Paid on call firefighters in Georgian Bluffs and part of Meaford have voted in favour of joining a union.
The 40 members of the Inter-township Fire Department held the vote under the supervision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board and now will be joining Local 431 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
Local 431 is a dedicated local for firefighters and was set up in 2009.
Union official Derik McArthur says the Inter Township firefighters were tired of the treatment they received from the local fire board.
He says when the Township tried to change conditions of their employment, that is when they moved towards joining a union.
The next step for the firefighters will be to hold proposal meetings over the summer, and a notice will be sent to the Township to set up some bargaining dates for their first contract.
