NANAIMO— CUPE municipal workers and the City of Nanaimo have ratified a new collective agreement.

750 members of CUPE 401 have approved a new deal that includes a two per cent wage increase in each of the three years, as well as significant improvements to extended health care coverage and improvements to the language.

CUPE 401 vice-president Laurence Amy says that the local “is pleased with the outcome from this round of bargaining.

VICTORIA—Eleven CUPE bargaining units have ratified new three-year collective agreements with their respective employers and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA).

CUPE 50, CUPE 333, CUPE 374, CUPE 410 and CUPE 1978 were all notified on December 14 that the GVLRA had voted in favour of ratifying the agreements.

Village of Harrison Hot Springs—CUPE Local 458 workers have ratified a new three-year collective agreement in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs.

The Village workers and the Village have a new deal which expires on Dec. 31, 2013.  Included in the package are wage increases of 1.5 percent (2011), 1.75 per cent (2012) and two per cent (2013).

VICTORIA – The longstanding tradition of full backyard garbage pick-up could be coming to an end in Victoria.                          

The City of Victoria has launched its new proposals to change the way garbage is picked up in the city. The City will be mailing a survey to Victoria residents who will get to vote on three new options for garbage collection.

Former 1004 president Dave Long, CUPE president Paul Moist and current 1004 president Mike Jackson.

VANCOUVER—CUPE 1004 celebrated its 100th birthday this week with a gala reception at the city-owned Pavilion in Stanley Park.

As well as lots of rank-and-file city workers and shop stewards, the event attracted an impressive list of longtime 1004 and CUPE movers and shakers.  Those on hand to cut the cake included CUPE 1004 president Mike Jackson, longtime former president Dave Long, CUPE local

CULTUS LAKE—CUPE Local 458 workers have ratified a new three-year collective agreement at Cultus Lake Park.

The Park workers and the Park Board have a new deal which expires on Dec. 31, 2013.  Included in the package are wage increases of two per cent in each of the three years.

VICTORIA—CUPE Local 1978 and the Capital Regional District (CRD) have reached a tentative contract settlement.

Details will be released once the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the CRD and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association have all ratified the new agreement. The parties were in negotiations for nearly six months. Their last collective agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2010.

CUPE Local 1978 represents approximately 570 CRD municipal workers.

KENT—CUPE Local 458 workers have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with the District of Kent.

The municipal workers and the Council for the District have a new deal which expires on Dec. 31, 2013.  Included in the package are wage increases in each year, access to laser treatments under vision care and a direct pay drug card.

CUPE 458 president Bryan Bickley says that “the improvements we have been able to make in this agreement are consistent with those in neighbouring communities.

VICTORIA—CUPE Local 50 and the city of Victoria have reached a tentative agreement. Details will be released once the union, the city and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association ratify the deal. The union’s ratification vote will be held on Oct. 17.

Negotiations began nearly six months ago for a contract that expired on Dec. 31, 2010.  A strike vote was taken last month.

CUPE workers recognized for their role in waste reduction and communications

PORT COQUITLAM—In-house waste collection from CUPE 498 has played a key role in making Port Coquitlam among B.C.’s best.

The city of Port Coquitlam was honored in Vancouver yesterday at the Union of BC Municipalities’ annual awards for its continued commitment to waste reduction and online communications.

The City of Port Coquitlam won awards in two categories; they received first place in the Best Practices - Leadership & Innovation Award category for large urban m