The thirty or so blue- and white-collar employees with the Municipality of Oka located in the Deux-Montagnes RCM in the Laurentian region finally have their first collective agreement, which was signed today by representatives of the union and the municipality.
This first contract, which runs for slightly more than five years, calls for wage hikes totalling 21.2%. The salary steps were revamped such that one-half of the members will be receiving an increase greater than the annual rate negotiated between the parties.
The pension plan and personal leave credits were improved, as was accessibility to vacation leave.
“These lengthy negotiations were characterized by open and respectful exchanges between the parties. The increases and the adjustments to the salary scale will enable members to breathe more easily in the wake of the runaway inflation we’ve witnessed in recent months. We are pleased to have come up with a satisfactory contract given this was the first collective agreement,” explained Jean-François Michaud, president of CUPE 5468.