CTF Wants Sick Time Benefits Dropped for Firefighters
Posted by Tyler Sutherland
Provisions in contracts the city has with employees of the Fire Paramedic Service has the Canadian Taxpayers Federation fuming.
The CTF called on the City of Winnipeg Monday to negotiate out terms that allows for employees to accumulate sick time and collect a cash payment upon retirement.
According to documents obtained by the CTF, $2.1 million in unused sick leave was paid out in 2008, bringing sick leave liability to $27.2 million.
“Fire Paramedic employees deserve fair pay for the work they do, no one would question that,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “But allowing the accumulation of nearly a year’s worth of sick leave and eventual payout is too costly for taxpayers.”
Craig also said that firefighters were filing workers compensation claims instead of using their sick time for H1N1 cases.
The contract with the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW) expired in December. Negotiations have been ongoing ever since.
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January 18th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Sick days are an awesome benefit that all employers should offer, but they come with the responsibility not to abuse them. Allowing them to accumulate is fine, but paying them out is not. They aren’t vacation days.
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January 18th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Well, sick day abuse is subjective to the job getting done. Someone sitting at a desk all day with not much to do (cushy Gov job.. I know these people) will get sick for probably 28 of 30 allowed days. Stuff will get done later, there’s no rush.
In my last job, I took 3 days in 5 years. That was a combo of having a good work ethic and a boss that used to be the drummer for Amistad.
Now as a freelancer, I have agonizing back pain, failing eye-sight, stiff limbs and ‘roids. No one’s paying me to sit at home on my donut anymore.
Sick days could be the next Canadian Tire money if done right.
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