After more than a year of negotiations, a contract between the City of Portage and the union representing its firefighters has finally been signed. The previous contract expired at the end of 2014, and despite several meetings between the bargaining teams last year, they were unable to come to an agreement. As an essential service, Canada's firefighters are unable to go on strike, so the arbitration process was started. 

At the time of the impasse, the City was offering a 2% increase each year of the three-year agreement, while the firefighters wanted to see 5% each year, a cost difference of about $150,000 over the course of the contract. The union was also looking for rank differentials for senior firefighters to increase from 103%, to 105, and an increase in rank differentials for captains from 11%, to 120. Discussions surrounding contract wording clarifications and bereavement periods weren't an issue of contention, with both sides agreeing to the changes.

The arbitrator's final report, which is unable to be contested, resulted in an average increase of 3.29 per cent each year of the contract, retroactive to the beginning of 2015. While there was no increase in the rank differential for senior firefighters, an increase of 117% for the captain was awarded. Portage Professional Firefighters Association president Darren Van Den Bussche says they're comfortable with the arbitrator's decision, although they didn't see all they had hoped for.  

Darren Van Den Bussche

"We're still behind what the prairie average is, but this is more comparable and we're okay with that. We just wanted to make sure it was a fair wage for the firefighters doing the good job we do, and for future firefighters as well."

Van Den Bussche says part of the City's offer focused on the increase provided to CUPE, a comparison he doesn't feel is fair given the physical and mental health challenges related to their line of work. With the new contract coming to an end in 2018, he hopes the arbitrators report helps ensure a smoother negotiation the next time around.

The arbitration process will lead to some extra costs for the city. While the city is required to pay interest on the retroactive wages based on the date on the impasse until the date of the increase is paid, there's also a cost to the process. The report to Council Monday night indicated the cost of arbitration to date is $72,380. Despite the cost, Public Safety Chair Ryan Espey says the process was necessary and stands behind the decision to move forward with arbitration.

Ryan Espey"At the end of the day, the firefighters are happy. It kind of split the difference between the two positions, I felt. We still stand behind our decision to go arbitration, and for the next few years the firefighters have their contract."

While the arbitrators didn't enforce the call for rank differentials for senior firefighters, it's something they indicated the association should discuss during the next round of negotiations.