Whereas recent firefighter wage arbitrations have awarded wage parity with lower mainland local governments regardless of local circumstances of the subject local government; And whereas the Fire and Police Services Collective Bargaining Act requires an arbitrator to have regard for the need to maintain internal consistency and equity amongst employees and the terms and conditions of employment for other groups of employees who are employed by the employer: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training to exercise statutory authority to specify that arbitrators are to give consideration to local conditions.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism Skills Training, Minister Responsible for Labour The purpose of the Fire and Police Services Collective Bargaining Act Act is to provide access for unions and employers to binding interest arbitration to resolve a collective bargaining dispute. By proceeding to arbitration, the parties are able to maintain the ability to engage in face-to-face negotiations and avoid a strike or lockout, which would interrupt the delivery of services critical to the protection of human life and property. The Act has achieved this objective. It should be noted that the majority of municipalities and fire fighter union locals have reached voluntary settlements without resorting to arbitration under the Act. Where arbitration is utilized, the Act contains specific criteria which an arbitrator must follow when making hisher decision. These criteria are purposely broad, and allow the parties to raise concerns before the arbitrator so that appropriate weight can be given to each partys concerns. The criteria already includes a requirement to consider local conditions, such as the term and conditions for other employees of the employer, as well as the interest and welfare of the community served by the employer and employees. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Minister Responsible for Labour continues to have no plans to review the Act at this time. The Ministry will, however, continue to actively monitor collective bargaining in the sectors covered by the Act.