AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin residents got a better look at the tentative five-year labor agreement between the city of Austin and the Austin Police Association at a council work session on Tuesday.
The proposed contract includes a 28% pay raise for officers over the course of five years, changes to the department's hiring process and more transparency to comply with the Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA). Voters approved that act back in May 2023.
One of the sticking points throughout the negotiations was the "g-file," a confidential file containing unsubstantiated complaints against police officers. The tentative agreement bans keeping these kinds of confidential personnel files. Any documentation of officer misconduct will be available through public information requests, even if the incident happened before the agreement goes into effect.
"So currently, the city does not maintain g-files for discipline," said Sarah Griffin, Austin's chief labor relations officer. "We've accomplished what was in the APOA."
The pay raise for officers is intended to help both retention and hiring, allowing Austin to better compete for recruits with the other major metro areas in Texas.
"We believe it's fiscally responsible, recognizes the value of our Austin police personnel and addresses affordability of the city of Austin itself," Griffin said.
The public first got a look at the tentative agreement when the city released it on Sept. 25. Some Austinites at the meeting encouraged council to approve it.
"I think we're in a great need of more officers to protect and care for our city," Austin resident Marco Castilla said. "This agreement is a major step toward improving safety, transparency and trust."
However, others were still unsatisfied with the efforts to increase transparency, arguing that the agreement still violates the APOA.
"I urge you, please, to not overspend on a wasteful contract that contravenes the will of Austin residents for greater transparency, accountability and oversight of our police after decades of impunity and secrecy," said Michelle Manning-Scott, a resident of District 7.
City Council originally planned to vote on the agreement on Oct. 10, but pushed it back to Oct. 24 so the public can offer more input. If approved, the agreement goes to the APA for final approval.
The tentative agreement is available to view online.
