INSIDER
San Antonio firefighters overwhelmingly approve new contract with 21.3% raises
Read full article: San Antonio firefighters overwhelmingly approve new contract with 21.3% raisesRoughly 76% of the union membership voted on the contract, which passed with 97% approval. Only 35 of the 1,363 members who cast a ballot voted against it.
San Antonio firefighters get 21.3% raises in deal struck after 13-hour bargaining session
Read full article: San Antonio firefighters get 21.3% raises in deal struck after 13-hour bargaining sessionHaving negotiated since late March, bargaining teams for the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association shook hands on a new contract just before midnight Saturday.
City races the clock, fire union fights its past as contract negotiations inch forward
Read full article: City races the clock, fire union fights its past as contract negotiations inch forwardFirefighter wages and overtime pay appear to be some of the biggest sticking points as the city and fire union extended their negotiations again on Tuesday.
Fire contract controversy fizzles out with closed-door discussion
Read full article: Fire contract controversy fizzles out with closed-door discussionFollowing a week of back-and-forth discussions over transparency, leaks, and the fitness of the city attorney, San Antonio City Council members ended up discussing the stalled contract negotiations behind closed doors, just as nearly half of them had already asked.
After using ‘nuclear’ option, San Antonio council members get their meetings on fire contract, city attorney suitability
Read full article: After using ‘nuclear’ option, San Antonio council members get their meetings on fire contract, city attorney suitabilityFollowing a public blow-up that included calling to possibly oust the city attorney, some San Antonio City Council members will get the meetings they’ve been demanding.
San Antonio council members flout mayor, demand meeting on stalled fire contract talks
Read full article: San Antonio council members flout mayor, demand meeting on stalled fire contract talksAfter Mayor Ron Nirenberg refused to allow a discussion behind closed doors of the ongoing fire contract negotiations, half the city council joined together to force his hand. But it's not clear if they will get the meeting they want.
Fire contract talks stall again; city negotiators want to bring in a mediator
Read full article: Fire contract talks stall again; city negotiators want to bring in a mediatorAfter eight bargaining sessions over the past five weeks, the two sides can’t even remain at the same table, and city negotiators have suggested bringing in a mediator to facilitate further talks.
Fire union asks San Antonio for 37.5% raise over 3 years
Read full article: Fire union asks San Antonio for 37.5% raise over 3 yearsThe San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association proposed a series of bumps that would raise firefighter salaries 37.5% by October 2026. The city’s proposal would raise base pay 21.7% by January 2029.
Fire union says city’s 21.7% raise offer isn’t enough
Read full article: Fire union says city’s 21.7% raise offer isn’t enoughAs it begins negotiating a new contract with the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association has a burning desire to deliver a big payday to its members. But exactly how big still isn’t clear.
No sparks as city and fire union officials begin contract talks
Read full article: No sparks as city and fire union officials begin contract talksWith new faces at the helm of both the city and fire union, both sides are optimistic that they'll be able to bargain this time instead of battling over a new contract.
San Antonio fire union president says contract talks should be departure from past acrimony
Read full article: San Antonio fire union president says contract talks should be departure from past acrimonyThe new head of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association hopes its battles with the City of San Antonio are behind them. The union hopes to make up lost ground on firefighter pay when contract negotiations start Thursday.
San Antonio City Council passes discipline-focused police union contract
Read full article: San Antonio City Council passes discipline-focused police union contractThe San Antonio City Council approved a new contract for San Antonio Police officers Thursday in a 8-3 vote, immediately putting the new contract into effect.
City Council to vote Thursday on new police union contract
Read full article: City Council to vote Thursday on new police union contractCouncil members’ approval is all that’s needed to implement the contract, which would last through September 2026. It includes changes to officer discipline procedures and would raise officer pay by nearly 16%.
Police union ratifies new contract; deal still requires city council approval
Read full article: Police union ratifies new contract; deal still requires city council approvalSan Antonio Police officers have approved a new union contract that would make it harder for fired cops to get their jobs back, but would also raise officers’ pay by nearly 16% over four years.
City of San Antonio, police union negotiators reach agreement on contract
Read full article: City of San Antonio, police union negotiators reach agreement on contractThe deal includes various changes to officer disciplinary processes, including an attempt to limit an arbitrator’s power to reinstate fired cops. It also 15 percent in annual raises through FY 2026, along with a 2 percent lump sum payment to officers at the start.
City & police union approach one year of negotiations, possibly a deal
Read full article: City & police union approach one year of negotiations, possibly a dealAfter 30 sit-downs, the contract negotiations between the City of San Antonio and the union representing San Antonio Police officers are approaching the one-year mark.
No police union contract for Christmas
Read full article: No police union contract for ChristmasThe City of San Antonio and San Antonio Police Officer’s Association (SAPOA) met Tuesday for the 28th time since their first sit-down on February 12. The two sides say they’ve made progress toward hammering out a new contract, but details on discipline, pay, and other issues remain.
San Antonio police union negotiator: ‘Probably more than likely’ current contract goes to evergreen before new deal finished
Read full article: San Antonio police union negotiator: ‘Probably more than likely’ current contract goes to evergreen before new deal finishedAs the end of it’s current five-year contract looms just 41 days away, the head of the negotiating team for San Antonio’s police union says it’s “probably more than likely” that they won’t have a new contract done before then.
Police union won’t rule out pre-election contract; few straight answers from council members if they’d vote on it
Read full article: Police union won’t rule out pre-election contract; few straight answers from council members if they’d vote on itAnd it appears possible that, depending on the terms, there could be enough council members willing to vote on such a deal ahead of the election. That’s when the city council is scheduled to canvas the election results and make them official. The union has expressed doubt that council members would be willing to vote on a deal while the election is happening. AdIt’s true that considering a pre-election police contract would put council members in a tight spot. KSAT contacted each council member’s office to ask about their willingness to vote on a contract before voters make their decision on Proposition B.
SAPOA president, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg meet before collective bargaining vote
Read full article: SAPOA president, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg meet before collective bargaining voteSAN ANTONIO – In an update in the ongoing contract negotiations between the city and the San Antonio Police Officers Association, Mayor Ron Nirenberg met with the president of the police union on Monday. “The mayor reiterated his support for collective bargaining. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and I are both committed to working together for a safe, stronger, San Antonio,” Diaz said in the press release. Voters will be able to vote on Proposition B in May, which would repeal the police department’s collective bargaining rights if approved. AdThe SAPOA has urged voters to oppose Prop B, calling it a threat and a form of defunding.
A look at Prop B: What happens if police bargaining power is repealed?
Read full article: A look at Prop B: What happens if police bargaining power is repealed?The debate over whether to repeal San Antonio police officers’ collective bargaining power is already in full swing, but what would the passage of Proposition B on May 1 actually do?
City and police union face divide on discipline and dollars in contract talks
Read full article: City and police union face divide on discipline and dollars in contract talksSAN ANTONIO – EDITOR’S NOTE: In the video for this story, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez is incorrectly titled Assistant City Manager. “That is the area that we are the furthest apart,” said Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez, who is the city’s lead negotiator. However, if non-sworn city employees get raises larger than 4% during the final, the union wants its members to get them, too. It also wants the city to match any raises above 12% that the fire union gets in its next contract. The union wants that to go down to 2% increases.
Video, police reports, social media reveals tension between San Antonio police union and Fix SAPD reform group
Read full article: Video, police reports, social media reveals tension between San Antonio police union and Fix SAPD reform groupThe May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked international protests, including weeks of demonstrations in San Antonio. Just yelling, yelling in their faces,” said Fix SAPD Deputy Director Ananda Tomas, who added that it was far from an isolated incident. It impacts us in a great way when we have a bully that just will not let San Antonio be, will not let San Antonio speak.”Ad“(SAPOA is) a club. Back SA Blue social media accounts have used pictures of Fix SAPD petitioners in many of their posts. Martin said any repeal measures pushed by Fix SAPD would only apply to SAPD, and not to other first responders in San Antonio.