Wellington North has reached a collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 17 township employees.
While the agreement expired on June 30, CUPE Local 255.11 and Wellington North CAO Mike Givens have had ongoing negotiations since early June. After three meetings, the two parties reached a collective agreement.
The local union voted to ratify the agreement on July 26, and it was presented to council at the Aug. 15 council meeting. The agreement will be in place until June 30, 2019.
“I would suggest that the union negotiating team came in with very reasonable expectations, and that made the negotiations fairly smooth in my opinion,” said Givens.
A key item includes an increase in compensation for most union employees.
Effective July 1, 2016, there was a 1.5 per cent increase in compensation for all job classifications, excluding labourer/driver, finance clerk and administrative support. This will be followed by a 1.6% increase in 2017 and 1.7% increase in 2018. There will be a one-time wage adjustment of $1.50 per hour for those excluded from the increase.
Other key items included a six-week cap for vacation and a one-month increase to the probationary period.
The agreement will also allow a safety clothing allowance increase of $25 for the public works and recreation departments. Health benefits will be consistent between the union and non-union members, and there is a provision for flexible hours for road department workers who have rural route duties.
In his report to council Givens noted the total annual compensation for union employees would increase from $1.03 million to over $1.05 million.
“Thank you, Mike, for spearheading that negotiation, and it’s nice we can work together smoothly,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
Council accepted the report and passed a bylaw approving the agreement.
