City staffers in Kootenay-area ratify new deal

B.C. workers to get 4.4 per cent wage increase over 3-year contract

The Canadian Union of Public Employees ratified a new collective agreement with the Regional District of Central Kootenay, covering municipal staffers in and around Nelson, B.C.

On Nov. 28, CUPE local 2262 ratified the new three-year agreement for its 40 employers at arenas, aquatic centres and landfills. The bargaining unit is made of up lifeguards, landfill attendants and maintenance, custodial and customer service representatives.

The bargaining was “respectful and productive,” according to Leford Lafayette, president of the union’s local chapter.

“This follows on the heels of the agreement we reached in the summer with the Castlegar, B.C. golf course — a tough round of bargaining that still resulted in a negotiated, no-concessions collective agreement,” he explained, adding that only three meetings with the district were necessary to hammer out the deal.

As part of the new deal, which expires on Feb. 28, 2015, Kootenay district employees will get wage hikes of 1.5 per cent, 1.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent in each year of the contract. Improvements were also made to definition language and clothing and optical allowances.

The employer has yet to ratify the collective agreement.

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