After three years of negotiations, firefighters in Swift Current have a new contract.

City Council approved a tentative three-year agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1318 retroactive to January 2009, that sees wage increases of six per cent each of the three years, and puts wages similar to those for firefighters in Yorkton.

However, the approval did come with some opposition with two councillors voting against the approval.

 

Councillor Dennis Perrault was one of the two councillors who voted against approval, saying that he wanted a four-year contract instead of a retroactive three-year deal.

He also had concerns about the rising costs for firefighters.

 

Swift Current Mayor Jerrod Schafer says he's thankful that a deal had been reached, and they would not have to go to arbitration.

 

The contract expires at the end of this year, at which time Schafer says negotiations on a new contract should begin.