City of Fernie and IAFF Local 2827 Ratify New Collective Agreement

The City of Fernie and the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2827 have reached a new collective agreement.

This four-year contract provides improved benefits for employees and includes wage increases of 2.5% per year for the first three years and will be benchmarked to averages of comparable municipalities for the fourth year.
This four-year agreement is retroactive to a start date of January 1, 2020 and will be in effect until December 31, 2023.

The agreement also consists of a pilot schedule ‘eight on the floor’ that will see two-person platoons on the floor at all times. The intention of this new program is to reduce response times, improve safety conditions for crews, and reduce overtime costs.

“Council wants to recognize the hard work of both teams at the table. We are happy to have reached an agreement that provides improved coverage and flexibility for responding to emergencies, and positions the City well for meeting the challenges and future demands on the Fire and Emergency Services department,” says Mayor Ange Qualizza.

‘Our local is pleased to have finalized a new Collective Agreement that will allow us to provide enhanced emergency services to our community. The opportunity to pilot a new program that will see our career firefighters working in pairs around the clock will be a major improvement to our emergency response program and the well-being of our team.” Says Troy MacLachlan President of IAFF Local 2827

“I want to thank the bargaining team for their hard work negotiating and Mike Carter, Vice President IAFF District 6 and Lee De Pellegrin, BCPFFA VP Kootenays for all their assistance. “

IAFF Local 2827 represents eight career firefighters who provide year-round emergency services to the City of Fernie.