City of Hamilton

Renewal agreement: Effective Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2023. Ratified in February 2021. Signed on Jan. 1, 2020.

Wage adjustments:

Effective Jan. 1, 2020: 1.6%

Effective Jan. 1, 2021: 1.6%

Effective Jan. 1, 2022: 1.6%

Effective Jan. 1, 2023: 1.6%

Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage in VFIS accident and sickness program.

AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $125,000. $2,000 top-up to any volunteer firefighter diagnosed with cancer.

Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $125,000. $2,000 top-up to any volunteer firefighter diagnosed with cancer.

Call-in pay: Minimum 1 hour’s pay for responding to station, on apparatus, directly to emergency scene or standing by at station.

Probationary period: 12 calendar months with evaluation every 3 months.

Discipline: Sunset clause is 2 years for warnings or suspensions.

Safety shoes: Each firefighter and officer receive safety footwear, as determined by city, which is replaced every 5 years.

Uniforms/clothing: Probationary firefighters receive 2 fatigue pants, 5 T-shirts, and 1 belt. Upon graduation from volunteer recruit training, 2 fatigue pants, 1 long-sleeve fatigue shirt, 1 short-sleeve fatigue shirt, 1 parka, 1 dress cap, 2 breast badges, 1 cap badge, 1 baseball cap, 1 toque, and a photo ID. Firefighters who achieve rank of first-class receive 1 dress tunic, 1 dress pant, 1 dress shirt, 1 job shirt and 1 tie. Firefighters who become officer receive 1 dress shirt, 3 breast badges, 4 sets of epaulets, 1 officer cap badge, 1 silver strap for dress cap 1 set of collar dogs and updated photo ID. Those who successfully pass and qualify for promotion to captain receive 1 acting captain name tag and 2 sets of epaulets. Clothing will be replaced on item-for-item basis when worn or damaged. Firefighter who completes 10 years of service will be given their helmet upon retirement. Employer will provide each volunteer firefighter with personal protective equipment in accordance with Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 3.2% increase):

Probation: $20.31 rising 2 steps to $20.97

Fourth-class: $21.58 rising 2 steps to $22.28

Third-class: $22.85 rising 2 steps to $23.59

Second-class: $24.12 rising 2 steps to $24.90

First-class: $25.39 rising 2 steps to $26.21

Captain: $29.20 rising 2 steps to $30.14

Training captain: $30.47 rising 2 steps to $31.46

Station captain: $31.74 rising 2 steps to $32.77

Editor’s notes: Minimum staffing: Employer will maintain minimum of 25 volunteer firefighters, except at stations where there exists single firefighting apparatus, where minimum staffing level will be 15. Performance pay: When volunteer firefighter’s attendance at regular scheduled training exceeds certain percentage, 1-time payment will be made for that calendar year: $100 for 70%; $200 for 80%; $350 for 81% and up. When attendance at alarms exceeds following percentages, 1-time payment for that calendar year: $200 for 50%; $250 for 75%; $400 for 76% and up. Driver’s license: All firefighters will obtain minimum driver’s license classification of DZ prior to end of probationary period. Employer will provide licence training or employer will contribute to cost of Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) approved training course, maximum of $1,000 (employer will pay for initial medical to meet MTO requirements). Employer will reimburse maximum $125 for subsequent medical costs associated with maintaining DZ licence as required by MTO. Training expenses: Out-of-pocket expenses — which occur outside municipal boundary of City of Hamilton — will be covered by employer: $10 per day, maximum $30 per week. Education fund: Employer will contribute $0.20 per hour for all hours paid to CLAC Education and Assistance fund for employee training and maintenance.