Questions By Austin Labor Council

How do you plan on prioritizing city employees during the budget process?

Are you seeking an endorsement from the Austin Central Labor Council and why?

Please list your primary voting history for the following primaries (for example: Democrat, Republican, did not vote)

Have you ever been employed where you were eligible to join a union? If so, did you join? If not, why did you not join.

Have you ever had the opportunity to adopt “just cause” policies as an employer? If so, did you adopt that policy? Why or why not?

What two main issues of your campaign do you want to accomplish during your first term, which is most relevant to the Labor movement and union households?

Describe your business background or experience and how that will that impact your ability to serve as Council Member/Mayor?

What is your philosophy of governance when it comes to the roles and function of the office you are seeking?

What are your thoughts on the state intervening in local control as it pertains to labor?

EMS Contract and wage parity among Austin public safety workers. The last compensation analysis showed EMS is 19% below the market average. The subject public safety portion of the general fund is an ongoing topic. While this amount is about 67% for public safety, EMS is only 6.4% of general fund or approx. 4% net. Do you support the current tentative EMS contract and distinguishing relative public safety spending in future discussions of council?

The City of Austin has long led the way as a progressive leader. One of the first cities in the nation to do so, the City Council in 2013 passed Resolution 20130620- 015, granting City employees six weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child if the full time employee worked for the City for a year. While initially the Council publicly sought to grant all City employees this parental leave, they ultimately choose to exclude police, fire, and EMS as they are subject to meet and confer agreements and the collective bargaining process. The City is not AU S T I N – T R A V I S C O U N T Y E M S E M P L O Y E E A S S O C I A T I O N Community employees making a difference 2 prevented from awarding, and in its ultimate discretion may still grant, the additional parental leave benefit to all of her public servants. Do you support adding public safety workers to be covered by the city’s parental leave policy?

ATCEMS medics are in the City’s retirement system (COAERS) and as of 2012 are two tiered, meaning those employed prior to this change are at 23 years and those hired after are at 30 years. Medics in the second tier must also reach age 64 for eligibility. ATCEMS has one of the highest separation rates of any city department per capita. To date only a small number of medics have succeeded in retiring from working on the frontline of EMS. As a council member would you support adding the retirement issue to the city’s legislative agenda?

The possibility of an ATCEMS/AFD merger has been an ongoing topic of discussion. Historically mergers involving EMS and Fire departments have been problematic because they take place under duress. With a successful legislative change and municipal voter support ATCEMS medics are now included in civil service 143 for public safety. EMS is becoming more innovative and integrated with healthcare and public health though an ongoing series of open meetings with the stakeholders. Many of these discussions are directed by City Council members or by the various appointed commission’s of council and we encourage open public discussions on the future of Austin’s public health model. However, would you agree the potential of an EMS/AFD merger should be inclusive of both labor organizations and the only place to come to terms in matters regarding the workforce is though contract negotiations?

What is your opinion of the services provided to Travis county residents by Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS)?

What areas do you see ATCEMS doing well? What areas do you see for improvement?

Do you believe all residents of Austin and Travis County deserve the level of EMS services currently provided under a unified ATCEMS system? If not, what is your vision for the future?

What is your understanding of the inter local agreement between the City of Austin and Travis County to provide emergency medical services?

What caused the breakdown of the 2017 EMS contract negotiations and what can we do to prevent a lapse in contract next time?

What areas of prevention, community health, and safety education should be enhanced in Travis County? What role should ATCEMS have?

Providing the current level of service to the Austin and Travis County community is a matter of appropriate funding of ATCEMS resources to keep up with the growing population and demand. What is your strategy for ensuring that Austin and Travis County continues to receive the highest level of service?

Why should ATCEMS Association endorse your candidacy?