Led by a prominent arbitrator with seasoned union and management counsel, this panel will examine current interest arbitration awards and discuss the treatment by negotiating parties and by arbitrators of emerging issues in the fire sector across Canada.

Among Topics to be Addressed:

• To what extent do fire sector arbitrators take inflation into account? What role does it play in bargaining?
• How much weight do arbitrators give to police-fire wage parity?
• Are municipal employee settlements relevant in fire sector bargaining/arbitration?
• What factors do arbitrators consider in deciding staffing issues?
• Will arbitrators prohibit a requirement for prior authorization of drugs by insurance companies?
• Contracting out of bargaining unit work: can dispatch work be contracted out and if so, must it be contracted out to a fire force represented by the firefighters’ association?
• How much weight do arbitrators give to the employer’s ability to pay?
• Can parties introduce late demands and, if so, when?
• Will arbitrators grant an employer’s request to add part-time firefighters?
• How do arbitrators apply the factors of wage comparability and demonstrated need, total compensation, and past bargaining history?
• Can the parties’ exchanges during negotiations be referred to at arbitration?
• And more.

Participants will receive materials containing current legislation and key precedent-setting decisions.

• HR directors, professionals and executives
• Fire chiefs and deputies
• Union officers and representatives
• Grievance advisors and committee members
• Labour lawyers/consultants
• Arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators