Courtenay, B.C. | (88 municipal employees) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 556
Renewal agreement: Effective Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2024. Signed on April 15, 2021.
Wage adjustments:
Effective Jan. 1, 2022: 2%
Effective Jan. 1, 2023: 2%
Effective Jan. 1, 2024: 2%
Shift premium: Time and one-half for all hours which fall within 12-hour turnaround time for employee who starts new shift within 12 hours of completing previous shift, excluding overtime. Employee may elect to accumulate overtime and receive time off (maximum accumulated hours at overtime rate will not exceed employee’s normal workweek in hours). 10% for charge hands.
Paid holidays: 12 days.
Vacations with pay: Pro-rated 15 days or 6% to start, 15 days or 6% after 1 year, 20 days or 8% after 4 years, 25 days or 10% after 10 years, 30 days or 12% after 15 years, 35 days or 14% after 20 years, 36 days or 14.4% after 21 years, 37 days or 14.8% after 22 years, 38 days or 15.2% after 23 years, 39 days or 15.6% after 24 years, 40 days or 16% after 25 years. Employee with up to 4 years of service will be entitled to carry over maximum 1 week of vacation; maximum 2 weeks of vacation after completion of 4 years of service and thereafter. Employees who are within 5 years of being eligible for retirement with unreduced pension may bank portion of allotment, maximum 8 weeks, for future use towards early retirement.
Overtime: Time and one-half for first 3 hours; double time thereafter.
Meal allowance: Meal or $12 for employee who works more than 3 hours of continuous overtime (additional meal allowance will be allowed for each additional 3 hours of continuous overtime).
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
Dental: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
Vision: $750 per 24-month period per employee; $500 per 24-month period per family member. Entitlements may be banked, maximum $3,000 to fund laser eye surgery.
Paramedical: $750 per year, per insured person, for each category of practitioner.
Sick leave: 3 weeks to start; additional 23 weeks after completing probation. Credits may be accumulated, maximum accumulation of 26 weeks.
LTD: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 1.5 times annual salary.
Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 1.5 times annual salary.
Pension: All employees will be covered by terms of Public Sector Pension Plans Act (1999).
Bereavement leave: 4 days for death in immediate family (employee’s spouse, mother, father, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, foster-parent, legal guardian).
Seniority – recall rights: 12 months after layoffs; 3 months for employees who are transferred to permanent position outside bargaining unit.
Call-in pay: Minimum 2 hours of pay at overtime rates.
Probationary period: 6 calendar months from date of hire.
Severance: 1 week’s pay for each year of service.
Uniforms/clothing: Employer will provide personal protective clothing and equipment required by WorkSafe BC including coveralls and rainwear.
Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 4% increase):
Waterworks operator 1: $30.70 rising 2 steps to $31.94
Sewage treatment plant operator 1: $32.23 rising 2 steps to $33.53
Waterworks operator 2: $33.83 rising 2 steps to $35.20
Bylaw compliance officer 1: $32.12 rising 2 steps to $33.42
Bylaw compliance officer 2: $33.80 rising 2 steps to $35.17
Sewage treatment plant operator 2: $35.53 rising 2 steps to $36.96
Compost facility operator: $33.80 rising 2 steps to $35.17
Lead compost facility operator: $35.61 rising 2 steps to $37.05
Wastewater treatment plant maintenance operator: $39.23 rising 2 steps to $40.81
Water utilities technician: $39.23 rising 2 steps to $40.81
Waterworks operator 3: $39.23 rising 2 steps to $40.81
Sewage treatment plant operator 3: $41.22 rising 2 steps to $42.88
Lead waterworks operator: $43.30 rising 2 steps to $45.05
SCADA technician: $41.59 rising 2 steps to $ 43.27
Senior sewage treatment plant operator: $45.52 rising 2 steps to $47.36
Senior operator wastewater treatment operations and maintenance: $47.76 rising 2 steps to $49.69
Senior operator wastewater treatment facilities: $47.76 rising 2 steps to $49.69
Senior operator water transmission and distribution: $50.11 rising 2 steps to $52.13
Administrative support 1: $27.52 rising 2 steps to $28.63
Property services representative: $30.51 rising 2 steps to $31.74
Information centre assistant: $30.51 rising 2 steps to $31.74
Branch assistant engineering services: $30.51 rising 2 steps to $31.74
Branch assistant solid waste: $30.51 rising 2 steps to $31.74
Branch assistant liquid waste: $30.51 rising 2 steps to $31.74
Branch assistant executive management: $30.51 rising 2 steps to $31.74
Branch assistant community services: $32.12 rising 2 steps to $33.42
Branch assistant planning and development services: $32.12 rising 2 steps to $33.42
Branch assistant corporate services: $32.12 rising 2 steps to $33.42
Financial services assistant: $32.12 rising 2 steps to $33.42
Legislative services assistant: $ 32.12 rising 2 steps to $33.42
Editor’s notes: Standby: 1 hour of pay for each 8 hours of standby. 4 hours of pay per day plus 1 day in lieu for each holiday on standby. Medical status reports: Employees will be reimbursed, maximum $50, when medical status reports are required by employer. Hearing aids: Maximum $800 every 5 years.
