The union representing Port Coquitlam civic workers met with the city's negotiating team this week.
CUPE Local 498 president Gary Goff said the two bargaining committees exchanged proposals yesterday (Monday) for the new collective agreement; however, Goff did not disclose what the local is seeking for its 400 or so members.
Port Coquitlam — like Coquitlam and Port Moody — has been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2015 (calls to Coquitlam CUPE 386 and Port Moody CUPE 825 were not immediately returned).
In 2013, Coquitlam agreed to see 6.75% worth of wage increases over four years for its 900-plus unionized workers — a hike that's matched by exempt staff. The contract was retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012.
At the time, Coquitlam was among the last municipalities in Metro Vancouver to sign on to a new deal with its local, and the salary boost was on par with the rest of the region.
But last December, during city council budget deliberations and in anticipation of the next round of negotiations, Coquitlam Coun. Terry O'Neill called on the provincial government to help the municipality drive down labour costs, saying taxpayers feel the union wages are "out of line."
