Living wage increased from $15 to $21.63

We presented our proposal to raise the living wage to $22 to the Austin Parks Board in 2022. The Parks board voted in favor of our proposal and became the first City of Austin board to endorse a $22 living wage. After many workers from all over the city turned out to city council and spoke in favor of raising the living wage, city council approved an increase to $20 and then $20.80. We spoke to the media and built support in the community for a raise in the living wage. On Oct 1, 2024, the living wage rises to $21.63. On October 1, 2025, the living wage will rise to $22.28.

13 full-time lifeguards with full benefits funded by city council

We met with Austin City Council Member Chito Vela and advocated for full-time lifeguards with regular benefits. At the time, all lifeguards for the city were classified as “temporary” even if they had worked continuously for years and years for the City of Austin. In 2022, City Council passed a budget amendment to fund 13 full-time lifeguards.

Paid Training for Lifeguard Certification Courses

In 2022, we asked a city council member to submit a question to the budget office asking how much it would cost to implement a system in which lifeguards are paid for the hours they spend training to take the lifeguard certification course. The budget office sent the question to PARD, which responded by saying that beginning in 2023, they would implement paid training. As a result, lifeguards now get $400 after they successfully complete the lifeguard certification course and work 80 hours as a lifeguard for the City of Austin.

Barton Springs Bathhouse named for Joan Means Khabele

Lifeguard Scott Cobb submitted a nomination, signed by other lifeguards and community members, to name the bath house at Barton Springs Pool for Joan Means Khabele. The name change was approved by the city council. As a teenager, Joan Means Khabele led swim-ins and protests at the pool that led to it being opened to everyone regardless of race, so it is fitting that the Bathhouse be named after her. When she was young she was not allowed in the building or in the pool but she changed that by organizing swim-ins. Joan’s actions made Barton Springs and Austin a better place for us all.

Bilingual Pay for Lifeguards and Pool Cashiers

We advocated for two years to City Council, the Parks board and to the public in the media to make lifeguards and cashiers eligible for bilingual pay. On July 21, 2024, one month after we again spoke to the parks board about the issue, Austin Parks and Recreation announced they approved bilingual pay for lifeguards and cashiers.

Dating Policy

Lifeguards advocated for a dating policy for years to prevent supervisors from abusing their position to get into inappropriate relationships with lifeguards, many of whom start working for the City of Austin when they are 15, 16 or 17 years old. The policy was released in August 2024 and it is required for all Aquatics staff to sign it, however we are working to get it further revised to make it clear that much older managers or supervisors will be terminated if they get into an inappropriate relationship with a lifeguard instead of Aquatics Division attempting “to modify the working relationship through lateral transfer within the PARD or in a manner consistent with established staffing policy and procedures”. We also want the policy to define consent in a way that makes it clear that relationships between teenaged lifeguards and older managers have an imbalanced power relationship and are never consensual.

Uniforms and Equipment

Lifeguards advocated for and won the right for women lifeguards to choose for themselves whether to wear either one-piece or two-piece swimsuits at work as part of their uniform. We also advocated and won free uniforms for lifeguards. We used to have to buy our uniforms.

Parking

After we spoke to the Austin Parks Board, they adopted a resolution to increase the amount of staff parking for Barton Springs staff. As a result, staff now has parking in the Moontower parking lot at Barton Springs Pool. 

Lighting

Barton Springs needed improved lighting at night on the pool since it was difficult for lifeguards to see all the swimmers after dark. We spoke up and the lighting was approved.

Lifeguards Now are Paid During LGI and WSE Courses

We advocated for lifeguards who apply to be trained to teach lifeguard classes to be paid for the two days of Lifeguard Instructor Training (LGI) training as well as the WSE classes to train to teach swim lessons. This was implemented in 2023. The fee for the classes should also be removed. 

Dental Insurance

Lifeguards advocated and won dental insurance. After we spoke to City Council in August 2022, the City Council passed a resolution directing the City Manager to offer dental insurance to temporary employees who buy health insurance through the city. All City of Austin temporary employees now are eligible to purchase dental insurance through the city after they have been on payroll for 12 months.

One Shots Expire After One Year

We reached an agreement with Assistant Parks Director Lucas Massie that one-shots would expire after one year. They used to never expire. One-shots are a disciplinary system used in Aquatics in which temporary employees can be placed on so-called “one-shots” after being written up. After they are on “one-shots”, they can be fired for any subsequent later write-up, no matter how small.

No Alcohol Permit for the Zilker Cafe located outside Barton Springs

We spoke to the Austin Parks Board and persuaded them to vote no on an alcohol permit for the cafe at Barton Springs. We later spoke to the Planning Commission and they also voted no. Alcohol sold so close to Barton Springs would have posed a safety issue for patrons and staff. We routinely have to enforce the rule of no drinking at Barton Springs.