May 16, 2000 - HRM, Firefighters Reach Tentative Agreement

HRM, Firefighters Reach Tentative Agreement

(Tuesday, May 16/2000)-- Halifax Regional Municipality and its 400 full-time firefighters have reached agreement on a new four-year labour contract.

The new agreement, which expires in May, 2004, has been ratified by Members of Halifax Regional Council and members of Local 268 of the International Association of Firefighters.

An official signing ceremony is expected to be held within a month.

The new agreement provides significantly increased flexibility to meet the operating needs of the Fire and Emergency Service, including:

• improvements in management rights related to training and scheduling;
• the new agreement provides for a total 13.5 per cent wage increase over the life of the agreement;
• a four-year, phase-in for bringing rural salaries up to the level of firefighter salaries in the core area.

Fiscal Year	1st Class Firefighter	Increase
Current	$46,000
June 1, 2000	$46,920	2 per cent
September 1, 2000	$48,328	3 per cent
September 1, 2001	$49,777	3 per cent
September 1, 2002	$51,271	3 per cent
September 1, 2003	$52,552	2.5 per cent

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David Reid
HRM, Chief Negotiator
471-3597