At a general meeting on January 25, City of Hampstead workers, represented by the Syndicat des fonctionnaires municipaux de Montréal (CUPE-FTQ), voted 88 per cent in favour of the agreement in principal reached on December 15, 2011.
The new contract covers a period of five years, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. It includes wage increases of approximately 2 per cent for 2011 and 2.5 per cent for each subsequent year, including up to 3 per cent indexation to the Quebec CPI for the years 2014 and 2015.
In addition, the agreement raises the ceiling on the pension plan for union members working in public safety, starting at age 60.
Students were not left out, with the union gaining an increase of 47 cents in their hourly rate for 2011, 3.6 per cent for 2012, and a guarantee of at least 102 per cent of the minimum wage for subsequent years.
Starting on January 1, 2012, various premiums have been increased by ten per cent. There will now be a ten dollar meal allowance when more than three hours of overtime is assigned, and members who do not work with the public will have access to a flexible work schedule.
“We are especially proud of the results of the vote, clearly demonstrating that our objectives have been achieved,” said union president, Monique Côté. She also acknowledged the excellent work of Francine Bouliane, vice-president responsible for the file, and Nicolas Cléroux, CUPE representative, who were treated with respect by the employer throughout the negotiations, which began in February 2011.