Sackville, N.B., volunteer firefighters leave workplace, citing harassment concerns

Twelves volunteer firefighters in Sackville, N.B., have handed in their pagers, citing workplace safety frustrations.

A dispute involving the volunteer fire service in Sackville, N.B., is raising concerns in the community about fire protection and workplace safety.

Twelve volunteer firefighters have stepped away from the workplace, citing ongoing concerns related to management, workplace safety and harassment.

In a written statement, the firefighters stressed they are “not resigning” from the department. The statement says stepping away is “a necessary step to underscore the seriousness of the concerns being raised.”

The firefighters say the issues are not new. In their statement, they say the concerns “have been raised repeatedly over time” by current and former members.

They say the concerns relate to workplace culture, safety practices and how complaints are handled, adding that some members “do not feel comfortable raising issues internally.”

The firefighters also acknowledge the municipality has workplace policies in place and changes were made following a workplace assessment. However, the statement says those actions “have not resulted in meaningful or lasting change,” and that concerns continue to persist.

Sackville is home to more than 6,000 residents and also Mount Allison University, with roughly 2,000 students living on campus and in private rentals throughout the community.

The town is part of the larger Municipality of Tantramar, which provides fire protection not only to Sackville, but also to neighbouring communities including Dorchester and Aulac.

In its own written statement, the Municipality of Tantramar said it “takes all allegations seriously” and is “committed to providing a safe and respectful workplace.”

The municipality said it has “reached out to the firefighters involved” and that meetings are being planned “to better understand and address the concerns raised.”

The statement also says the municipality has “policies and processes in place to deal with workplace complaints” and that it has acted on recommendations from previous assessments.

The municipality stressed fire protection remains in place across Tantramar, noting “staffing support from other fire halls” and “existing mutual aid agreements” remain available if needed.

Scott Terrio, a long-time Sackville resident, said his house caught fire just days after he moved in and firefighters responded quickly.

Terrio said he hopes “a resolution can be reached” so firefighters can return to their duties.

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