Union employees with the Town of Ponoka voted in favour of a new agreement.
The vote came down July 23 and the 64 voting members, “have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new contract reached with their employer,” states a press release from the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).
The agreement still needs to be formally prepared and signed by all parties.
From the town’s perspective, Mayor Rick Bonnett said this is good news.
“We are pleased that we were able to come to an agreement that is acceptable to both parties,” stated Bonnett in a town press release on Thursday.
The three year term of the collective agreement is effective from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2019 and is similar to the initial proposal that the AUPE and town administration negotiated on several months ago. There are some slight adjustments.
The proposal would see staff get a one-time cash bonus effective Jan. 1, 2019 as opposed to a signing bonus, which was originally agreed on.
Those amounts would see full time employees receive $800, regular part time staff should receive $400, casual employees shall receive $200 and summer students with a contract that expires Jan. 1, 2019 shall receive $200 prior to leaving their employment.
Proposed salary increases would see a zero per cent increase for 2017; 1.5 per cent, effective Jan. 1, 2018 and a 2.2 per cent increase effective Jan. 1 2019.
The proposal also changes employees’ existing $500 health spending account to a flexible health and wellness account with a one-year carry over.
Bankable overtime has increased to 80 hours from 60, plus there is also language clarifying that if an employee resigns but is rehired within three months, they won’t lose their seniority.
Within the harassment clause of the agreement there is also language recognizing gender identity and gender expression.