VICTORIA The 600 employees of the City of Victoria, represented by CUPE Locals 50 and 388, have ratified their new four year collective agreement. The Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA) has also ratified the pact on behalf of the city. The agreement covers the years 2001 to 2004 inclusive.
The workers will receive wage increases totaling 8.5%, plus further wage adjustments should the Victoria Consumer Price Index (CPI ) rise above 2.0% in each of two of the agreement years, and 2.5% in another.
A much improved Extended Health Care Plan comes into effect next year. In 2004 the employer will pay 80% of the MSP, Dental, Extended Health Care and Life Insurance plan premiums - up from the present 75% contribution.
The joint job evaluation and pay equity project that commenced in 1991 and took years to resolve is, for the first time, now included in the Local 50 and 388 collective agreements.
CUPE Local 388 President Susan Jansen stated: “We are proud of the achievements we’ve made in the struggle for pay equity for the women employed by the City of Victoria. Through evaluating the work of each city job for complexity and judgement, impact, knowledge, responsibility, contacts and working conditions we were able to establish that women faced significant wage discrimination. Money to close the gap was negotiated in previous collective agreements, implemented two years ago, and now included in our collective agreement.
For the first time, auxiliary employees will be paid time-and-one-half their normal rate of pay when working on a statutory holiday.
A small victory was also achieved for the family members of any deceased employee. The family may remain enrolled on the MSP, Dental and Extended Health Care plans for a year provided the family pays the employee’s normal share of the premium.
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For more information:
Susan Jansen, President CUPE Local 388,
(250) 385-6023
John Burrows, President CUPE Local 50,
(250) 385-6023.