City hall breaks off talks as London firefighters near 16 months without a contract: LPFFA

Contract disputes between London firefighters and city hall have reached a stalemate with the issue now headed to arbitration. CTV’s Daryl Newcombe explains.

The London Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (LPFFA) says contract talks with the city were recently broken off by Civic Administration and council has voted behind closed doors to send the lengthy dispute to binding arbitration this summer.

The 470 members of the LPFFA have been working without a contract since their previous collective agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2024.

According to Jason Timlick, president of the LPFFA, negotiations with city hall recently hit an impasse.

“We were told by city administration that they’re done talking to us. We were told that council voted unanimously to send us to arbitration at significant taxpayer cost,” he told CTV News.

Timlick says the union has been seeking a contract that is comparable to firefighters in other Ontario municipalities.

“The data over the last year and a half has shown smaller, equal size and larger municipalities have settled contracts at market value, and that’s all we’re asking for is market value,” he explained. “Wage increases, benefit increases, and language that protects ill and injured workers and our families if one of our members pays ultimate sacrifice.”

According to Timlick, a first -class London firefighter after their most recent raise in July 2024 earned $109,802 which is below the market comparison that averages $123,500 (by July 2026).

“I get it, this is a difficult economy, but it’s very difficult for us to watch the city report a substantial surplus and see firefighters in other municipalities get paid on average, $12,000 to $13,000 more than us,” he added.

“My members look down the road at St. Thomas, and you see they were able to achieve a settlement. In 2028 they’ll make $22,000 more than a firefighter in London,” he explained. “It’s upsetting. They feel undervalued and they feel underappreciated by their employer.”

City of London Human Resources tells CTV News in a written statement that they “deeply value the work [firefighters] do every day.”

The city goes on to state, “We’re in the midst of the collective bargaining process and will continue to work through that process respectfully.”

It’s not the first time London City Hall and LPFFA have been in an extended labour dispute.

The most recent contract signed in 2019 ended an unprecedented dispute that lasted almost seven years.

“That arbitration went on for nearly seven years. It was 54 dates of interest arbitration. Thankfully, we were able to negotiate our way out of that before an award,” Timlick recalled.

If city hall maintains its current stance, interest arbitration will begin in August.

He maintains there is a better path to a collective agreement this time around.

“I think we’re close,” he said. “I think if we could just get back to the table, if what I’m told is true, and council voted unanimously to send us the interest arbitration, then I’m here to ask them to reconsider that decision. Ask city administration to get back to the table with us. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper than paying lawyers and an arbitrator.”

Deemed an essential service under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, firefighters are forbidden from striking or participating in lockouts.

Timlick is quick to assure Londoners that even working without a contract, their service will not change.

“Never. Twenty-four seven, 365 days a year when the bells go off, we will show up. We will help this community no matter what,” he said.

During interest arbitration, a third-party hears submissions and evidence from the union and the employer on matters that the parties have not been able to settle.

The decision of an arbitrator is final and binding.

CTV News has requested an interview with Mayor Josh Morgan about council’s position on the status of contract talks with the LPFFA.