CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Lengthy wait times for resolving grievances has led staff of the Charlottetown Fire Department to form a new union.
Staff opted to leave the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 501 and form a new union called the Charlottetown Professional Firefighters Association.
The new union will include full and part-time firefighters, fire inspectors and fire prevention officers. The bargaining unit will consist of 21 workers.
The P.E.I. Labour Relations Board ruled that fire department staff could decertify from the CUPE local, which also represents clerical, public works and parks and recreation staff from the City of Charlottetown.
In its ruling, the board noted firefighters had difficulty in concluding grievances in a timely manner.
Department staff member and CPFA president Spencer Waite told the board that, as of August 2017, 14 grievances had been outstanding for at least six years.
In response, CUPE Local 501 told the board the City of Charlottetown had failed to respond to the union’s requests to name an arbitrator to hear the grievances.
Firefighters also said scheduling challenges had not been resolved, and that many firefighters wound up working alone. If they receive a call, firefighters cannot enter a building or leave a truck without the presence of a second firefighter on site.
“As a result, there have been incidents where the firefighter, despite being at the scene, was unable to enter the building with people inside it,” the ruling stated.
Spencer Waite told The Guardian that CUPE 501 had been a good representative for city firefighters for many years. But he said the wait times for resolution of grievances were too long for union members.
"We certainly think some of the responsibility did fall on CUPE. What the reason is behind it, is the unknown for us. This is one step forward that we can take to correct it ourselves,” said Waite.
Waite said a “strong majority” members supported the switch from CUPE to the new union.
“Experience shows that firefighters' concerns are best addressed through a standalone professional firefighter's bargaining agent," Waite said.
The City of Charlottetown took no position on the matter of union representation of city firefighters.
Want to wade into the debate? Write a letter to the editor and email it to [email protected]. Be sure to include a name, address and daytime telephone number where the author can be contacted. Letters should be no more than 250 words.
