Highlights of the CUPE Local 79/City of Toronto Contracts
CUPE Local 79 has reached a tentative deal with the City of Toronto, following an 11-day strike. The deal is subject to being endorsed by the members of Local 79 and City councillors.
CUPE Local 79 ratification meetings will be held at different locations on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Information about locations and times will be advertised.
Full details of the agreement will be distributed at special information meetings held just prior to ratification votes. Information will also be posted on the union website.
Here are some details about the nine main outstanding issues:
- Wages: 1999: 2 per cent; 2000: 2.17 per cent; 2001: 3.2 per cent.
We protected our sick plans, sick bank, and vacation.
- Wage harmonization and pay equity:
If headway isn’t made on wage harmonization by the end of the year the matter will be referred to arbitration. There are deadlines for the process, to ensure that wages get harmonized sooner, rather than later.
Pay equity. The City has agreed to set up a special reserve fund to ensure funding exists for pay equity adjustments.
- Employment Security:
The Union won strong redeployment language, retraining programs, and transitional wage protection.
- Part-timers: Scheduling and Full-time Assignments:
The Union won more access to full-time hours for part-timers and better scheduling language.
- Grandfathering:
Provides protection for part-timers who were previously covered under full-time agreements and were identified by the Nov. 18, 1999 Labour Board decision.
- Benefits:
CUPE Local 79 won the best package possible.
- Promotions:
This is the only issue going straight to arbitration. We want to achieve a fair posting process, where necessary skills, required qualifications to do the job, and seniority all count. Collective agreements across the country have this language.
- Layoff and Recall
The Union achieved clearer language to protect workers during times when work is short.
- Transportation:
Mileage has improved and the City has agreed to create a joint committee to study issues related to employees who use their own vehicles for city business.
Local 79 will participate in the development of a new transportation policy.
- Hours of Work:
CUPE Local 79 won improvements and protection and access to benefits for temporary workers. We also won language that protects the full-time hours of work for full-time employees.
The four agreements include other clauses, several of which include improvements for many of our members.
For more information, please attend the membership/ratification meetings to be held later this week.