First-ever Collective Agreement ratified between Town of Pelham and CUPE Local 1287

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2020

Pelham, ON – CUPE Local 1287 and the Town of Pelham are pleased to announce that they have negotiated and ratified their first-ever Collective Agreement. The negotiations took place between June and August 2020. 

Negotiating during a pandemic held its own unique challenges, but both parties were fair, flexible, and pragmatic in their approach which greatly facilitated the process. Working drafts were shared back-and-forth and negotiations occurred both as written submissions and Zoom-based bargaining sessions.  

CUPE Local 1287 now represents all non-management staff in the Town’s public works department. CUPE members perform such tasks as beautification, cemetery maintenance, road repair, winter maintenance (plowing), water operations, parks maintenance, facility repair, construction administration, and development engineering and plans review. 

This deal balances the competing needs of appropriately valuing, acknowledging, and rewarding the critically important work done by Town staff, often in difficult circumstances, while also respecting the turbulent economic environment and taxpayer’s ability to pay. 

Town CAO David Cribbs characterized the negotiations as being “a process marked by respectful dialogue, real listening, and understanding of where each other was coming from. I believe this deal creates a framework for years of mutual respect and productive work on behalf of the community.”  

Amanda Wells, CUPE National Representative, on behalf of CUPE Local 1287 commented that “although COVID-19 has presented unique working and bargaining conditions for our essential workers’ dedication by all to ensure a fair and comprehensive first Collective Agreement was achieved.”

The Agreement clarifies issues around seniority, overtime opportunities, job transfers, discipline, vacation, and other key aspects of the employment relationship. Financial terms include a 2.0% increase for 2020 (retroactive to January 1st), 1.5% for 2021, 1.75% for 2022 and 2.0% for 2023. The Agreement will expire on December 31, 2023.

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For more information, please contact:
Marc MacDonald
Communications and Public Relations Specialist
905-892-2607 x309
mmacdonald@pelham.ca