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Austin city employees who worked in the office or in public during the pandemic were recently informed that they will receive "COVID Enhancement Pay," but the measure approved by the city manager has excluded first responders.
Austin's police, fire and EMS association presidents say that although they never asked for hazard pay, their members are confused and insulted by the decision.
“If they're going to give the money to people because of their COVID hazard, why not give it to people actually suffering the biggest hazard, police, fire, and EMS, the frontline people that are dealing with COVID positive people every day,” said Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association.
