" anadian Champion Q c Q NEWS Once signed, contract will have expired and new negotiations need to begin @ Continued from page 3 started more than three years ago, told the Milton Champion he expects the s loose ends of a few issues to 'be tied up and a new con- tract formally signed, by the town and the firefight- ers union, within the next two months. The agreement between the municipality and the firefighters' association (IAFF Local 3168) expired on Feb. 28, 2015. During negotiations, the parties were able to reach resolution on 38 operation- al and non-monetary items, including changes in con- tract language. When a new deal is signed, the two sides will have to quickly restart ne- gotiations on another pact. Pratt said he expects insidehalton.com talks to begin this Septem- ber on possibly a new three or four-year contract. At the town council meeting on Monday, May 28, some town staffers and councillors expressed con- cern about the financial im- pact of what will be the "new" old contract, which runs from March 1, 2015, to Feb. 28, 2018. Linda Leeds, the town's deputy chief accounting of- ficer and chief financial of- ficer, told councillors that the awarded increases to fi- nancial compensation for Milton firefighters equals about $535,000 a year more in costs to the town, the equivalent of almost a one per cent budget hike, based on the 2018 tax levy. "This gward will have a significant financial impact on the cost of operating the Milton Fire Department and will further compound the ®osts to increase on-du- ty staffing levels," says Leeds' written report to council. "The board awarded a number of additional items, which result in sig- nificant increase in the overall total compensation costs, without consider- ation to offsets nor cost con- tainment," the report stat- ed. In terms of salary com- pensation awarded by the arbitration board, firefight- ers get a 3.75 per cent raise for 2015, 2.1 per cent for 2016, and 2.3 per cent for 2017. The incremental in- creases means a first-class firefighter in Milton is be- ing paid $96,925 as of March 2017. Leeds' report notes that VEYA $0, LL 905.693.8820 | 525 Ontario St. South, Milton, ON the arbitration decision re- sults in first<lass firefight- ers in Milton earning slightly more than first- class constables with Hal- ton regional police, for 2017. " ... there is evidence to suggest that the norm of po- lice/fire parity will be rein- stated in 2018 and beyond," says her report. Now the town has to cost out the firefighter wage in- creases. > "Staff, in conjunction with town's benefits advi- sors, continue to work through the final costing of the aggregate impact of the remainder of the arbitra- tors' rulings," said Leeds' report. "There will be budget pressure in 2018 in order to accommodate the higher rate of pay and other awards made. © MORE ONLINE Check out our range of sqcial media channels serving up content from insidehalton.com These will be reflected in the quarterly variance pro- cesses and incorporated in- to the 2019 budget process." Pratt, who attended the contract arbitration hear- ings on behalf of the town, sees both sides of argu- ments made at the bargain- ing table, as he technically represents the employer (the town) but works di- rectly with many fire de- partment staff and union- ized firefighters. "I feel bad for the (elect- ed town) councillors be- cause they have to answer tgthe public and set the tax levy. "The fire associations provincially are aligning themselves to get the same ° (compensation) as in other parts of the province. Then in arbitration awards it becomes norma- tive," he told the Champion. The Milton Fire Depart- ment has 130 employees. Fifty-eight of that number are unionized staff, with 45 of the 58 being full-time fire- fighters. The department also has 65 part-time/ volunteer fire- fighters. Pratt said the service will add five full-time posi- tion in 2018 - three firefight- ers and two communica- tors. 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE ---- Proudly Serving Milton mise Air Conditioning : Tune up Special Prevent an emergency this summer! Cool this 52, 500 NYY lL RERERED on MAJOR in in Rebates Name Brand Air Conditioners LILLE