Hamilton ratifies collective agreement with inside and outside workers

Hamilton City Council has ratified the collective agreement with inside and outside workers today (Sept. 13).

“This agreement reflects the vital role CUPE employees play in delivering City services, the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that guided these negotiations, and our commitment to taxpayers to maintain ongoing fiscal responsibility,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath in a statement.

The City said the four-year agreement with Local 5167 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) “ensures fairness to employees, taxpayers and continued delivery of City services to our community.” It covers Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2026.

The agreement includes increased compensation of CUPE 5167 employees including a wage increase of 3.75 per cent in the first year, and a three-per-cent increase in the second, third and fourth years of the contract.

Jason Lucas, vice-president of CUPE Local 5167, told hamilton.insauga.com on Sept. 5 that the deal was “the leading contract in our sector.”

CUPE Local 5167, Hamilton’s largest bargaining unit, began negotiating with the City on Feb. 6 to increase wages in line with inflation.  The union asked the conciliator to file a no-board report, which was issued on Aug. 4, putting it in a legal strike position on Aug. 21 at 12:01 a.m. The City and CUPE Local 5167 reached a tentative deal on Aug. 18, which was ratified by the union on Sept. 1.