Unionized workers with the City of Coquitlam will see a two per cent bump on their paycheques this year, as well as next year.
Today (Tuesday), the city announced it had inked a two-year deal with CUPE local 386 that follows other Metro Vancouver jurisdictions.
Renzo Del Negro, Coquitlam’s director of human resources, told the Tri-City News that the settlement comes after bargaining was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to secure a short-term contract for the approximate 1,511 civic workers.
“We’re following the pattern around the region,” Del Negro said, noting Coquitlam is the 14th municipality to settle in this latest bargaining round.
The agreement for Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2022, covers inside and outside employees in such departments as parks and recreation and public works plus police and fire services administration.
And, as per Coquitlam’s practice, the salary lift of two per cent will also be matched for the 135 excluded staff at city hall, Del Negro said.
According to the local’s website, 251 members of CUPE local 386 cast their votes electronically to ratify the deal by 68.9 per cent.
Local 386 president Gord Willis, who is up for re-election on Thursday, told the Tri-City News in a statement: "The agreement we negotiated is reasonable, given the circumstances and the challenging times we’ve all gone through with this pandemic."
"I'd like to thank the bargaining team for their work and commitment to get a fair contract," he added. "CUPE 386 members are proud to provide services that are essential to Coquitlam families and residents even in difficult times. ”
Meanwhile, CUPE 561, which represents Coquitlam library workers, has yet to conclude its negotiations; its four-year contract ended last year.
In Port Coquitlam, CUPE 498 also signed a two-year agreement this year for the inside/outside employees, at two per cent for each year. And the two-year union contracts in Port Moody for CUPE 825 inside/outside workers end Dec. 31 of this year.
