Oliver Parks and Recreation (OPRS) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 608 reached settlement on a Memorandum of Agreement on May 21, 2015.

As of June 1, 2015 the Employer (OPRS) and the Bargaining Unit (CUPE 608-Oliver Parks and Rec) have both ratified the agreement and new terms will be put into effect immediately.

The negotiations resulted in an agreement with a 5-year term effective Jan 1, 2015 to Dec 31, 2019 with an overall increase of 9.28% over the 5 years.  The 9.28% includes an 8.75% wage increase for all employees over 5 years (1.5%, 1.5%, 1.75%, 2%, 2%) and increased vacation entitlement starting the last year of the agreement in 2019.

Several language amendments were made in the Collective Agreement, covering minor “housekeeping” items as well as updating sections of the agreement addressing employee definitions, hours of work, seniority and health provisions.

The last agreement between OPRS and CUPE 608 expired on Dec 31, 2014.