City of Kamloops, TNRD announce 2-year contracts with CUPE 900 staff

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops and the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) have each announced two-year contracts with their unionized staff.

Both deals have been ratified by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 900 members and are in effect for the calendar years of 2024 and 2025.

The city says its deal with its approximately 900 CUPE staff includes 4 per cent wage hikes each year, plus a 4 per cent cost of living increase effective January 1, 2024.

“The union and the city have worked collaboratively for an agreement that acknowledges the changes in the workforce climate since the last contract was ratified in 2019,” said Acting CAO Byron McCorkell. “We are pleased with the outcome and feel it continues to build a mutually beneficial relationship with our Union partners.”

The last contract between the two parties carried a five-year term and expired at the end of 2023.

News of the deal comes less than a month after the city and union announced their long-running dispute over the restructuring of the city’s bylaw services department was over.

The regional district, meantime, says its deal with about 50 staffers represented by CUPE 900 carries a 4 per cent pay scale increase as of December 31, 2023, a 4 per cent wage increase as of January 1, 2024, and another 3.5 per cent wage hike on January 1, 2025.

“This agreement was reached amicably, professionally and respectfully, and proves the strong working abilities between the TNRD and CUPE,” said TNRD Board Chair Barbara Roden in a news release. “The agreement is acceptable for all parties, and it provides certainty for our CUPE staff members. The Board also appreciates the hard work of TNRD staff to reach a fair agreement.”

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this bargaining round,” noted CUPE Local 900 President Ken Davis, referring to the TNRD deal. “The cooperation, understanding, and professionalism shown by the TNRD bargaining team was exemplary. We feel the end result is an agreement that both parties are happy with, and one that leaves our members feeling respected and valued.”