BELLEVILLE, Ont. – The City of Belleville and its municipal workers, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)-907, have reached a new collective agreement covering the next three years.
“We are pleased to jointly announce that both sides have ratified the new contract for Belleville’s municipal workers,” says Krista Cowan, President of CUPE 907. “We’re proud of the services we deliver, and we are pleased that we have created a better understanding of the importance of the public municipal services that CUPE members provide to our community.”
Mayor Neil Ellis welcomed the new agreement, and congratulated both sides for the hard work at the bargaining table.
“This new agreement is a good deal for taxpayers and a fair deal for CUPE members,” says Mayor Ellis. “We have a stronger agreement, a clearer agreement, and I’m pleased with the work we’ve done and believe Belleville is better for it.”
The contract will go into force following City Council’s official adoption of it at Council’s next meeting, August 11.
Highlights include annual wage increases of 2.75 per cent over three years, improved benefit provisions and increases in some shift premiums and mileage rates that employees incur. Sick leave language was made clearer, and the two sides created a better process for the return-to-work for injured or disabled employees.
The new agreement is greatly strengthened by better language pertaining to any potential contracting out of public services. Both sides have agreed to a much clearer process to discuss any potential changes in the way the city operates.
With the ratification by CUPE members tonight, the next step is official adoption by the City at its Council meeting, August 11, usually a formality.
“We look forward to seeing this agreement put into force at Council’s meeting on August 11, and to continuing to build our great city,” says Mayor Ellis.
CUPE 907 represents the workers of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, City Administration and the Water and Sewer department of the City of Belleville.
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Contact:
Krista Cowan, President, CUPE 907, cell 613 921 2040
David Robbins, CUPE Communications, cell 613 878 1431
John Martin, Director of Human Resources, City of Belleville, 613 967-3200 ext 3235
Mayor Neil Ellis, 613 967-3267