Sudbury’s volunteer firefighters strongly endorse new contract with city
The Daily Press
After months of negotiation and more than three years working without a contract, Greater Sudbury’s volunteer firefighters have reached a new deal with city hall.
CLAC Local 920 (the Christian Labour Association of Canada) has announced that more than 90 per cent of the membership endorsed the new contract.
“Volunteer firefighters with the City of Greater Sudbury ratified a five-year collective agreement providing several improved features targeted at enhancing volunteer recruitment and retention,” the union stated. “The ratification vote concluded on June 12 and achieved 94 per cent support from the members. Sudbury city council approved the settlement at its meeting on June 13.”
Ian DeWaard, provincial director of CLAC, said negotiations were long and, at times, difficult, but ultimately, the agreement is good for his members, as well as the communities they serve.
“The last agreement between CLAC Local 920 and the City of Greater Sudbury expired in December 2019. These negotiations took a long time and there were a number of reasons for that, including COVID-19 and the impact of the new provincial fire certification program,” he noted. “We believe this new deal is full of solutions that are good for the volunteers, but more importantly, good for the communities we serve. The members approved this agreement with 94 per cent support, which is a strong endorsement.”
DeWaard noted a previous draft was rejected in 2022 by the membership. Following that, “the parties met multiple times, and at one point we brought in a mediator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to assist in getting to a deal. Although these negotiations were prolonged and difficult, we do credit Chief (Joe) Nicholls (GM of community safety) and his team for demonstrating a willingness to listen to and understand the concerns put forward by the volunteers, and to work creatively and reasonably toward viable solutions.”
CLAC said the new contract, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020 and expires on Dec. 31, 2024, includes more training for volunteers, as well as a small pay bump (volunteers receive a small stipend from the city).
“The city will increase its investment in firefighter training. Volunteers participate in weekly training and with this agreement the number of hours they can claim payment for increases from six to 12 per month,” CLAC explained. “The agreement also increases the yearly retention bonus to $100 or $150 for volunteers with five or more years of service. It also provides a modest increase to the volunteers’ honorarium of approximately two per cent per year.”
The province has introduced new training requirements that must be in place by 2026. Volunteers were concerned the protocols would be onerous and difficult to manage, given their other commitments. But CLAC said city management is willing to work with volunteers.
“Negotiations were prolonged; one of the primary causes was a regulation introduced by the province of Ontario in 2022 that requires all firefighters in Ontario to be trained to a new provincial standard by July 1, 2026,” CLAC noted. “As part of this new agreement, fire management and the volunteers have mapped out a series of training delivery options they’ll work together on to implement in the coming months.”
DeWaard said certification was an especially difficult challenge. While there is still work to be done, the new contract represents a major step forward in re-establishing cordial and collaborative relations.
“There’s much work to be done on finding better ways to deliver the additional 220 hours and testing, but there is definitely some positive, forward momentum between the parties,” he said. “The union bargaining committee believes both sides made important strides to re-establishing the kind of positive, solutions-focused approach to problem-solving that will make for a better department — one that current and future volunteers will be able to take pride in. There’s much work to be done, but this new agreement signals a willingness from both parties to continue to do that work together, even when we don’t always agree on the path forward.”
Volunteer firefighting is an important part of Greater Sudbury’s past and present. Of the city’s 12 wards, seven – wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 – rely on volunteer firefighters.
Greater Sudbury is served by 22 active fire halls (an additional two are non-operational). There are four career stations located in the four corners of the former city – on Van Horne Street, on Long Lake Road, in Minnow Lake and in New Sudbury – as well as 17 volunteer stations spread throughout the wards and one composite station.
There are five volunteer stations between Copper Cliff and Beaver Lake; four stations, all staffed by volunteers, along the Highway 144 corridor to Levack; a composite station in Val Therese that is staffed by four full-time firefighters, as well as volunteers; three operational volunteer stations in the Valley, including the station in Capreol; and five stations serving Garson, Falconbridge, Skead, Coniston and Wahnapitae.
Nathan Melin one of two deputy fire chiefs, told The Star last month that 250 volunteer firefighters represents a full complement. Currently, the municipality only employs 191 active members, but the city hopes in 2023 to recruit up to 60 new volunteer firefighters.
The municipality said it was pleased to have reached a contract with CLAC.
“There were a number of key outcomes achieved by the bargaining teams, including an annual honorarium increase of two per cent; an increase in the number of paid hours from six to 12 per month; and a retention honorarium to recognize members’ service and commitment to fire services,” Kelly Brooks, a spokesperson for the city, said.
“The new agreement provides for increased investment in training for volunteer firefighters, with a series of training opportunities to be rolled out over the coming months. We are pleased with the progress that has been made and will continue to work together to effect positive change and increase the capacity of our volunteer firefighters to respond in their communities.”