Hay River, Northwest Territories (26 firefighters) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Union of Northern Workers (UNW)
Renewal agreement: Effective Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2023. Signed on May 20, 2020.
Wage adjustments:
Effective Jan. 1, 2019: 3.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2020: 3.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2021: 4.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2022: 5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2023: 5%
Shift premium: $2.50 per hour for any hours worked outside of regular hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday). $1 per hour for all hours worked for employees holding valid Northwest Territories class 5 driver’s licence. $4.50 per regular hour worked as living allowance.
Paid holidays: 12 days.
Vacations with pay: 6% to start, 8% after 3 years, 10% after 21 years, 12% after 31 years. Employer will allow tower employees 2 days off, with pay, per season and additional 7 days off, without pay, per season and will transport employees to reasonable distance of choice on mutually acceptable date. Lookout-tower persons who elect not to take days off will receive 2 days of pay at end of fire season.
Overtime: Time and one-half for first 4 hours of work; double time thereafter and for all hours worked on second day of rest or holiday.
Meal allowance: Employer will provide employee with meal when employee is required to work 2 or more hours of overtime immediately following regularly scheduled hours of duty and employee is not permitted to leave place of work.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 60% of premiums, employee pays 40% of premiums.
Dental: $450 per year.
Sick leave: 0.0625 days per day worked.
AD&D: Employer pays 60% of premiums, employee pays 40% of premiums.
Life insurance: Employer pays 60% of premiums, employee pays 40% of premiums.
Bereavement leave: 5 days for death in immediate family (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, common-law spouse, child, grandchildren, grandparents, foster-child, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, spouse’s grandparents, any relative residing in employee’s household). 3 additional days for travel.
Call-in pay: Employee will be paid greater of compensation at appropriate overtime rate or compensation equivalent to 4 hours’ pay at straight-time rate (compensation made either in cash or compensatory leave).
Probationary period: 3 months (if employee has not completed probationary period by end of fire season, employer may deem employee to have completed probationary period).
Discipline: Sunset clause is 4 fire seasons for any document or written statement related to disciplinary action.
Safety shoes: Reimbursement of cost incurred by employee, maximum $200 per year, for suitable work boots.
Uniforms/clothing: Employer will provide on first day of season: CSA class B approved hard-hat; pack sack; sleeping bag and foam mat; socks; 3 pairs of leather work gloves; 1 mess kit; bug repellent; 1 pair of safety glasses; 1 pair of safety goggles, upon request; 1 pair of ear protectors; 1 pup tent; 1 raincoat and pants; day pack; respiratory protection gear.
Mileage: $0.585 per kilometre for employer’s convenience; $0.27 per kilometre for employee’s convenience.
Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 23% increase):
Pay level
Crew leader
1: $29.15 rising 4 steps to $35.91
2: $30.54 rising 4 steps to $37.57
3: $31.31 rising 4 steps to $38.49
4: $32.14 rising 4 steps to $39.47
5: $32.95 rising 4 steps to $40.44
Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 19% increase):
Crew member
1: $27.74 rising 4 steps to $33.08
2: $29.06 rising 4 steps to $34.65
3: $29.75 rising 4 steps to $35.48
4: $30.49 rising 4 steps to $36.36
5: $31.25 rising 4 steps to $37.26
Tower person
1: $27.74 rising 4 steps to $33.08
2: $29.06 rising 4 steps to $34.65
3: $29.75 rising 4 steps to $35.48
4: $30.49 rising 4 steps to $36.36
5: $31.25 rising 4 steps to $37.26
Editor’s notes: Transportation allowance: For employees travelling by land and where travel is by means other than scheduled or chartered aircraft: $235 for employee; $205 for employee’s spouse; $90 for employee’s dependent children (employees will also be given minimum one-half day each way for travel). Medical travel costs: If employee or employee’s dependant is required to travel from point-of-work assignment in Northwest Territories to secure medical or dental treatment, employee will secure travel assistance from appropriate level of government. Employee who pays $250 deductible to government for this purpose will be reimbursed this amount by employer. Employee will be given lesser of 3 paid days leave or actual time taken to travel from post to Edmonton or Yellowknife and return. Food, living supplies: Employer will provide $2,000 (in form of standing-offer agreement with store of employer’s choice) and will ensure that ordered items are delivered on scheduled biweekly basis as food and living supplies for lookout-tower persons. Standby: $12 for each 8-hour period or portion thereof; $16 for each 8-hour period or portion thereof that employee is on standby on day of rest. Minimum 4 hours of straight-time pay when called in.
