London Firefighters, City Hall Restart Contract Talks

0:00It's April 23rd. Welcome in. This is Canada News Today, where local news meets AI. London's firefighters in City Hall just hit the reset button on their contract talks after a key phone call between Mayor Josh Morgan and Union. President Jason Timlich Both sides agreed to give back to the bargaining table for a fair deal that works for the 470 firefighters and city taxpayers alike. These firefighters have been without a collective agreement for nearly 16 months now. Days ago, the city broke off negotiations, pushing things toward binding arbitration in August, since firefighters can't strike or get locked out. As an essential service, Timlich called it amazing how 24 hours changed everything, sounding upbeat after their good discussion. Morgan echoed that, saying they feel pretty close to a deal but need to balance wages, benefits, and other pieces through some back and forth. The Union points out a first class firefighter earns $109,802 after their latest raise,

1:00still below the market average of $123,500 in similar cities by July 2026. They're pushing for better benefits and stronger protections for ill, injured firefighters, and their families if someone dies on duty. With both committed to avoiding costly arbitration, expect more talks soon toward a homegrown solution that keeps the fire service strong and the city. Budget and Check