By Nick Martin of The Free Press
London’s 301 fire department employees have been awarded an 18-per-cent wage increase for 1979 by a board of arbitration.
“It’s bad news,” Mayor Al Gleeson told board of control today as he released the decision, which is binding provided the arbitrator has not made a mistake on a point of law.
A first-class firefighter who earned $17,909 in 1978 will have his salary increased to $20,243 retroactive to Jan. 1, and increased to $21,165 retroactive to July 1. The award stated that other members of the bargaining unit will have their salaries adjusted by a similar percentage.
Deputy Mayor Orlando Zamprogna said the award would cost the city close to $300,000 in the 1979 budget. The city had budgeted for an offer “around 10 or 11 per cent” to the firefighters’ association,” Zamprogna said.
“It’s going to knock a large hole in the budget. We don’t have that,” Zamprogna said.
Gleeson said the increase would amount to 18 per cent for one year. The board received the report of the award today and was expected to discuss it at its weekly meeting later in the day.
Members of the union executive are attending a conference in Newfoundland and were unavailable for comment. However, one member of the department said in a telephone interview; “Yay! There’s no AIB (anti-inflation review board) to roll us back this year.”
The fire department member said the London members have been trying for years to achieve parity with other area fire departments and will come close with the arbitration award.
The 300,000 population Toronto suburb of Mississauga on July 1 paid its first-class firemen $20,600 which goes to $23,345, Jan. 1. The City of Toronto will pay its first-class firemen $22,000, effective Monday.
The London firefighters’ wage is below that paid first-class police constables in London. Their current salary is $21,400 which increases to $23,363, Jan. 1, 1980 and $23,034, July 1, 1980.
The firefighters’ association had requested a salary increase to $21,490 for first-class firefighters.
The arbitration board also decided that the city and the firefighters should meet further to discuss a minimum manning formula, which has been the subject of controversy for the past year.
If the issue cannot be resolved by the two parties, the arbitration board said, a specific hearing will be held to consider the matter. The board also said that members of the fire department, whose primary duty is firefighting, will not be called upon in future to effect repairs, renovations or construction to any fire department building.
