Hamilton, Ontario | (235 volunteer firefighters) and Greater Hamilton Volunteer Firefighters Association, CLAC, Local 911
Click here to view the original collective agreement.
Renewal agreement: Effective January 1,2024 to December 31, 2027. Ratified in August 2024. Signed on November 21, 2024.
Wage adjustments:
Effective Jan. 1, 2024: 3%
Effective Jan. 1, 2025: 3%
Effective Jan. 1, 2026: 2.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2027: 2.5%
Paid holidays: 10 days.
Overtime: Minimum 1.5 hours’ pay at straight time for responding to alarm on paid holiday or actual time spent at straight time if greater than 1.5 hours.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums through VFIS Accident and Sickness Program, plus $2,000 net payment top-up beyond VFIS coverage to any firefighter diagnosed with cancer. $25,000 medical expense maximum.
AD&D: $125,000
Life insurance: $125,000, $20,000 spousal support benefit, $30,000 dependent child benefit
Call-in pay: Minimum of 1 hour’s pay to any volunteer firefighter that responds to the station to respond on an apparatus, responds directly to the emergency scene, or stands by at the station.
Probationary period: Training period plus 12 months from successful completion of recruit training program.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 24 months.
Safety shoes: Safety footwear as determined by employer issued and replaced every 5 years.
Uniforms/clothing: Probationary volunteer firefighter: 2 fatigue pants, 5 t-shirts, 1 belt. Graduate of recruit training: 2 fatigue pants, 1 fatigue shirt (short sleeve), 1 fatigue shirt (long sleeve), 1 job shirt, 1 parka, 2 breast badges, 1 cap badge, 1 baseball cap, 1 toque, photo ID. First Class firefighter: 1 dress tunic, 1 dress pant, 1 dress shirt, 1 dress cap, 1 tie. Officer: 1 dress shirt, 3 breast badges, 4 sets of epaulets, 1 officer cap badge, 1 silver strap for dress cap, appropriate striping on tunics, 1 set of collar dogs, updated photo ID. Qualifiers for captain promotion: 1 acting captain name tag, 2 sets of epaulets. Personal protective equipment provided to each volunteer firefighter in accordance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Clothing replaced on an item-for-item basis when worn or damages up to the quantity provided for years of service.
Sample rates of pay (current, after increase):
5th class: $21.60, rising in three steps to $23.38 on Jan. 1, 2027
4th class: $22.95, rising in three steps to $24.84 on Jan. 1, 2027
3rd class: $24.30, rising in three steps to $26.30 on Jan. 1, 2027
2nd class: $25.65, rising in three steps to $27.76 on Jan. 1, 2027
1st class: $27, rising in three steps to $29.22 on Jan. 1, 2027
Captain: $32.40, rising in three steps to $35.06 on Jan. 1, 2027
Station captain: $33.75, rising in three steps to $36.53 on Jan. 1, 2027
Editor’s notes: Quarterly minimum of 25% of all station emergency responses, 50% of weekly training nights for their assigned station, 25% of regular scheduled station duties.
