Texas Emergency Workers Win New Contract

Last week, members of the Hays County EMS Association in Hays County, Texas, held a ceremonial contract signing with members of the San Marcos County Board of Directors to celebrate the ratification of the unit’s first contract. Hays County EMS workers are represented by CWA Local 6115.

Workers began the process of forming their union in December 2022. They won union recognition in September 2023 and after a year of contract negotiations, ratified a four-year contract in December 2024. Union members and representatives of the county agreed to host a ceremonial signing to signal their commitment to working together for the betterment of EMS workers in Hays County.

Under the new contract, EMS workers will receive a pay increase, additional pay for bilingual workers, increased access to mental health services, and an expanded retirement plan. The contract also allows for union representation at county board meetings to take up union agenda items.

CWA Local 6115 President Zack Phillips told Community Impact, “This puts us in line with both Williamson County and Austin Travis County as far as pay benefits. People will want to stay here. That's a benefit to the community because you get people who are familiar with the community—familiar with their patients and the needs of a community.”

President Phillips expressed hope that the new contract represents a “strengthened partnership” between emergency medical staff and the county.

 
CWA Local 6115 leaders celebrated a landmark contract with San Marco Hays County. 
Pictured left to right: CWA Local 6115 Treasurer Greg Humphries, CWA Local 6115 Chief Steward Stephen Baehr, Former Hays County Commissioner/Company Bargaining Chair Lon Shell, San Marcos Hays County EMS Interim Chief Jill Rosales, CWA Local 6115 President Zack Phillips, CWA Local 6115 Chief Steward Dylan Thompson, CWA Local 6115 Vice President Robert Sanchez, CWA Local 6115 Secretary Tom Maia, and CWA Local 6115 Chief Steward Stacie George.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.