Your Local 975 Collective Bargaining Team is in place and beginning preparations to negotiate our next contract. The team members are

Kregg Phillips, E28C, Chair

Randy Moreno, E10A

Cliff Alexander, E34B

David Girouard, Ed. Services

Bob Nicks, B01B

Richard Davis, E5A

Rebecca Farris, E44B

Bobby Johns, Recruiting

Les McKay, Ed. Services / L08B

After careful consideration, Mike Bewely made the very difficult decision to step down from the team to ensure that his duties as FTO on the C shift would not be hindered. Mr. Bewely will continue to be a valuable resource for the team on an ad hoc basis as will much of the membership. Les McKay has agreed to join the team and fill this vacancy.

President Truesdell met with our IAFF District Vice President, Sandy McGhee and requested assistance in the person of Mr. Louis Hebert. Mr. Hebert has negotiated over 300 collective bargaining agreements and assisted both Houston and San Antonio secure their last contracts. Mr. Hebert has agreed to assist our team as lead negotitator. We greatly appreciate the help of Mr. Hebert and the IAFF.

A survey to determine members' goals and interests for the upcoming contract talks is being prepared and should be available on-line soon. Keep checking this site for updates.

Your team is committed to communication with the membership during this challenging process. To that end, we have set up an e-mail address that any member may use to send the team information, interests or questions. Send inquiries to Contract@local975.org . Every team member will receive messages sent to this box. We will do our best to answer questions - but please remember that time constraints and the nature of negotiations may make this a difficult task. We appreciate your patience.

We are in a unique position as the only city employees with the right to bargain collectively with our employer. This right was granted to us by the citizens of the City of Austin. Every time you respond to a call, give a station tour, or respond to a request from the public with your brother and sister firefighters you are earning this privilege. Without the support of the citizens we serve, we have nothing.

Keep in mind that there are those who will paint us in an unfavorable light no matter how high our standards of professionalism and no matter how dedicated our personal service. Let us be vigilant to prevent the careless actions or words of the individual from harming the whole. We must all hold each other accountable and remember that we are under the microscope of public scrutiny.

The team is humbled and honored by your trust and we are anxious to represent Austin's bravest.

Kregg Phillips, Chair