MB: Sick Time Fire to Put Out
Allowing Fire Paramedic employees to store up unused sick days and cash out 11 months worth has become too costly for taxpayers
Fire Paramedic Service sick pay liability now over $27 million
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) called on the City of Winnipeg today to negotiate out provisions in contracts with Fire Paramedic Employees which allow employees to accumulate sick time and collect a cash payment upon retirement. Documents obtained by the CTF show the city paid out $2.1 million in 2008 in unused sick leave payouts while its sick leave liability ballooned 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.”
Sick leave payouts for the last five years:
2008 - $2,118,647.29
2007 - $2,388,681.32
2006 - $1,217,595.58
2005 - $1,264,731.56
2004 - $706,638.12
Sick leave accrued benefit obligation as of December 31 for the Fire Paramedic Service was as follows:
2008 - $27,251,000
2007 - $24,608,000
2006 - $24,905,000
2005 - $23,723,000
2004 - $22,194,000
“Just imagine if the funds used to pay out stored up sick leave went towards road repair instead,” added Craig. “Think of how many streets would become as smooth as babies’ bottoms each year.”
“Earlier this year it was discovered that firefighters were filing workers compensation claims instead of using their sick time for H1N1 cases,” continued Craig. “It all makes sense now, they were trying to preserve their sick time for payouts down the road. That shouldn't be happening.”
To view the FOI response from the City of Winnipeg, click here.
To view the Auditor’s report on firefighters’ sick leave which describes how the sick days are accumulated, click here (see item #8 on the executive policy committee agenda, bottom of page 22)
For media coverage of this release, click here.
To email the mayor and city council, use the link at our "Eliminate Winnipeg's Business Tax" campaign page.
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Comments
Excellent Coverge
Terrific work Colin.
You did a good job on this issue. It appears that there are still more issues to uncover.
For example, abuse of disability and pension spiking.
Thanks for all your work protecting unsuspecting taxpayers.
MB: Sick Time Fire to Put Out
This was definitely a fauxpas from your organization, wrong group of important employees to pick on. I find your views shortsighted and you should do a full cost and work assessment comparison prior to raising this pre-negotiated issue. Next time pick on the less essential jobs to make a point! The Fire Fighters, Police and Emergency Personnel should always be supported, Show respect to the men and women of this vocation!
I’m just a normal individual who is grateful to have these services!
firefighters deserve everything they get and some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i realize no other occupations receives this type of pay out, but no other occupation requires you to place your life in danger day in and day out for the well being of total strangers. all it would take for the citzens of winnipeg to realize this is to have someone close to them saved by the great work our firefighters do. and if this payout was eliminated then sick leave would definitively rise, which would mean the city needs to pay time and a half for over time then that 2 million would turn into 3 million
Fire Paramedic employees deserve fair pay for the work they do
You should do more research. A lot of the contracts with the police services cost the taxpayer a lot of money also. lets stop all of it. Regina police get pension benifits on their overtime. Most labour contract do not include that benifit.
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