London’s first-class firefighters will earn almost $30,000 this year, slightly less than the coveted parity with their city police counterparts.
City council Monday night approved a one-year contract for 1982, which will boost a first-class firefighter’s salary 10.31 per cent to $29,621 from $26,852. A first class police constable earns $29,800.
Firefighter association president Gord Sturdy said the 325-man fire department ratified the contract last week following endorsement by the board of control.
The accord comes less than three months after an arbitration board awarded the firefighters a 17.26 per cent increase for 1981. In 1980, the first-class rate was $22,900.
The 1981 and 1982 settlements each added $1 million to the fire department budget which is now more than $10 million.
Mayor Al Gleeson and Sturdy noted that six office and clerical staff–civilians–will get pay raises of six per cent this year in order to “maintain a more reasonable relationship with city hall staff in similar positions.”
Sturdy said compulsory retirement at age 60 has been dropped in the wake of a supreme court of Canada ruling last week that Ontario municipalities can’t impose a mandatory retirement age of 60 on firefighters. However, retirement before 65 would be optional.
Under terms of the contract, probationary firefighters will earn $19,254, while a platoon chief’s pay will be $39,988–maintaining a 35 per cent span over the first-class firefighter category.
