CUPE 1936-09 and the Hastings Community Association (in Vancouver, BC) have signed off on a retroactive, five-year collective agreement that includes flat-rate wage increases averaging 9 per cent over the term, improved human rights and anti-harassment language, and no concessions.
The new agreement, reached on December 18 and ratified by CUPE members on January 18, also includes leave of absence without pay language and eliminates a use it-or-lose it provision for sick time. The Association board, on behalf of the employer, ratified the agreement on January 24.
“Both sides are happy to have reached this agreement after a series of productive discussions,” said CUPE National Representative Michael Reed, noting that the parties met a dozen times between May and December, in addition to caucus and prep meetings.
“Although the employer notified us of its intent to close pre-school during the spring break starting in 2021, all concessions for this contract—including preschool planning time reductions to a pro-rated amount and a change in overtime hours to start from eight hours rather than seven—were withdrawn.”
The 17 CUPE 1936-09 members at the Hastings Community Association work as preschool, out-of-school and drop-in child care providers. The collective agreement is retroactive from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2020.