Dear CUPE members:
We are pleased to inform our members that - with your support - we have successfully defended your pensions from the threat of clawbacks made by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador! The Government’s proposed changes to the Public Sector Pension Plan (PSPP) were defeated.
Government was trying to pass their increased Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions onto workers by cutting the PSPP as part of their extended contract offer. This move would have cancelled the needed CPP enhancement for 34,000 workers - including CUPE members who are plan members of the PSPP. Read more about the pension issue here.
The unions presented their position to the government side of the Sponsor Board, with the recommendation that debate cease on the topic. The government side of the board agreed, and the matter is now closed.
The pension clawback that Government wanted us to accept has impeded our progress toward securing a fairly negotiated collective agreement. Now that the pension question has been put to rest, we anticipate that we will be able to move towards concluding contract negotiations. We will keep you informed of any developments in master negotiations.
Please share this important news with your members as soon as possible.
In solidarity,
Ed White
Lead Negotiator, CUPE NL
Tracey Pinder
Atlantic Regional Director, CUPE