San Antonio firefighters get 21.3% raises in deal struck after 13-hour bargaining session
Having 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
Firefighter 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
Following 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 โnuclearโ option, San Antonio council members get their meetings on fire contract, city attorney suitability
Following a public blow-up that included calling to possibly oust the city attorney, some San Antonio City Council members will get the meetings theyโve been demanding.
San Antonio council members flout mayor, demand meeting on stalled fire contract talks
After 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
After eight bargaining sessions over the past five weeks, the two sides canโt 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
The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association proposed a series of bumps that would raise firefighter salaries 37.5% by October 2026. The cityโs proposal would raise base pay 21.7% by January 2029.
Fire union says cityโs 21.7% raise offer isnโt enough
As 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 isnโt clear.
No sparks as city and fire union officials begin contract talks
With 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
The 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
The 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
Council membersโ approval is all thatโs 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
San 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 officersโ pay by nearly 16% over four years.
City of San Antonio, police union negotiators reach agreement on contract
The deal includes various changes to officer disciplinary processes, including an attempt to limit an arbitratorโs 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
After 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
The City of San Antonio and San Antonio Police Officerโs Association (SAPOA) met Tuesday for the 28th time since their first sit-down on February 12. The two sides say theyโve made progress toward hammering out a new contract, but details on discipline, pay, and other issues remain.
![San Antonio police union negotiator: โProbably more than likelyโ current contract goes to evergreen before new deal finished](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/kuGNgkPRlU9icLiDlMtsKDK-Lzo=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-20-2021/t_f9b4ad757d7142368930f472ff83c5d9_name_image.jpg)
San Antonio police union negotiator: โProbably more than likelyโ current contract goes to evergreen before new deal finished
As the end of itโs current five-year contract looms just 41 days away, the head of the negotiating team for San Antonioโs police union says itโs โprobably more than likelyโ that they wonโt have a new contract done before then.
![Police union wonโt rule out pre-election contract; few straight answers from council members if theyโd vote on it](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/LeB41s6kUZ5DCKg_Jx54K1vFdno=/2048x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/03-23-2021/t_5b6874831e8f44048e11eab64f224834_name_image.jpg)
Police union wonโt rule out pre-election contract; few straight answers from council members if theyโd vote on it
And 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. Thatโs 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. AdItโs true that considering a pre-election police contract would put council members in a tight spot. KSAT contacted each council memberโs 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](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/H-V8O79zxQFgzESJS4Fz9CFljNM=/2048x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/03-23-2021/t_43bc11d274904656803caadf8becf3d4_name_image.jpg)
SAPOA president, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg meet before collective bargaining vote
SAN ANTONIO โ 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. โThe mayor reiterated his support for collective bargaining. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and I are both committed to working together for a safe, stronger, San Antonio,โ Diaz said in the press release. Voters will be able to vote on Proposition B in May, which would repeal the police departmentโs 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?](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/jWGyi2kPisMi0D4ARMy5NPoh-rM=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/03-17-2021/t_c82a6977278c4cd4966104e7060ca5a3_name_image.jpg)
A look at Prop B: What happens if police bargaining power is repealed?
The debate over whether to repeal San Antonio police officersโ 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](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/4Ss7WW2NN2SMvGCThTtLDeKCxNM=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/03-13-2021/t_23a790a29057416fbf7aace224072c54_name_image.jpg)
City and police union face divide on discipline and dollars in contract talks
SAN ANTONIO โ EDITORโS NOTE: In the video for this story, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez is incorrectly titled Assistant City Manager. โThat is the area that we are the furthest apart,โ said Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez, who is the cityโs 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](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/M0jVN-fO4hP9FZBzBbL89YQYzOY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-12-2021/t_7d6a1c765bd34cbcaf791cb67db5976b_name_image.jpg)
Video, police reports, social media reveals tension between San Antonio police union and Fix SAPD reform group
The May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked international protests, including weeks of demonstrations in San Antonio. Just yelling, yelling in their faces,โ 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.โAdโ(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.