Saint-Constant, Wednesday, September 30, 2009—An overwhelming majority of Saint-Constant’s blue collar workers have voted to accept an agreement negotiated between the municipality and their CUPE-affiliated union.
The new collective agreement was signed September 28, 2009, to cover the years 2008 to 2012. It calls for salary increases of 3% for the first two years and 2.5% in subsequent years, and an increase in the minimum employee level from 12 to 14 permanent employees. The City’s contribution to the group RRSP, raised from 5% to 5.5% for 2008, will continue upward gradually, reaching 8.5% in 2012. The parties also agreed to form a committee to put in place a defined benefit pension plan. In addition, phased retirement is now possible, and the employer has agreed that at least two persons will take advantage of it over an 18 month period. Lastly, employees with over 25 years of seniority will now receive one vacation day per year of service, up to 30 days.
Workers in the municipality on Montreal’s South Shore are extremely satisfied with the results of the negotiations, which also secured a salary increase for temporary employees. With the introduction of two salary grades, they will now earn the same wages as permanent employees once they complete 24 months of service.
CUPE represents some 70% of all municipal employees in Quebec, as well as workers in 10 other sectors including health and social services, education, public transit, air transportation, energy, Quebec government corporations and public agencies, and communications. With some 105,000 members in Quebec, CUPE is QFL’s largest affiliate.
This press release and other information can be found at scfp.qc.ca
SOURCE: CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (QFL)
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