Today your Bargaining Team concluded two days of negotiations with CUPE. A variety of discussions took place that were very productive and informative, and will continue on October 25, 2018.
We will continue to update you as bargaining progresses.
Category Archives: Bargaining
Bargaining Update #5 – FRENCH – Pension Settlement Information
**Further to the email sent earlier today; please find below a French version of the PowerPoint Presentation**
Please click on the link below to open up a PowerPoint Presentation with additional Pension Information. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact your RVP. Your RVP will contact the Bargaining Committee to address your question/concern. Thank you.
Bargaining Update #5 – Pension Settlement Information (PowerPoint Presentation)
Please click on the link below to open up a PowerPoint Presentation with additional Pension Information. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact your RVP. Your RVP will contact the Bargaining Committee to address your question/concern. Thank you.
Bargaining Update #4 – Pension Settlement
On Thursday September 13, COPE 491 joined CSU and the Employer at the table to ensure that all three Settlors could reach a settlement – the pension settlement was signed Friday afternoon.
Here’s what the Pension Settlement entails:
- Retirees will receive a catch-up adjustment of their base pension to make up for the years without an indexing adjustment. A person that retired Jan 1, 2010 or earlier will see a base increase of 9.07 % (but they will not receive a retro payment).
- January 1, 2018, retirees get an indexing adjustment of 100% of CPI and a retroactive payment for the period from January 1, 2018 to the date of the adjustment.
- The conditions for the indexation benefit formula negotiated in 2007 have been replaced to improve the likelihood of delivering this benefit in the future. The old solvency threshold of 105% has been removed. There is now no solvency threshold. The formula ensures that future plan surpluses are fairly shared between current and future retirees, while making it more likely that indexation will be at 100% of CPI.
- The Employer will contribute an additional 1% to the pension plan every year the plan is funded at 130% or lower. Unlike previous employee and employer contribution increases, this 1% is specifically earmarked for indexing and cannot be absorbed by normal plan cost increases. The plan is currently funded at 129% and the pension improvements we have negotiated will reduce the surplus, so the Employer will start contributing the additional 1% as of Jan 1, 2019.
- when guaranteed indexing was looked at the long-term projections showed that the guarantee would actually unfairly impact future retirees and active members. The projections also showed that even with a market drop such as 2008, the improved conditional indexing formula would deliver indexing above 50% of CPI.
- CSU’s actuary is working with the Employer’s actuary on a presentation to explain and illustrate the indexing formula. The presentation will be available shortly.
- In addition, the last tier of the Bridge has been removed. Employees hired after May 16, 2007 will no longer need 15 years of service to get the full value of the $8,000 Bridge. The service requirement is now 10 years for everyone.
- There is a provision that allows the Employer to recover special payments from future surplus (Banker’s Note). The Employer has made special payments over the last few years worth $6 million. They have agreed not to recover those monies prior to the conclusion of the next round of bargaining.
Please note: This will be discussed with the Executive as per the COPE491 Bylaws. A ratification vote will be set up shortly, please ensure that your correct email address is with your RVP – the vote will take place with Big Pulse. If you have any questions please contact your RVP and they will be in contact with the Bargaining Committee.
Bargaining Update #3
Please click below to see an important and exciting update from the COPE491 Bargaining Committee.
Bargaining Update #2
Today your Bargaining Committee met jointly with the CSU Bargaining team to have a full discussion on pensions with the employer, along with CSU’s actuary. The discussions were very productive and informative.
The COPE Bargaining Committee will be meeting tomorrow to continue to prepare for our upcoming bargaining on October 2nd & 3rd. We are looking forward to continuing productive and positive negotiations with the employer.
Updates will be provided as bargaining continues.
Bargaining Update #1 – September 2018
COPE Local 491 will be in bargaining Sept. 13th and 14th to discuss pension jointly with CSU.
We will then be commencing our bargaining on October 2nd and 3rd to commence our bargaining.
The Bargaining Committee will update members as information is available.
Bargaining Committee Update #1
Sisters & Brothers,
The Bargaining Committee has an update to share with members. Access the full PDF update by clicking the link below. Plain text version is also available below the button.
Bargaining Committee Update #1
The COPE 491 Bargaining Committee met for a full day on Saturday, December 2nd, and have began preparing the proposal package compiled of all the proposals members brought forward. We will also be working together this week tallying the survey results to get a better understanding of what is important to our members.
Our next meeting will be in January to complete the proposal package and have it ready for the next meeting of the Executive.
Thank you for the many surveys and proposals that were sent in! The input of our members is important and very helpful in this bargaining process.
We will send further information as it is available.
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee
*Karen Carle
*Abigail Manangan
*Karri Patterson
*Collette Calvelli
*Lindsay Mills
*Trish Sinclair
Bargaining Survey Deadline is TOMORROW
Below is the Bargaining Survey document from our Bargaining Committee. The document in it’s entirety can be accessed by pressing the blue button here. Thank you.
This was sent earlier, reminder that the deadline to submit is tomorrow – November 24, 2017.
Bargaining Survey
Below you will find the document regarding the Bargaining Survey from our Bargaining Committee. The first page of text is below, but the document in its entirety can be accessed by clicking the link. Thank you.
Plain Text, first page:
Sisters and Brothers,
Your Bargaining Committee has been elected. We are preparing for the next round of negotiations with the Employer and we want to hear from you! Attached is a survey to assist us in identifying what you want changed in OUR Collective Agreement and what our priorities are for this round of bargaining.
Please take some time and think about your work environment, wages and benefits. Let us know your concerns, issues and what improvements to OUR Collective Agreement you would like us to propose. At the end of the survey you will find the form “Amendments to the Collective Agreement”, use this form to suggest specific language changes and/or additions (make as many copies of this form as you need to!)
This survey should take you approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Please complete the survey by November 24, 2017 and return it to cope_bargaining_committee@hotmail.com with a copy to your Regional Vice-President.
Your individual response is confidential and will not be reported. We will only use summary information (for example: 45% of members want improvements to the benefit plan).
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact any member of the COPE Local 491 bargaining committee or send an email to: cope_bargaining_committee@hotmail.com
In Solidarity,
Your COPE Local 491 Bargaining Committee
Karen Carle
Lindsay Mills
Trish Sinclair
Karri Patterson
Collette Calvelli
Abigail Manangan