Drop sick time benefit for firefighters, paramedics: CTF

Last Updated: Monday, January 18, 2010 | 4:40 PM CT Comments49Recommend10

CBC News

Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the practice of paying out sick leave benefits for paramedics and firefighters should stop. (CBC)

Firefighters and paramedics in Winnipeg should not be allowed to cash in unused sick time when they retire, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says.

Colin Craig, Manitoba director of the CTF, says the practice is costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

Both paramedics and firefighters have a clause in their contract allowing them to cash in, upon retirement, up to 11 months of unused sick time. In 2009, that clause cost the city $2.1 million, Craig said.

"It's something very costly and no one else in the city or province have it," he said.

"The city says it doesn't have enough to fix roads [so] cut back on this lucrative benefit. Imagine what our streets would look like [with that money put into repairs]."

'It's something very costly and no one else in the city or province have it.'—Colin Craig, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

But Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW) union, said the hazards of the job force some firefighters to retire early with injuries and illnesses and they don't get severance pay when they leave.

"The sick time cash-out supplements the firefighters' pension because they [often] have to retire earlier," he said.

But Craig doesn't agree it's that necessary, otherwise it would be a more common clause in other collective agreements.

"It's a very, very rare benefit and our position is that it is simply too costly for taxpayers," he said.

The CTF is asking the city to take the clause out of a new contract with the UFFW.

The current deal expired in December and the union is currently in negotiations with the city.