1992-06-20_Minutes
83-589
COMMON COUNCIL
JUNE 20, 1992
At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of
Saint John, on Saturday, the twentieth day of June, A.D. 1992, at 10:00 o'clock a.m.
present
Elsie E. Wayne, Mayor
Councillors Chase, Coughlan, Knibb, Landers, McAlary, Rogers,
Trites, A. Vincent and M. Vincent
- and -
Messrs. J. Brown, City Manager; F. Rodgers, City Solicitor; D.
Wilson, Commissioner of Finance; P. Groody, Commissioner of
Human Resources; S. Bedford, Commissioner of Development
Services; Mrs. M. Munford, Common Clerk; and Ms. C. Joyce,
Assistant Common Clerk.
The meeting was called to order with the recitation of The Lord's Prayer.
The purpose of this special meeting of Council was to consider the
proposed collective agreement between the City and C.U.P.E. Local No. 18.
On motion of Councillor Rogers
Seconded by Councillor McAlary
RESOLVED that Common Council ratify
the proposed working agreement between the City of Saint John and C.U.P.E. Local 18
(Outside Workers), and that the Mayor and Common Clerk be authorized to execute
the Agreement on behalf of the City, subject to its approval as to legality and form by
the City Solicitor.
The Mayor, in noting the presence at the meeting of Local No. 18
employees R. Nolan, P. Gould and J. Buchanan, commended the members of the
negotiating teams for the agreement which, in her opinion, is an excellent agreement
for both sides; and explained that the reason for meeting on this date, rather than
waiting until the regular meeting scheduled for Monday, June 22, is so that the
approximate eighty Local No. 18 employees, who are currently on lay-off, can be called
back to work for Monday. Mr. Groody expressed the opinion that the agreement
reached with the Local No. 18 bargaining unit on Wednesday, June 17, overall, is fair
and balanced and recognizes the needs of both the Outside Workers and the City of
Saint John; and highlighted the key issues in the agreement, including clarification of
the City's residency policy; an adjustment to the Establishment article 6:04; a practical
and feasible solution to the matter of permanent employees working within their own
classification; the addition of a provision for premium pay for employees who work
directly with chlorine and fluoride to bring it in line with premium pay being provided for
employees who work with other things; an update of a number of the bereavement
leave articles to bring them into line with modern practices; the "grandfathering out" of
the service pay provision, effective immediately, which means that permanent
employees will continue to be eligible for the service pay provisions, but any employees
hired after this date will not be eligible for service pay now or in the future; a mutually-
beneficial solution to article 26 which relates to job security and the City's ability to
choose how it gets work done which provides an immediate benefit for current
employees, yet gives the City the need for flexibility in the future; the provision for a
two-year contract effective January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1992, with an overall
wage settlement of 3% for 1992 and 2.5% for 1993, worked out in the actual wage
schedule as follows:- the wage rate for student employees has been reduced from
$11.43 per hour to $10 per hour and frozen for two years, the wage rate for casual
employees has been frozen at $13.11 for two years, the wage rate for seasonal
employees will be adjusted by 2% in 1992 and 2% in 1993, and the wage rate for
permanent employees will be adjusted by 3.5% in 1992 and 2.5% in 1993; and an offer
to permanent and established employees only of a one-time lump-sum payment of
$200 to be paid upon ratification of the agreement, which is considered warranted
because of changes made to the collective agreement which were significant to both
parties, specifically articles 26, 6:04, and 11 :01 (b), as well as the forgiving of an
amount of $15,000 owing to the City by Local No. 18, under article 18:05. Mr. Groody
83-590
COMMON COUNCIL
JUNE 20, 1992
expressed appreciation to the members of the negotiating teams of both the City and
Local No. 18, as well as to Common Council for its support and guidance during
negotiations.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
On motion of Councillor M. Vincent
Seconded by Councillor Rogers
RESOLVED that this meeting be
adjourned.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Common Clerk