The District of Squamish has received confirmation that CUPE Local 2269 members voted to ratify the tentative Collective Agreement that bargaining teams on both sides agreed to on Tuesday.
In a press release, the district said this effectively ends the labour dispute, the associated Union job action, and the District lockout. The District said it looks forward to welcoming its unionized employees back to work Thursday morning.
“We are relieved that the Union and District have found a way to reach an agreement, and that our unionized employees will be back at work,” said Mayor Armand Hurford. “The last few weeks have been very difficult for everyone involved. Our priority now is to welcome employees back and to resume stalled public services as quickly as possible. We thank residents for your patience during this time.”
Some highlights of the new Collective Agreement include general wage increases of 3.75% in 2025, 3.25% in 2026, and 3% in 2027. In addition, the lowest-wage earners within the District will be moved to an approximate annual salary of $55,000 for a full-time role.
Vacation allowances will now provide four weeks of vacation after five years of work, instead of six. A mechanism was also agreed to that would allow for additional conversation regarding compressed work hours, where operations and service requirements allow.
“CUPE Local 2269 employees are integral to the District’s ability to deliver reliable services to the community, and we’re hopeful this agreement conveys that acknowledgement while balancing the impacts to our taxpayers,” says Hurford. “The respect for and value of our people has never been a question for us. We will commit time and effort to reinforce this as everyone comes back together.”
A timeline for reopening the pool and arena will be communicated once certified unionized employees have returned to their roles and are engaged in the reopening plan. District staff will keep in close contact with user groups to keep them informed.
“We have much work to do to restore service delivery and to build back our District team, and both of these goals will be the driving force of our actions in the coming days, weeks and months,” concludes Hurford.
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