The City of London and its firefighters have ratified a new five-year collective agreement that includes a slight annual wage increase.
The deal was approved by city council Tuesday night. The agreement takes effect January 1, 2020 and gives members of the London Professional Fire Fighters Association (LPFFA) an average 1.81 per cent wage hike each year until 2024.
“We are pleased to reach this collective agreement with our firefighters,” Deputy Mayor Jesse Helmer said in a statement. “On behalf of Council and the community, I want to extend thanks to the bargaining committees for the Corporation and for the Association for their hard work. Through your efforts, the city has been able to negotiate a renewed collective agreement that provides cost certainty for residents and taxpayers, and stability for the employees and the Corporation.”
The new deal also includes vision and psychological services improvements and a new health care spending account for retirees aged 65 to 75. New salary rates for probationary firefighters and a more competitive promotional process for district chiefs were also agreed upon.
“The LPFFA worked with the Corporation cooperatively to achieve an agreement that provided both wage and benefit improvements, while striking a balance for taxpayers," said Jason Timlick, president of the LPFFA. "The members of the LPFFA are dedicated professionals that work 24/7 protecting the City of London. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the city."
The new collective agreement ends December 31, 2024.