BURNABY— Members of CUPE 1622, which represents more than 130 workers in animal protection services as well as hospital and community animal shelter staff throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with BC SPCA.
The new contract includes wage increases of 14.5 to 16 per cent over three years, a commitment by BC SPCA to explore a compressed work week at all locations, and a renewed focus on health and safety, including mental health.
“Our members were clear that several issues in our contract had remained unaddressed and they expected to see big improvements, so this was a difficult round of bargaining,” said CUPE 1622 Acting President Melissa Patterson.
“While we were not able to achieve everything we were hoping for in this round, we are pleased that the wage adjustments will lift up the lowest paid of our members, and that the employer was willing to address the issue of mental health challenges in the workplace.”
Patterson added that the union looks forward to working with the BC SPCA outside of the bargaining process to provide safer workplaces for all BC SPCA workers.
