Firefighters here will be receiving their first pay increase in more than 12 years.
Town council approved increases in annual compensation rates, as well as hourly rates for meetings, training sessions and truck checks, and directed Fire Chief Chris Harrow to return with a proposal for a higher per call compensation rate as well.
Although stressing Minto firefighters “have never asked for an increase or expressed concern about pay,” Harrow advised council “Minto Fire’s wage policy is out of date and requires updating,” in a report at the April 10 meeting.
The fire chief pointed out the average firefighter receives less than $3,000 per year through a complicated “hybrid” pay system created when fire departments in Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston were amalgamated.
After reviewing firefighter pay policies, senior management recommended the rate for meetings, training sessions, and truck checks be increased from $15 to $16 per hour.
The department’s deputy chief’s will see their annual rate of $6,500 increased to $6,700.
Deputy chiefs also receive $35 for every call their station receives whether or not they attend due to their role in preparing incident paperwork.
Standby pay on weekends will be increased from $75 to $80 per day.
Volunteer firefighter pay for incidents is $35 per call up to two hours, and $15 per hour after two hours. The proposal called for maintaining the $35 per call up to two hours but increasing the rate after two hours to $16 per hour.
Harrow also noted that while Firefighter’s base pay does not increase much under the new formula, “it does bring them above the upcoming minimum wage increases.”
While most of the firefighters pay is based off an hourly rate, Harrow told council that increasing the basic per call rate would have a more significant impact on firefighter compensation than the proposals in his report.
“They get $35 per call for (the) first two hours and this proposal does not change that,” he explained. “If we wanted to make a difference in their pay, increasing that is where they would see it because 70 per cent of their calls are under an hour.”
Deputy mayor Ron Faulkner suggested Harrow look at pay rates province wide and provide a recommendation.
Harrow responded that most other departments pay a flat rate per hour “so they range from $20 to $30 per hour for the calls.”
However, he noted, “With our hybrid system, if they’re only out an hour they get $35 for that hour. If they’re out for two then they get $17 per hour. Comparing ours to what everybody else makes is very, very difficult, almost impossible.”
Harrow also pointed out that firefighters keep track of their time spent at meetings and various events and are responsible to submit their time sheets. He stated many choose not to submit any time sheets, effectively donating their time.
Faulkner suggested Harrow return with a report recommending an increase in the level of per call compensation.
“Our firefighters work very hard for what little they get,” said Mayor George Bridge, adding, “I’d like to see them get a little bit of an increase because the complexities of the job have increased.”
“I don’t think any firefighter is there because of the money that they’re making. They’re there because they love it and none of them are making a big fee, but they are an integral part of our community,” said councillor Mary Lou Colwell, who presented a motion to accept the increases recommended in Harrow’s report and direct him to return with a further motion for per-call rate increases.
Council approved the motion.
“This review was long overdue and demonstrates to the firefighters the town respects the work they do. The average firefighter will still only take home around $3,000 per year, a small price for the extraordinary work our firefighters do for the community,” Harrow states in his report.
