As with last month’s meeting of the Public Safety Commission, Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano had little to report regarding the nationwide search for a new chief of Austin-Travis County Emergency Services. At Monday’s commission meeting, Arellano reported there were 37 people who applied for the position to replace former EMS Chief Ernesto Rodriguez, who […]
Austin/Travis County EMS Association
The employee association for those who work for Austin/Travis County EMS.
Posted inEMS
Alter, Tovo find more funds for EMS
As a result of budget amendments provided by City Council members Alison Alter and Kathie Tovo, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services will gain a new deputy medical director and three paramedic practitioners beginning in November. In addition, three EMS division chiefs and three new coordinators for the Office of the Chief Medical Officer are expected […]
Posted inFire
Alter finds funding for more EMS, fire services
When City Council Member Alison Alter heard that the Loop 360/Davenport Fire and EMS Station would not be opening in Fiscal Year 2022 as planned, she thought of how savings from that station could be used to help the Austin Fire Department and Austin Travis County EMS. She laid out a plan for use of […]
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 inPublic Safety
Public Safety Commission gives EMS a boost, criticizes APD
On Monday the city’s Public Safety Commission unanimously recommended an additional $2.3 million for Austin-Travis County EMS to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, while rejecting almost every request from the police department for additional funding. The commission also voted to recommend $3.8 million for overtime at the Austin Fire Department, $818,000 for an additional cadet […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Low morale in Austin’s public safety departments requires attention
The Public Safety Commission heard a variety of concerns at its Oct. 1 meeting in regards to the chronic low morale that public safety officers are experiencing within their respective departments. “It is pretty unanimous the officers are really getting tired of it,” said Commissioner Preston Tyree, who co-sponsored the discussion topic on the commission’s […]
Posted inEMS
Council OKs short-term EMS contract
City Council approved without comment a six-month contract with the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association on Thursday that essentially duplicates their previous contract. Members of the union approved the contract in voting that ended Wednesday night. Between now and the end of September, the two sides will try to negotiate a long-term contract. […]
Posted inEMS
EMS union urges city not to forget it
The union that represents the city’s paramedics is urging the city to come to the bargaining table and approve a new contract that will offer ambulance workers what it describes as a much-deserved 2 percent pay raise. Tony Marquardt, president of the Austin-Travis County EMS Employee Association, told the Public Safety Commission on Monday that […]
Posted inEMS
City, EMS labor negotiations likely to continue
Even though its negotiating team declared an impasse with the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association last week, City Council appears prepared to direct staff to resume negotiations, but not immediately. Council members Ann Kitchen, Delia Garza, Leslie Pool and Mayor Steve Adler are sponsoring a resolution this week directing the city manager to […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Little known on when public safety contract negotiations will start
Two of the city’s three public safety unions are willing to consider a one-year extension of their contracts with the city – but it might not be as simple as giving the go-ahead. Although negotiations for new contracts are set for spring 2017, City Council has said it wants to wait until a new city […]
Posted inEMS, Public Safety
Council devises short-term fix for EMS staffing
The union representing Austin emergency medical service workers won a partial victory last week when City Council voted to approve three new positions for the EMS call center. Three entry-level employees will be added to the center, and the department has agreed to try to fill three positions reserved for more experienced employees that it […]