City Administration was suggesting an immediate raise for the City’s Out-of-Scope employees.
But Yorkton Council weren’t ready to rubber stamp the raises until such time the City has a new deal with its Canadian Union of Public Employees members.
In making the recommendation Christopher Wentzell, Director of Human Resources with the City he explained, “Traditionally the Out of Scope (OOS) employees’ annual increases are based on the CUPE 342 agreements. However, we are in a situation where we have not arrived at an agreement with CUPE at this time.
“Administration has presented the final proposal to CUPE but we have been advised by the Union representative that the earliest that they will be able to discuss the process for moving forward would be the end of September of this year.”
The City’s offer to CUPE shows a wage increase of 7.13 per cent over four years (2016-2019), which equates to 8.96 when group benefits and pension contributions are factored in.
That said Wentzell said the City also has to consider its out of scope staff.
“We are fortunate to have a large number of Out of Scope employees and delaying an increase for them because of CUPE is unfair as they do not have the ability to negotiate. It is our belief that providing the OOS employees with their increase prior to an agreement with the union would be received very positively by the staff,” he said.
The suggested increase for OOS staff was a 7.54 wage increase over the same four years, which again would equate to 8.96 per cent once group benefits and pension contributions were added.
“Based on the above information Administration would propose taking the 7.54 per cent average wage increase and breaking it down to equal increases over the four year period which would be an average of 1.885 per cent per year,” said Wentzell.
However Councillor James Wilson said he wasn’t ready to approve an increase for OOS employees “without knowing what’s happening with union agreements.”
Coun. Ross Fisher was quick to agree, saying he “echoed Councillor Wilson’s comments.”
However, Fisher had another concern too, pointing out that Council had not heard of the suggested OOS increase until Monday’s meeting. He said normally “there would be discussion of what kind of an increase we would be looking at before it comes to Council.”
Fisher suggested that was not a good process for Council.
Mayor Bob Maloney questioned when a CUPE deal might be ratified.
Wentzell said the Union will be meeting Wednesday, and had the City to attend to discuss the offer, but he made it clear the City’s position was is the “final offer” so there was no reason to meet to discuss.
Wilson finally moved to table the OOS proposal until Nov. 7, or sooner if a CUPE agreement with the City is ratified.
