City council's meeting was held at the Chapel Gallery this week, with some participants taking part via Zoom. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

New Agreement

City approves new contract with firefighters union

Nov 27, 2020 | 3:34 PM

The City of North Battleford has approved a new collective agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1756.

The four-year contract, from Jan., 2019 to Dec., 2022, includes a two per cent wage increase for each of the first three years, and a 1.8 per cent increase for the fourth year for a first class firefighter.

The City of North Battleford’s salary for a first class firefighter on Oct. 31, 2018, was $81,582. As of August 1, 2021, the first class firefighter salary will be $86,574.

As part of the agreement, the city indicates there will be no layoffs of the current fulltime firefighters, from Oct. 28, 2020 to Dec. 30, 2022.

Mayor David Gillan said at this week’s council meeting he is glad to see the agreement finally settled.

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“I think the city is pleased and so is the firefighter union,” he said.

The collective bargaining process for the contract started over a year ago.

The city’s Director of Corporate Services Jennifer Niesink said in her report the city and IAFF 1756 reached a tentative Memorandum of Agreement ratified by the union on Nov. 4.

She said usually this occasion would include a signing ceremony at city hall, but due to the province’s COVID-19 protocols and restrictions for gathering that couldn’t occur.

Niesink said it was “a process to get here,” to reach an agreement in the negotiations.

“We are very happy with how we have come together,” she said. “I would just like to thank them for all their hard work, as well as the team.”

Council approved a resolution to grant permission to ratify and authorize the city clerk and mayor to sign the contract with the IAFF Local.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW