DELTA – Delta civic workers voted today to overwhelmingly accept the tentative agreement recommended by their bargaining committee. The agreement was reached in direct talks between representatives of the Corporation of Delta, the Delta Police Board and CUPE 454, and includes a host of improvements that were identified as important to the 800 public employees of Delta – such as improvements for auxiliaries, benefit improvements and trades adjustments.
“There is no question that Delta public employees are happy with this outcome,” says Darryl Robison, CUPE 454 president. “It is with confidence and assurance that we are valued employees, that we continue to provide the high quality public services we deliver everyday to the residents of Delta.”
Robison attributes the success of this round of negotiations to the courage of his members, politicians, employer representatives and the community in pushing up from “under the thumb of the Bureau and against the influence of Vancouver.”
The new collective agreement shares the same wage and term as the deal reached between the City of Richmond and CUPE 394 and CUPE 718, namely a 17.5 per cent wage increase (18.76 per cent compounded) over 5 years.
“Direct talks with our employer are what opened the door for real bargaining to take place,” says Robison. “They were able to hear our issues and we were able to hear theirs, because local people are interested in local issues and we all share and care for the same community.”
GVRD Labour Relations Bureau representatives were present in the room during the final direct talks, but mainly as observers.
The agreement was unanimously ratified by Delta Council on Monday, July 30, 2007.
Details of the ratified collective agreement
For more information, please contact:
Darryl Robison, CUPE 454 President, c: (604) 690-4564 office: 604-943-4526
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, c: 778-229-0258