Expect to see higher labour costs as the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) moves into 2024 budget deliberations on Dec. 4 as wages for unionized SCRD employees will increase by six per cent as of next year with ratification of a new four-year collective agreement.
In a joint press release issued Nov. 28, the regional district and Unifor Local 466 stated those rates will go up on New Year's Day in 2024 and on that date in the three subsequent years. In 2025, the increase will be either four per cent or the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase, whichever is higher. The following year sees a similar arrangement with wages escalating by either 2.75 per cent or the rate of the CPI increase if that amount is greater. The agreement concludes in 2027 with a wage increase at the rate of the CPI change.
A Nov. 7 press release from the parties detailed that draft proposals were exchanged Oct.19, the parties began “negotiating in earnest” on Oct. 30, and the tentative agreement was reviewed by the SCRD board on Nov. 23. In that document, Unifor Local 466 president Gary Grohs stated “we had a productive bargain and made good gains for our members, including some real positive changes for our Transit operators.”
The previous collective agreement between the parties was also a four-year deal. That was ratified March 11, 2021 and covered the period that started Jan. 1, 2020.
In the release, SCRD board chair Leonard Lee said, “To have an agreement ratified before the current one expires is virtually unprecedented and is a sign of true collaboration. On behalf of the SCRD Board, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone involved in the negotiations and I am confident that this agreement shows staff how valued they are to our organization.”
That document stated a focus on recruitment and retention of staff, a bundled approach to health benefits selection and new scheduling language for the Transit service are highlights of the new agreement.
