FORT MCMURRAY A new settlement between Keyano College and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gives employees significant gains.
The agreement, ratified by the union last week, outlines wage increases of 8% over two years for most workers, as well as other gains including:
- Vacation: an additional week for long service employees, better access to vacations in the summer for all employees
- Sick leave: employees are entitled to an additional 10 days of fully paid sick time per year, and can now access their sick time to take care of ill family members
- Improved eyeglass and dental benefits
- New language to prevent contracting-out of union jobs
CUPE Alberta President Bruce McLeod says the agreement will pave the way for benefits for other college workers across the province.
Weve set the stage for bargaining at other colleges, said McLeod. If Keyano can agree to these improvements, then other schools can too.
You can count on CUPE to bring this new standard to other worksites we represent.
Stephen Boyd, President of Local 2157, agreed, noting that he is particularly proud of the contracting out language negotiated at the bargaining table.
This is the first time weve been able to get the college to even consider restrictions on contracting out, said Boyd. It means more job security for our members and more security for their families.
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