Winnipeg, MB - Today, Executive Policy Committee (EPC) and Council will be voting on the ratification of a negotiated agreement between the City of Winnipeg and the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg Local 867 (UFFW).
“I want to thank the negotiating committees for working together and reaching an agreement,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “I am pleased that what is coming forward for approval to Executive Policy Committee and Council is a negotiated settlement that not only reflects the essential services the men and women of the UFFW perform for all of us, but is also significantly more in-line with projected cost of living increases over the term of the agreement.”
The Memorandum of Agreement between the City and the UFFW Local 867 is for a four year term from December 2016 until December 2020, and includes wage adjustments of 1.8% at the end of 2017, with an additional 2% in each of the years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Additional changes include:
- Integration of Manitoba Public Insurance Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) Benefits with Sick Leave Benefits such that employees cannot receive full sick pay benefits while also receiving PIPP benefits.
- Amendments to the language related to Fire Fighter - PCP’s such that Fire Fighters hired as, or designated after hire as, a Fire Fighter-PCP after ratification of the Collective Agreement must commit to maintain their PCP status for a minimum of nine years.
- Amending the qualifications of Fire Investigators to enhance the expertise of the Branch and require Fire Investigators to commit to working as such for a minimum of three years.
- At the discretion of the WFPS, the ability for new recruits to cash out vacation/lieu tour/holiday time. While this will increase the salary costs to the Department, it will also assist in reducing overtime costs by utilizing new recruits to fill staffing gaps rather than potentially paying overtime at the Senior Fire Fighter rate of pay. The total costs and/or savings have not yet been determined and can be assessed during the term of the Agreement.
- The payment of professional self-regulation fees should paramedic self-regulation be introduced in Manitoba. Other jurisdictions that have similar fees have been canvassed and the estimated cost is based on the fees in those other jurisdictions.
- Mandatory reassignment of fire suppression employees at age 65, as there is data that supports that the demands of the work associated with fire suppression significantly increases the risk to the health of a Fire Fighter after age 65.
- The parties were unable to reach agreement on a revised rate of pay for the WFPS Emergency Mechanical Services Branch Mechanic and Supervisor positions. This matter will be referred to arbitration. The parties have agreed to utilize a single arbitrator for one day to minimize the associated costs.
The next steps in the ratification process include the Memorandum of Agreement being considered at a special meeting of Executive Policy Committee scheduled for today, and then by Council later in the morning.
The Administrative Report recommending adoption of the negotiated agreement can be found on the City of Winnipeg’s Decision Making Information System.