City Officials Express Gratitude for New Fire Union Contract

February 15, 2020 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada - Political Columnist, San Antonio Sentinel

On Thursday, an arbitration panel issued a final award in the matter of the City of San Antonio’s collective bargaining agreement with the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Union. 

The panel is made up of retired Judge John J. Specia, Jr., local attorney Phil Pfeiffer and labor lawyer Mike Tedesco. The panel’s decision is binding, which means that neither the City Council nor the Fire Union’s members will vote on the final award. 

In July of 2019, the Fire Union unilaterally declared impasse and called for arbitration. Under the terms of Proposition C, the arbitration panel was required to consider a variety of factors including comparable compensation and conditions for firefighters in other cities, the cost of living and, of course, the actual revenues available to the City of San Antonio and impact of any arbitration ruling on local taxpayers.  

Mayor Ron Nirenberg commended City Manager Erik Walsh and his team along with members of San Antonio’s city council for working together during what he called “a difficult process. This is an opportunity to set aside the conflicts that have consumed our community and frayed relationships over the last six years,” he said, adding that he believes the City works best when City Hall and first responders work together as a team. “We intend to take this opportunity for a fresh start and move forward.”

Walsh said he believed the arbitration panel reached an award that was fair to both firefighters and taxpayers. “The award allows the City to appropriately balance the cost of public safety with other City Council and community priorities,” he said. “This award keeps San Antonio firefighters among the best compensated in the state, and it is well deserved.” 

He also acknowledged the firefighters’ dedication to serving their community every day, and called the organization “one of the best fire departments in the country.”

Walsh and some council members praised the arbitrators who had the tough job of weighing the evidence and the testimony that was provided during the arbitration hearing. The city manager particularly appreciated that both parties demonstrated professionalism during the process. 

Walsh hopes that this would be the first and only time that the City and its public safely unions would use binding arbitration to reach a collective bargaining agreement. “We would prefer to negotiate contracts with our public safety unions at the bargaining table,” he said. “We hope this new collective bargaining agreement can move us forward to a positive working relationship with the fire union.

“I’m glad we’ve come to a point where we can put this matter behind us,” said District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, who welcomed the contract. “Our city has needed this resolution for far too long. Let’s go forward now in a spirit of cooperation.” 

“Frankly, it’s about time,” said District 10 Councilmember Clayton Perry, who expressed disappointment that “it took unnecessary spending of our residents’ dollars and nearly six years to secure a contract. It is my hope moving forward that a lesson has been learned as we begin the discussions regarding the police contract, which expires next year.” 

“We all want the best for the city that we love,” said District 3 Councilmember Rebecca Viagran, who is serving her fourth and final term on the dais. “Today, I am glad that we are finally able to resolve conflicts and close this chapter in arbitration together. We appreciate and are grateful to our firefighters and first responders for putting their lives on the line for us every day,” she said. “We now have a collective bargaining agreement and can move forward together as a city, safely and responsibly.”

District 7 Councilmember Ana Sandoval was also pleased that the fire union contract is settled for the next few years. “I appreciate that the arbitrators settled on a balanced contract that protects the health of our firefighters and awards them with much needed raises while remaining fair to San Antonio’s taxpayers,” she said, adding that what was most important was that San Antonians are safe, and that first responders are taken care of, and the City remains fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.

“This contract ensures all three of those objectives are met,” she said.

The City’s contract with San Antonio’s firefighters is effective immediately and will expire on December 31, 2024.

Jade Esteban Estrada covers politics for the San Antonio Sentinel. Email him at jade@sasentinel.com.