Last night, Springfield Firefighters (MGEU Local 381) met to cast their ballots and decide if they would reject or accept their first union contract.
Members voted unanimously to accept the four-year contract (effective January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2014), which represents a significant achievement for Springfield Firefighters and, in many ways, for Manitoba’s volunteer firefighters, who have historically not been unionized.
The contract includes a 3% wage increase per year as well as additional protections and benefits – including the creation of a joint health and safety committee, a respectful workplace policy and a justice and dignity policy.
The MGEU’s next step is to contact the employer and get the agreement finalized and signed before it’s printed and distributed to members. In the meantime, members of Local 381 are encouraged to update their contact information here to ensure they receive a copy of the new contract once available.