The new collective agreement between the city and their unionized staff is one of lowest municipal settlements in B.C., according to a national advocacy group.
"Prince George mayor and council should be commended for working hard to get a settlement that better protects taxpayers in their city," said a statement from Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the 91原创 Taxpayers Federation.
The four-year contract for members of the 91原创 Union of Public Employees locals 399 and 1048, which expires at the end of 2016, offers 0.5 per cent signing bonus in the first year, and wage increases of 0.75 per cent in the second year and two per cent in the third and fourth years.
"While not quite a 'net zero' contract for all four years, it is very, very close. After the past five years of big raises for union employees - 16 per cent from 2008 to 2012 - this lower cost should offer some relief to cash-strapped taxpayers," said Bateman.
That's something that should encourage other city council to "hold the line on wages 鈥� the biggest chunk of any municipal budget," he said..
Other collective agreements reached in the past two years include the cities of Richmond, Burnaby, 91原创, New Westminster and Port Moody all with wage increases of 1.25 per cent in the first year, 1.75 per cent for two years, and two per cent in the final year; the District of Elkford with "modest wage increases in each year and improvements to sick leave benefits"; and the Fraser Valley Regional District with a two per cent increase in the first year followed by 1.5 per cent increases for the second and third years of their agreement.
Union members voted 88 per cent in favour of the new contract Jan. 9, which was also unanimously approved by mayor and council.
The 2013 lump sum payment and 2014 wage increase will be paid for through cost savings found by getting rid of the letter of understanding for local 399 regarding layoff protection and other collective agreement language changes, according to a city press release.
As discussed during their budget deliberations in December, council did not allow for wage increases in 2013 or 2014, said mayor Shari Green.
Funds have also not been allocated for increases to exempt staff wages, she said.
During the year-long bargaining process, CUPE members embarked on their first strike in the city's history, staging a day-long walkout on Dec. 14. Prior to hammering out a tentative agreement Jan. 7, union members said they were ready to proceed with a full-scale strike.
Green said further job action would not have affected her position.
"They've had 28 years of continuous year-over-year wage increases. And that last contract, which they negotiated very successfully had a big impact in our labour costs," said Green. "And it's just not sustainable for the taxpayer that has reached a tipping point in their ability to pay and with their patience with the ever-rising costs of local government."
The mayor said she was also not swayed by any personal attacks thrown her way through picket line signage, saying it comes with the territory of being a politician.
"But in leadership you need to do the right thing and you need to be consistent. And I think I've been consistent repeatedly since the day I got there about what I'm trying to achieve for this community," she said. "And we're trying to get on a sustainable fiscal footing and I'm pleased that our two unions have signed on to this agreement with the city that helps us help the taxpayer."
And with the collective bargaining behind them, the city can get on with its necessary work, said mayor Shari Green. "And job one right now is plowing the roads," she said.
