Tentative agreement reached between police union, City of Austin on new labor contract

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Negotiators from the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year labor contract, city manager T.C. Broadnax announced Monday.

The new agreement will still require approval by the APA membership as well as the Austin City Council before it can go into effect. Council members are expected to take up the agreement in their October 10 meeting.

"When I joined the City of Austin in May, I made it clear that one of my top priorities was to finalize a new contract between the City and the Austin Police Association," Broadnax said in a statement. "I am proud to have achieved such a significant accomplishment at this point."

The agreement includes an across-the-board pay increase for Austin Police officers, adding up to 28 percent over a five year period. Base pay will increase by 8 percent in the first year, 6 percent in the second year, 5 percent in years three and four, and 4 percent in the last year of the agreement. The total value of the pay increases is $217.8 million over the five year term.

The city is expected to publicly release a copy of the tentative agreement on Thursday, ahead of City Council's review. Unlike in previous negotiations, both sides agreed to hold back draft versions of the agreement during the negotiation phase.

"This Tentative Agreement includes meaningful investments in officer pay and benefits that will be invaluable as we seek to recruit and retain the best law enforcement officers in the country,” said new Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, who joined the department as chief earlier this month. "I am proud to be serving in a City that values and prioritizes public safety, and not only believes in but is also committed to transparency and community engagement."

If approved, the agreement will bring Austin's police officers under a contract for the first time in nearly a year and a half. Negotiators had reached an agreement on a four-year deal in 2023, but Council declined to consider that agreement - an agreement that ultimately contributed to the firing of former City Manager Spencer Cronk. Both sides came back to the table earlier this year, with a renewed focus on reaching an agreement.

According to the city's statement, the new agreement "achieves additional aspects of oversight and accountability" including a process for the Office of Police Oversight to consider anonymous complaints and an extension of the disciplinary timeline. "The agreement acknowledges other key aspects of the Austin Police Oversight Act including the elimination of confidential police personnel files and the implementation of the Community Police Review Commission," the statement continues.

“It’s a new day for our officers with the Austin Police Department as I am hopeful our Austin Police Association members will understand the City’s support of them, particularly as it relates to pay and benefits,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “I’ve stood firm in saying that a long-term contract is in the best interest of our community, as well as for our officers, to ensure we can fill vacancies as well as retain officers. This agreement achieves those goals and more – it also represents a new day for police oversight. The measures agreed to in this contract are a first for the State of Texas, if not the nation. I am pleased to see the outcome of the work that the APA and our City’s negotiation team have achieved through what I believe is a historic agreement.”