AUSTIN, Texas — An ordinance aimed at extending the pay package for Austin police officers is set to be voted on Feb. 1.
It also includes a controversial bonus to lure the Austin Police Association (APA) back to the bargaining table for contract negotiations after a yearlong stalemate.
According to the recommendation for action sheet from Austin leaders, the key elements show:
- Increased Field Training Officer pay from $170 per month to $245 per month
- Maintaining base pay and other pay and benefits at current levels
- Continuing an incentive program for police cadets
- Creating incentives for the APA to engage in substantive meet-and-confer negotiations and to reach a meet-and-confer agreement with the City
The last bullet is the bonus in question, which according to Mayor Kirk Watson would, "Provide each officer a $500 bonus if APA comes to the table and another $2,500 bonus if a contract is completed by June 30."
But APA President Michael Bullock said before negotiations restart, other issues need to be addressed and more conversations need to be had among one another.
"The continuation of these benefits are important and it helps us bring some semblance of stability," Bullock said. "If the City is vested in showing officers that they are valued and they are supported in the work that they're doing, then they need to look at other ways beyond a contract that they can accomplish that."
Bullock also listed the Austin Police Department's (APD) need for better infrastructure, a way to reduce overcrowding at substations, a lack of parking at APD's main headquarters and the need for a better training facility.
KVUE reached out to the mayor's office on Friday and received the following statement:
“We all agree the best way for us to attract and retain police officers is for us to get to a long-term contract. My hope is that the Austin Police Association will come back to the table and negotiate a contract. In the meantime, we need our APD officers to know they are supported and protected. That’s what this resolution does— even in absence of a contract.”
The City and APA have been stalled over police contract negotiations for nearly a year. It was only in February 2023 when a stopgap measure was passed by city leaders to keep officer pay and benefits and police oversight in place.
However, city leaders and APA hit a roadblock when Equity Action filed a lawsuit against the City for not fully implementing the Police Oversight Act known as Prop A, which was overwhelmingly passed in May 2023 by voters.
The main focus was expanding access to the G-file, which contains personnel information of officers' allegations and misconduct.
"The reality is the challenge that that lawsuit presents and the facts of that case have a direct implication on officers. So one way or the other, we're going to have to have the answers to those questions, in my opinion," Bullock said.
Watson stated that the G-file would not be part of future labor contracts regardless of the court ruling.
"Austin voters have already provided the guidance. They said no G-file. So, regardless of the court ruling, if we’re going to have the thing we all agree is the most important thing for getting more police – a contract – the contract can’t allow for a G-file," Watson said.
Kathy Mitchell, senior advisor for Equity Action, echoed that statement.
"They can't pass a contract that doesn't have the transparency, oversight and accountability that voters passed," Mitchell said.
Mitchell also pointed to the bonus to bring APA back to the table.
"We don't really understand why that is necessary. It doesn't make sense," Mitchell said. "Paying them to come to the bargaining table is a little weird."
While Bullock is uncertain when the union will return to the bargaining table, he does feel confident the end is near.
"I think we're getting closer. I really do. But we're just not quite there yet," Bullock said.
The stopgap measure expires on March 31.