CUPE 389 – Member Update, District of North Vancouver members
October 31, 2023
Inflationary support payment update
Our new contract includes an inflationary support payment that applies to any active employee (at date of ratification) who worked in 2022. The 3.5% and 1% lump sums are to be calculated on the hours worked by those employees in 2022.
During our bargaining session with the mediator, the union and the employer agreed on how these payments would be applied.
Unfortunately, the employer now disagrees with this interpretation. We’re extremely disappointed that the employer is taking a different position than was previously agreed to, on this important payment intended to help ease the high cost of living and working in this region.
What does this mean for me?
The employer has told us that they believe the inflationary support payment should only be paid to members employed as of January 1, 2022, and active at the time of ratification. The employer has communicated the following to the union:
As the language states that District employees who were employed as of January 1, 2022, and active at the time of ratification, we will not be applying the payment to anyone who was hired after January 2022.
In reply, we have identified this interpretation as incorrect and inconsistent with what the parties discussed and agreed to at the bargaining table. We’ve expressed our disappointment with the employer now attempting to back away from what was collectively bargained and what has been correctly applied by every other employer who has negotiated a similar clause.
We have contacted the mediator that helped us negotiate our new contract and hope they will be able to help us resolve this issue in a timely manner.
However, in the meantime, if you receive the payment, it may or may not be the full amount.
We are committed to ensuring the inflationary support payment is paid out the way both parties agreed it would be during our negotiations. We will continue to keep you updated on where things are with this. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
