Municipally Speaking Newsletter: September 2012

March 21, 2014

It’s time for a "common" collective agreement

A Common Sector 13 Collective Agreement is one of the goals Chair Tara referred to in the November 2011 issue of this newsletter. This concept is nothing new to the Sector and in researching for this issue, I came upon an article from “Municipally Speaking, Summer, 2003” under the heading of “Bargaining Training beneficial for conference attendees”. Here is an excerpt from the article:

“… there was also discussion about coordinated bargaining, which is the ultimate goal for the Sector. Sector Chair, Terry Curtis, would like to see Sector 13 have a common agreement, which each Local could then build upon. Coordinated bargaining would give OPSEU covered municipalities more bargaining power in negotiations.”

It seems there is some history here. A common agreement is still very much a goal of the Sector Executive.

Compiling the information has been an onerous task. We soon realized the information would be redundant before it was even published. But it is still very much a goal of the Sector Executive and we now have the benefit of working with the OPSEU Research Unit to compile Collective Agreement language, recent settlements and data that will put us one step closer to attaining this goal. Adrienne Pires, Research Officer from Head Office, attended our March 2012 Executive Meeting to advise that she could obtain copies of Minutes of Settlements and would work with us in compiling the information. She determined what type of information we were looking for and used her resources to provide it. EUREKA!!! We hit the Mother Lode…this edition is being used to provide you with recent bargained financial compensation information and we will work towards language improvements in upcoming editions.

Locals heading to the bargaining table this year should be very interested in seeing what compensation packages have been successfully negotiated over the last two years of bargaining in Municipalities; particularly since the Provincial Liberals and Conservatives are talking about joining forces to enact legislation that will freeze the wages of Broader Public Service employees (that would be us, folks!). Of course, they are hopeful we will simply tell our employers that we do not want a wage increase or improvements in our benefits so they won’t have to legislate it. Yup, we’ll get right on that and sell it to members who are stretched too far financially, who continue fighting to keep their heads above water and to try to make ends meet. We need to bargain smart and bargain strategically. Knowing what other Municipalities have agreed upon would put a big bargaining chip on the union side of your bargaining table.

Wage Settlements in Sector 13 – 2010-2014

Local	Municipality	Contract Expiry
115	Middlesex, Dorchester, Thames American Water Canada Corp.	July 26, 2014
Ø 5% – July 27, 2011 Ø 2.5% – 2nd year Ø CPI – 3rd year
115	Middlesex, Dorchester, Thames Commercial Cleaning Services	March 31, 2013
Ø 2.75% April 1, 2011 Ø 2.75% – April 1, 2012
259	Grand River Conservation Auth.	Dec. 31, 2013
Ø 2% – January 1, 2011 Ø 2% – January 1, 2012 Ø 2% – January 1, 2013
266	Grey County Social Services	Dec. 31, 2012
Ø 2% – January 1, 2011 Ø 2% – January 1, 2012
266	Corp. of the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula	Dec. 31, 2013
Ø 1% – January 1, 2011; Ø 1% – January 1, 2012; Ø 2% – January 1, 2013 Ø With Benefit changes and increases to mileage
325	Corp. of the Town of Gravenhurst	Dec. 31, 2013
Ø 2% – January 1, 2011; Ø 2% – January 1, 2012; Ø 1.25% – January 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013; Ø 1.25% – July 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 Ø With changes to Benefits and mileage

328	Corp. of the County of Simcoe Housing Unit	Dec. 31, 2013
Ø 1.75% – January 1, 2011; Ø 1.75% – January 1, 2012; Ø 2% – January 1, 2013 Ø With Benefit changes
436	Corp. of the County of Lanark	Dec. 31, 2013
Ø 2% – January 1, 2011; Ø 2.5% – January 1, 2012; Ø 2.25 – January 1, 2013 Ø With Benefit changes
494	United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (Community and Social Services)	Dec. 31, 2012
Ø 2% – January 1, 2011; Ø 2% – January 1, 2012; Ø With Benefit changes
649	Corp. of the City of Timmins	Dec. 31, 2013
Ø 1.5% + $850.00 Signing Bonus – January 1, 2011; Ø 1.5 % – January 1, 2012; Ø 1.5% – January 1, 2013 Ø Changes to Benefits; mileage and premium pay

Words from the Chair

As you may be aware the dues levy brought forward at Convention in April was not passed. The motions made and subsequent budget amendments passed at Convention this year will have financial implications for every OPSEU member. The Sector executive will need to take a close look at our budgeted and available funds in September to see if we are able to meet again in 2012. All Sectors have seen a decrease in budget monies. It is my intent to ensure that our members are kept informed of our plans and activities for the balance of the year.

This month, the executive will start to focus on planning for the next BPS Conference in June 2013. Watch the OPSEU website for the date.

Tara