Unionized city employees voted in favour of a new contract that includes a 16 per cent wage increase over five years and a $500 signing bonus. At a ratification meeting Wednesday night members of the Vernon Civic Employees‘ Union Local 626 voted 78 per cent in favour of the new agreement. In addition to the wage increase and signing bonus, workers will also see improved benefits in their contract. The new agreement, which is retroactive to Jan.1, 2007, ends Dec. 31, 2011. Ken Juniper, CUPE Local 626 president, said he‘s happy with the results. “I‘ve had reactions from the 78 per cent that voted in favour that are extremely happy and the 31 who voted against it are not happy, but you can‘t make everybody happy.”
Mayor Wayne Lippert said residents looking at the wage increase should realize all negotiating parties worked hard to come up with a fair deal that wouldn‘t impact taxpayers too much. “Some people may say a 16 per cent increase over five years is significant, and it is, but to be fair to the employees, employees in the Lower Mainland have seen 17 per cent and higher.” Lippert said he‘s proud of senior staff and city employees who negotiated fairly and without animosity. The results of the vote weren‘t available until Thursday because even though most of the city‘s unionized employees voted Wednesday, staff working that night had to wait until the next day. Juniper said 145 members voted on the contract, but there are 200 members who will be affected by the new deal. The agreement comes after six months of negotiations and almost a year without a contract. The previous agreement between the city and its staff expired last December. “It‘s good to have it behind us and now we move on,” Juniper said.
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