After four years of collective bargaining, members of the City of Moose Jaw Firefighters Association have received their interest arbitration award from the City of Moose Jaw, but the association is now without a current contract again.  

On April 26, an arbitrator awarded the association retroactive increases totalling 14.75 per cent in wages and 0.5 per cent in pension contributions for 2015-2018. 

"We're pleased with the award," said Matt Crocker, representative of the Moose Jaw Firefighter's Association, adding, "it took four years, three months, and 26 days to get a collective agreement, but unfortunately with the timeline of the decision, we're with an expired contract again."

Funds were allocated as a lump sum after the collective agreement was signed on June 26. The association has now been without a current contract again since December 31, 2018. 

"We've been to an arbitration board five of the last six collective agreements," said Crocker. "It's unfortunate, we'd rather settle at the table, and that's what we're hoping the next round will be, that we can freely negotiate a collective agreement with the City of Moose Jaw."

Crocker said the Firefighter's Association and the City of Moose Jaw will be back at the bargaining table later this year. 

The award was allocated as follows: 

2% January 2015 
1.75% July 2015 
2% January 2016 
2% July 2016 
2.5% January 2017 
3% January 2018