The Estevan Police Association (EPA) and the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners have reached a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Details of the pact were announced during a press conference on Tuesday morning at city hall. Police will receive a 2.25 per cent increase for this year, retroactive to Jan. 1, and three per cent wage increases for 2017 and 2018.
The new CBA will expire on Dec. 31, 2018.
Sgt. Evan Handley, who is the president of the EPA, told the Mercury they had 20 out of 28 members show up to vote on the agreement earlier this month, and they received 100 per cent support.
“Everybody understands the economic times here in Estevan, because we all live here,” said Handley. “We’re all part of this community, and we’re proud to be part of this community.”
Mayor Roy Ludwig, who also chairs the police board, said wages were the biggest sticking point. They hoped to keep the wage increases closer to what the city employees received in their new pact – six per cent over three years.
“When you get into the policing world, it is a different situation, because with the police settlements around the province, they tend to be higher than the other settlements,” said Ludwig.
This week's edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
