NOV ~ 6 1972

TO: Mayor and Council November 3, 1972

FROM: L.D. Pollock, City Administrator

-RE:  Firemen's Union Contract

During our discussions on the Firemen's Contract I mentioned to the Council
that the firemen had requested additional pay for. anyone holding a valid
Industrial First Aid Ticket. Their request was withdrawn during negotiations
on the understanding that Council would give consideration to some form of
Payment or bonus for those employees maintaining this certificate. We have
in the past made the St. Johns Industrial First Aid a requirement of the job
due to the fact that the firemen are ail involved in operating the rescue
vehicle. The course is not ideally suited to ambulance operation however,
it is the only course available at the present time. In the past the City
have paid the course fees (amounting to approximately $56. per candidate) and
the firemen have gone on their own time involving approximately two nights a
week for a period of two months. .

‘Our Fire Department operates quite differently from most departments in that
all of the men operate the rescue vehicle. In most other departments in the
Lower Mainland there are four or five men required to maintain first aid
qualifications and these men are paid extra for the qualification. Their
“rescue vehicle or ambulance operation is manned by a special crew. In our
case, the men are combined firemen and rescue vehicle operators and it has
been necessary to maintain some sort of qualification. This coupled with the
time involved for the men in attending night classes to obtain the qualification
appears to be justification for some form of compensation.

ORR thea ia SQ Ye ALMA TS By Re IDEN I ate

E recommended to Council the granting of two days leave of absence per year with

pay as compensation. This method has been used in some other departments and I
believe it would be acceptable to the firemen. I would like Council's consideration
of this proposal.

el ustddoss hated estates,