Penticton ratifies agreement with Cupe .

Quick Summary  March 5, 2011 by Dan Albas
Here is a quick summary of the recently ratified agreement with CUPE for those taxpayers who have requested it.  A Labourer is current paid  $22.80 per hour plus benefits……the City was proposing newly hired employees would  start at  $14.00 per hour after four years graduating up to $16.47. In the agreement the  City will pay $18.00/hr with one step up to $18.68 for a Labourer II.  City Lifeguards are currently paid  $22.80 per hour plus benefits…. the City was proposing new lifeguards start at $14.50 per hour and after four  years graduating up to $ 17.06 per hour. The City agreed to $ 18.50/hr  plus .68 when instructing for new lifeguards.  RCMP Guard positions are currently paid  $24.79 per hour plus benefits……the City was proposing $18.00 per hour after four years graduating up to $21.17 for newly hired guards. In this agreement the City will pay $20.00/hr for newly hired guards.  In addition to the above agreed upon rates is the inclusion of benefits or a percent in lieu of benefits.  In addition the City also had proposed a wage freeze for 2010 and 2011  (the same freeze for management). This agreement guarantees a $300.00 signing  bonus in lieu of a wage increase for 2010 with a 1% wage increase in 2011, another 1% increase in 2012 and yet another 1% wage increase in 2013.  Wage increases come into effect on April 1^st of each year.