Allegheny County, PA — During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2026, SEIU Local 668 announced that 911 professionals in Allegheny County have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that delivers meaningful pay increases and strengthens mental health protections for the workforce.

911 professionals serve as the first point of contact in emergencies—providing life-saving instructions, coordinating police, fire, and EMS, and managing critical incidents as they unfold. Their work is essential public safety infrastructure, yet they have historically lacked both formal recognition and adequate support.

The newly ratified agreement includes significant annual wage increases, along with additional longevity-based raises, ensuring that experienced telecommunications officers are retained and fairly compensated for their expertise.

Equally important, the contract establishes Critical Incident Leave, a major advancement in addressing the mental health impact of 911 work. The provision allows dispatchers time to decompress following traumatic calls, access counseling through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and receive additional paid leave when clinically necessary after incidents such as line-of-duty deaths, child fatalities, or mass casualty events.

“911 professionals are handling and dealing with trauma every day—often without ever seeing the outcome,” said Steve Catanese, President of SEIU Local 668. “This contract recognizes both the value of their work through pay raises and the reality of the job through real mental health protections.”

The agreement also establishes some of the strongest contractual AI protections in the public sector, requiring a “human in the loop,” preserving worker decision-making authority, and creating a joint labor-management committee to oversee how AI is introduced and used. It also strengthens hazard pay, guaranteeing time-and-a-half for essential employees required to report in person during County closures.

Despite these gains, SEIU Local 668 continues to advocate for legislation that formally classifies 911 telecommunicators as first responders, thereby expanding access to long-term mental health care and additional workplace protections.

“On every call, you’re hearing someone at the worst moment of their life,” said Michael Steinmiller, Allegheny County 911 dispatcher. “This contract is a step forward—better pay and support—but there’s more work to do to make sure 911 professionals are fully recognized for the role we play.”

In Allegheny County’s 911 Center, telecommunications officers handle thousands of emergency calls each week, serving as a lifeline for residents in crisis. The ratification of this agreement marks a significant step toward stabilizing and strengthening the 911 workforce.

As National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is recognized nationwide, SEIU Local 668 calls on elected officials to build on this progress by advancing legislation that recognizes 911 professionals as first responders and ensures lasting access to mental health care.