Nova Scotia restorative justice caseworkers achieve new agreement

Deal includes wage boosts in each year of new deal: CUPE

Restorative justice caseworkers, who are members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 4764, voted in favour of a new collective agreement with their employer the Community Justice Society (CJS) on Sept. 4.

Effective immediately, the caseworkers will receive an almost 20 per cent wage increase. Other improvements include parking, meal allowances, and an adjustment to the retirement savings plan, said CUPE.

"It was a difficult decision for us to go on strike and we're looking forward to getting back to our clients and the work we love," said Denise Russell, president of CUPE 4764.

Wage increases will be one per cent effective April 23, 2017; 19.4 per cent effective Sept. 1, 2018; two per cent effective April 1, 2019; two per cent effective April 1, 2020. The new collective agreement runs from April 23, 2016, to March 31, 2021, said the union.

After five weeks of striking, the caseworkers will return to work on Sept. 5, according to CUPE.

The agreement was reached on Aug. 31, said the union.

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