8/7/2019 2011-MAR-04 City Reaches Agreement With CUPE

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PRESS RELEASEwww.penticton.ca

For immediate release:

CITY REACHES AGREEMENT WITH CUPE

EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 A.M. PST

March 4, 2011

Penticton, B.C. The City of Penticton and its largest union, CUPE Local 608 has reached a collectiveagreement for 178 city employees responsible for a broad range of services from labourers to lifeguards.Under the terms of the four-year agreement the City of Penticton, working with CUPE Local 608, willachieve a minimum total savings of $394,000.

As part of the 2011 budget process, the City identified a number of areas that needed to be addressedas part of the structural deficit. These included cost savings and efficiencies across all levels. Theratification of the collective agreement was achieved by the City and CUPE Local 608 working together,said Mayor Dan Ashton.

I am pleased that the matter is resolved without job action so we can refocus our energy to better servethe citizens of Penticton, Ashton continued. I applaud the dedication of the employees on both sides ofthe issue in working together to bring the best results for Penticton in these economically challengingtimes.

Penticton Council ratified the deal, achieved after several days of intense negotiations, at a meeting held

on Tuesday, March 2

nd

. CUPE Local 608 members voted in favour of the agreement at a meeting heldMarch 3rd.

The City of Penticton and CUPE Local 608 began negotiations on December 13, 2010.

The agreement signed replaces the one which expired December 31, 2009 and will run January 1, 2010to December 31, 2013 (4 years).

Highlights of the agreement are;

y A signing bonus of $300 in lieu of a wage increase for 2010.y Current employees will receive wage increases of 1% for 2011, 2012 and 2013 effective April

1

st

of each year.y Improvements to benefits and language.y Seniority has been extended for all Community Centre employees on layoff until the

reopening.y New Hire Rates have been established

o Lifeguard $18.50 / hr (+.68/hr premium when instructing)o Labourer $18.00 / hro Labourer II $18.68 (new hired Labourers who advance to Labourer II)o RCMP Guard $20.00o In addition to the rates is the inclusion of benefits or a percent in lieu of benefits

8/7/2019 2011-MAR-04 City Reaches Agreement With CUPE

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Page 2City Reaches Agreement With CUPE

The contract will be in effect until December 31, 2013, which covers 178 municipal workers who provide

services in Penticton, including support for the RCMP, services at city hall, public works (roadmaintenance, water system, sewer system, and equipment operator) as well as parks and recreation including operation of the community centre.

For more information on the City of Penticton visit: www.penticton.ca.

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For further information contact:

Annette Antoniak

City ManagerCity of Penticton250-490-2407www.penticton.ca