Council here has signed a new three-year contract with its 17 unionized employees that will see them receive a one per cent wage increase in the first year and 1.5% increase in each of the next two years.
The agreement was ratified by the members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 255.11 last week and approved by council on Oct. 21.
The contract also sees unionized workers receiving a .75% signing bonus on the contract that runs from July 1 this year to July 1, 2015.
“I think both sides are satisfied with the agreement,” Mayor Ray Tout told reporters after council’s approval.
Wages in the water and sewage department range from $20.34 an hour to $29.04 and will rise over the length of the contract to $21.16 and $30.22.
On the low end the signing bonus will add 15 cents and at the top end 22 cents.
A labourer/driver in the roads department will see an hourly wage go from $23.23 to $24.17 over the life of the contract with a signing bonus of 18 cents.
The same position in the recreation department will go from $20.34 to $21.16 with a signing bonus of 15 cents.
The mayor said contract talks went well, with both sides “trying to meet in the middle.”
CAO Mike Givens said the benefit portion of the contract is largely unchanged from the previous agreement.
“(There are) no other significant changes from the prior agreement,” he said.
“Council of the township believes the agreement is fair and equitable. Council very much values the contributions of all staff at the township.”
