6/12/2010 8:32:04 AM

June 8, 2010

City Council approves settlement with CUPE Locals 2998 and 2998-12

The settlement reached with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Locals 2998 and 2998-12 is fair to AOCC staff and affordable to Torontonians.

The settlement was reached through negotiation - the best way to maintain a positive workplace and provide the best service delivery for residents. The unions have a combined 272 members. Most of these staff are part-time employees.

The agreement provides employees with modest wage increases of 1.75%, 2% and 2.25% between 2009 and 2011. These are the same wage increases received by City workers in CUPE Locals 416 and 79 in their 2009 settlements. These increases reflect the City's current financial circumstances and the impacts of the world-wide recession. Local 2998 and 2998-12 members will now have Family Day off to spend time with their families. Any additional cost of providing this day to workers will be offset by increasing the time between which dental examinations will be covered from six months to nine months.

"I'm pleased we have been able to reach these settlements," said Mayor David Miller. "We wanted an agreement that is fair, affordable and allows the City to continue to provide the services Torontonians depend on all day, every day. I believe this agreement achieves those objectives."

The Mayor and City Manager Joseph P. Pennachetti thanked the City's negotiating team for its efforts in reaching a fair and affordable agreement.

Members of Locals 2998 and Local 2998-12 work at 10 community centres, which as a group are members of the Association of Community Centres (AOCCs). The centres are:
• 519 Church Street Community Centre
• Applegrove Community Complex
• Cecil Street Community Centre
• Central Eglinton Community Centre
• Community Centre 55
• Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre
• Harbourfront Community Centre
• Ralph Thornton Community Centre
• Scadding Court Community Centre; and
• Swansea Town Hall.

Each AOCC has its own board that governs its operations that must be compliant with City policy. These community centres provide a broad range of community, social, educational and recreational services and programs. Their programming is designed to meet community needs as designated by their Board.

CUPE Local 2998 represents full time workers, or staff who work 18 hours or more per week. There is one collective agreement to be negotiated with Local 2998.

CUPE Local 2998-12 represents part time workers who work less than 18 hours a week. There was one collective agreement to be negotiated with Local 2998-12.

Under the terms of the settlement, the two bargaining units will be combined and under one collective agreement.

Read the agreement: http://www.toronto.ca/employment/collective-agreements.htm