City employees reach agreement

By Roger Knox Morning Star Staff Sep 23 2007

Unionized city workers have accepted a new five-year contract from their employer. The City of Vernon and the Vernon Civic Employees’ Union Local 626 announced that 78 per cent of city employees voted to accept the new contract. The deal includes a wage increase of 16 per cent over five years, improved benefits and a $500 signing bonus. In a written press release announcing the deal, City of Vernon chief administrative officer Leon Gous commended all involved in negotiations for a “positive and co-operative process.”

However, one city employee, part of the 22 per cent against the contract, was very unhappy with the deal. The employee, who asked not to be identified, said that money has been taken from labour employees and added to the trades and technical workers. The employee also questioned the “positive and co-operative process,” saying that negotiations were held behind closed doors for seven months, that workers were given a 15-minute presentation on the new deal and were told to vote on it. Officials from both sides could not be reached for comment prior to The Morning Star’s deadline. The deal is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007, and runs until Dec. 31, 2011.