Unionized employees and the Regional District of Central Okanagan have reached agreement on a new four year contract.
Both the regional district board and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 338 have voted to ratify the new agreement.
The contract runs through Dec. 31, 2014, and provides general wage increases retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011, of 1.25%, 1.5% for 2012, and 1.6% in each of the two remaining years.
CORD board chair Robert Hobson said: “We believe this agreement, the first between the regional district and CUPE, provides competitive wages for our employees, while being sensitive to taxpayers and is consistent with local government labour agreements in our area.
“It also ensures continued delivery of services for residents across the region and is within the five year financial plan approved by the regional board earlier this year.”
CUPE Local 338 vice-president Scott Bruce called the negotiations a positive experience.
“Given the current economic climate we feel that we have achieved a fair and reasonable agreement for our members. We look forward to continuing to build a good working relationship with management and to providing our community with quality public services,” Bruce said.
The contract affects 95 full-time and part-time workers for the regional district.
