Office of the City Attorney
Collective Bargaining

While Texas is a right to work state in 1974 San Antonio voters approved collective bargaining for the City’s Firefighters and Police Officers in separate elections. Since that time, the City and the associations for Firefighters and Police Officers have entered into collective bargaining agreements for addressing pay, benefits, hours and other terms of employment. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement the City and the San Antonio Police Officers Association expires September 30, 2026 and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City and the International Association of Firefighters ends December 31, 2024.

Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174 

Police

Collective Bargaining Agreement

On May 12, 2022, City Council approved the collective bargaining agreement with the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association

Memorandums of Understanding

The City and SAPOA have entered in to Memoranda of Understanding (1) to dismiss issues to improve a balanced work life for SAPD Officers and (2) to conduct a study on the development and revision of the employee performance evaluation process and instruments

Fire

Collective Bargaining Agreement

On February 13, 2020, the City and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 624 were bound by a Collective Bargaining Agreement as determined by binding arbitration in accordance with Section 169 of the City Charter that requires binding arbitration after impasse is declared by IAFF.

Negotiations related to the 2022 - 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement

On May 12, 2022, City Council approved the collective bargaining agreement with the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association (SAPOA). A link to that agreement is here. Notices, videos, negotiation extensions, tentative agreements, draft proposals, and other documents are available here.

NOTICES

Note: Meetings are subject to change.
VIDEOS

Negotiation Extensions

Tentative Agreements

Final Tentative Agreements Voted on by City Council

Negotiations related to the 2020 - 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement

On February 13, 2020, the City and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 624 were bound by a
Collective Bargaining Agreement as determined by binding arbitration in accordance with Section 169 of the City
Charter that requires binding arbitration after impasse is declared by IAFF.

Prior to arbitration, the City and IAFF had negotiations and mediation sessions from March 17, 2014 until April 2,
2019.

Notices

Public Notices from March 17, 2014, - April 2, 2019

Negotiation Sessions

Mediated Sessions

Mediation: In November 2016, the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals ordered mediation between the City and the firefighters in an attempt to reach a new collective bargaining agreement in conjunction with resolving issues related to the unconstitutional debt issue raised by the “Evergreen” lawsuit. Mediation began on Jan. 13, 2017 and was subject to confidentiality by both parties. The mediator declared impasse on April 3, 2017. At the request of the Firefighters Union, the mediation sessions were videotaped by the City and the Firefighters Union. Also at the request of the Firefighters Union, the City worked with the Firefighters Union to publicly release the video of the mediation sessions.

View the City’s recordings of the mediated sessions and the accompanying presentations made by the City’s negotiating team.

No current negotiations for the Police and Fire Collective Bargaining Agreements are transpiring. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement the City has with the San Antonio Police Officers Association expires September 30, 2026 and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement the City has with the International Association of Firefighters ends December 31, 2024. Once negotiations began, information about current negotiations will be available here.