On June 9, the Town of Prévost and representatives of CUPE 3548 signed a new collective agreement for the forty or so inside and outside workers within the municipality.
At a general meeting on May 5, the members ratified this contract that covers from 2024 to 2028 and replaces the old agreement that expired on December 31, 2023.
Major gains include a shorter work week of 36 hours over four days with no pay cut, a key measure that improves work-life balance. The contract also calls for more days for union business with the cost to be covered by the employer, the establishment of a joint evaluation program for all positions with the development of clear job descriptions, and improvements to duty premiums, particularly for employees assigned to snow removal.
Another highlight of this agreement is the re-adoption of the in-house snow removal contract, which was previously performed by the private sector. This will create eight new permanent positions in the roads department. In addition, employees will now be able to join the FTQ Member-Funded Pension Plan (MFPP-FTQ), which will further enhance their long-term financial security.
As for wages, the contract calls for hikes of 5% in 2024, 3% in 2025 and indexation to the CPI between 2% and 3% for 2026-2028. The agreement also includes the creation of a labour relations committee to ensure continuous dialogue between the parties.
“This collective agreement was renewed following respectful, cordial and collaborative negotiations, and we’re pleased with the gains that we made,” said Maxime Roy, president of CUPE 3548.