Hamilton (197 volunteer firefighters) and the Greater Hamilton Volunteer Firefighters Association, CLAC Local 911
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 lump-sum medical expenses up to $25,000; $25,000 for PTSD; $25,000 for cosmetic/plastic surgery; $25,000 for critical incident stress management.
Vision: Employer pays 100% of premiums for lump-sum payment of $125,000 for vision impairment.
Sick leave: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage through VFIS Accident and Sickness Program. $2,000 top-up for any volunteer firefighter diagnosed with any cancer.
STD: Transition benefit of $900 per week for 26 weeks.
LTD: Employer pays 100% of premiums for total disability coverage of $300 per week for first 28 days and $900 per week after 28 days up to 260 weeks. Partial disability coverage of $150 after first 28 days and $450 per week after 28 days for 52 weeks.
AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $125,000; $250,000 for paralysis.
Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $125,000. $30,000 dependent child benefit. $20,000 spousal support benefit. Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $125,000 for permanent impairment due to illness, injury, heart.
Seniority – recall rights: 24 months.
Call-in pay: Minimum 3 hours’ pay. $2.40 per hour for period of standby scheduled by employer outside regular scheduled working hours.
Probationary period: 12 calendar months with 3 evaluations. Must obtain minimum DZ driver’s license prior to completion of probationary period.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 2 years.
Safety shoes: Safety footwear provided every 5 years.
Uniforms/clothing: Employer will provide each volunteer firefighter with personal protective equipment in accordance with Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Clothing will be replaced on item-for-item basis when worn or damages based on firefighter’s years of service. Probationary volunteer firefighter participating in recruit training will receive: 2 fatigue pants, 5 T-shirts, 1 belt. Upon graduation from volunteer recruit training: 2 fatigue pants, 1 short-sleeve fatigue shirt, 1 long-sleeve fatigue shirt, 1 parka, 1 dress cap, 2 breast badges, 1 cap badge, 1 baseball cap, 1 toque, photo ID. Upon achieving rank of first-class firefighter: 1 dress tunic, 1 dress pant, 1 dress shirt, 1 job shirt, 1 tie. Upon becoming 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. Upon promotion to captain: 1 acting captain name tag, 2 sets of epaulets.
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: Helmet: Volunteer firefighter who completes 10 years of service will be given their helmet upon retirement. Training attended per calendar year: $100 for attending 70% of training; $200 for attending 80% of training; $350 for attending 81%+ of training. Alarms attended per calendar year: $200 for attending 50% of alarms; $250 for attending 75%; $400 for attending 76%+ of alarms. Training expenses: Out-of-pocket expenses paid to employees attending courses which occur outside municipal boundary of City of Hamilton will be: $10 per day, maximum $30 per week.
