking him to end his campaign to institute a so-called strong mayor form of government. The PAC is called Austinites for Progressive […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit update shows progress on city HR complaints, with more work needed
The city’s Human Resources Department has made some progress on achieving the recommendations outlined in a 2017 report that found the city was taking too long to investigate complaints brought by city employees. The report, from Matrix Consulting Group, also found the city lacked proper training to prevent instances of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. In […]
Posted inCity Charter
Should the auditor’s office be exempt from municipal civil service?
Having an independent auditor’s office is integral to running a city where checks and balances fulfill their intended function. Independence, however, is not always easy to maintain, and in Austin, the Office of the City Auditor is working to balance its autonomy with still allowing its employees access to city-based benefits. On March 5, Jason […]