Charlottetown and Fire Dept. Sign First Collective Agreement
Charlottetown Mayor Brown, left, CPFFA President James Pickard, CPFFA Vice President Spencer Waite, Charlottetown CAO Eleanor Mohammed, Charlottetown Manager of Human Resources Emilee MacLeod, Charlottetown Fire Chief Tim Mamye, Charlottetown Deputy Fire Chief Kent Mitchell, City of Charlottetown Legal Counsel Karen Campbell of Cox & Palmer.
The City of Charlottetown has signed its first collective agreement with the Charlottetown Professional Firefighters Association (CPFFA) Local 5219.
Permanent Firefighters saw a pay increase of 3.5 per cent per annum for the duration of the agreement from 2019 to 2024. Relief Firefighters saw the same increase of 3.5 per cent.
“With the signing of this collective agreement, we are recognizing the dedication and service of our firefighters,” said Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. “As we move forward, the partnership between the City of Charlottetown and our Fire Department continues to grow stronger, ensuring our community is protected by the best."
Charlottetown Firefighters were previously paid $69,548.20 (2018 rate) and are now at $89,703.68 (2024 rate) which is an overall increase of $20,155.48 or roughly a 28 per cent increase in salary. Relief firefighters saw the same percentage increase in their hourly rates.
“This agreement is a significant step in recognizing the hard work of our permanent firefighters as a vital part of our combination fire department,” said Charlottetown Fire Department Chief Tim Mamye. “The successful implementation of 24-hour shifts shows our commitment to meeting the needs of our community and all department members. We look forward to continuing our building a strong partnership as we approach future negotiations and continued growth as a combination department.”
The agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2024, and the City has received notice to bargain with CPFFA. This process will likely begin early in 2025.
“This first collective agreement is a big step forward for the Charlottetown Professional Firefighters Association,” said James Pickard, President of the Charlottetown Professional Firefighters Association (CPFFA) Local 5219. “It reflects our commitment to serving the community with dedication and professionalism, while also ensuring that our members are fairly compensated for their hard work. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and we look forward to continuing to work with the City to build a strong partnership for the future.”