Union locals representing Tri-City municipal staff and firefighters will be back at the bargaining table in the new year to renew their collective agreements.
The municipal contract is up Dec. 31 for CUPE Local 825 members (inside and outside) in Port Moody; in 2016, they received a 7% wage hike over four years.
Also negotiating to update deals are the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) locals at fire halls in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. Their last agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2012, was for eight years and saw annual salary bumps of 2.5% per year at each department.
Union representatives from Coquitlam and Port Moody fire did not return requests for comment but PoCo IAFF Local 1941 president Brandon Dougan told The Tri-City News that talks have already started with the city. He is representing 78 unionized employees, including 72 firefighters.
Steve Traviss, PoCo’s human resources director, said the local gave written notice Nov. 12 to start bargaining and “we are not able to share the details of our discussion,” he said, adding, “We are committed to continuing to provide seamless services to our residents, which speaks to the professionalism and commitment of our staff to serving our community.”
Meanwhile, the Port Moody Police Board will also be in talks with two locals: CUPE Local 825 civilian workers at the Police Moody police station are without a contract as of Dec. 31 while the Port Moody Police Services Union hasn’t signed a new contract since the existing one expired Dec. 31, 2018.
“Collective bargaining is not currently underway with our unions. Neither the unions nor the employer [the city] have given notice to commence bargaining at this time,” Virgelene Rutherford, Port Moody’s manager of labour relations, learning and wellness, told The Tri-City News today (Tuesday).
