Winnipeg may soon explore switching its firefighters to 24-hour shifts, as part of a new collective agreement.
A tentative labour deal with the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg notes a special working group would “review and investigate” the feasibility of a 24-hour shift and “identify issues and concerns arising from such a shift being utilized by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service,” if city council and the union ratify the labour proposal.
The group would then submit a report to the WFPS chief on how to proceed, though its recommendations would not be binding.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES
A tentative labour deal between the City of Winnipeg and the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg notes a special working group would “review and investigate” the feasibility of switching Winnipeg firefighters to 24-hour shifts.
The proposal raises some concerns about how staff in the very busy department would be affected by such long hours, said Coun. Evan Duncan.
“I’m not sure that there’s an appetite right now to go toward 24-hour shifts, given that some staff are struggling … whether that be through mental health or PTSD … to do their current shift cycle,” said Duncan, a former chairman of council’s community services committee.
On Tuesday, a new report noted the WFPS is projecting a nearly $13-million budget overrun, mostly due to increased firefighter injury claims and overtime needed to cover staff absences.
Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said he’s not sure such long shifts would work well in Winnipeg, where staff are already affected by high demand for emergency services and extra hours.
“I’m not sure why it would make sense, at this point in time, to have (staff) that busy for 24 hours consecutively. I’m not sure how they would address people actually getting proper rest during that period to make sure they’re ready and able to respond to emergency situations,” he said, noting 911 calls can be especially stressful due to the city’s ongoing drug crisis. “If I had to deal with what they have to deal with, I don’t think I could do that for 24 hours straight.”
Duncan said the city’s focus should be on addressing the root causes of increased overtime and absenteeism “instead of just jumping to 24-hr shifts without addressing” those issues.
Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas), the current chairwoman of community services, could not be reached for comment.
On Wednesday evening WFPS declined comment until after city council votes on the labour deal.
As of last year, Winnipeg firefighters worked a rotation of four days on — two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour night shifts — and four days off.
United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Tom Bilous said the union won’t comment on any details of the tentative agreement until it has been finalized.
Last year, Bilous told the Free Press a trial of 24-hour shifts was among the top-three negotiating priorities for his members.
“We take our direction from the members, and there’s been an expressed interest to explore a trial period,” he said at the time.
Firefighters in Thunder Bay, Ont., permanently switched to a 24-hour shift system in 2020. Their model involves one 24-hour shift, followed by a day off, then another 24-hour shift and five days off.
“Most of the larger fire departments in Ontario are on the 24-hour shift (model) already … the 10-hour day, 14-hour night shifts, four on, four off, were kind of exhausting,” said Dennis Brescacin, president of the Thunder Bay Professional Fire Fighters Association. “With the 24-hour shift, we have 24 hours off in between.”
Brescacin said the program has been easier on firefighters’ sleep schedules, improved their work-life balance and is linked to better mental health, less sick time and improved morale.
He said the current system allows firefighters to average about 42 hours of work per week.
Brescacin said the extended shifts have not been linked to exhaustion or safety concerns. In fact, he believes sick time has dropped because firefighters experience less fatigue overall.
“I recommend it to any department. Even our management likes, it as well. It’s had some cost savings for them, as well as sick time,” he said.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said a testing period would help determine whether the change should be made.
“Our staff will work with UFFW to put a committee together to examine that. I’m looking forward to the results of what they discover as to whether it’s beneficial or not,” he said.
The 24-hour shift working group is one element of a broader labour deal proposed for Winnipeg firefighters.
The tentative deal includes general wage hikes of 1.5 per cent on each of June 30 (retroactive) and Dec. 31. Wages would rise another 1.1 per cent on July 1, 2025, followed by 1.5 per cent on Dec. 31, 2025. Two one per cent raises would follow in each of the next three years.
The deal is expected to cost the city about $60.5 million more than its current labour deal by its end date of Dec. 31, 2028.
It also proposes to boost parental leave, providing some staff with a supplement of 15 weeks of salary top-up to reach 93 per cent of their usual weekly pay. The city would also continue to provide $88,000 per year to support residential addiction and mental health treatment for members.
The mayor said he expects to vote in favour of the deal.
“I think what we see before us here is fairly in line with the rate of inflation … I’m looking forward to supporting this agreement,” said Gillingham.
City council is expected to cast the final vote on the labour agreement on Nov. 21.
— with files from Chris Kitching
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
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