Coast Mountain Bus -Tentative Agreement and Ratification Meetings

Your bargaining committee is pleased to announce we reached a tentative agreement with CMBC on Friday July 28^th and are strongly recommending ratification by the membership.

Highlights of the deal include:

1. WAGE INCREASES AS FOLLOWS:

April 1, 2023:   Effective April 1, 2024:         Effective April 1, 2025:

6.75%   Increase rates of pay by the annualized average of BC CPI over twelve months starting on March 1, 2023 to a minimum of 2.0% and a maximum of 3.0%   2.74% + $0.25

Retroactive pay will be available to all current and recently retired members.  The employer has committed to making the payments as soon as possible.

2. ANNUAL VACATION ENTITLEMENTS

The Parties agree to amend Article 13.03 (b). The following amendments will be reflected in the resultant copy of the Collective Agreement; however, it will not take effect until January 1, 2024.

In the calendar year of:

*1^st – 7^th 6^th anniversary                 –            3 weeks
8^th 7^th – 15^th 14^th anniversary          –         4 weeks

16^th 15^th – 22^nd 21^st anniversary      –         5 weeks

23^rd 22^nd and later anniversary        –         6 weeks

3. EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFITS

 The Parties agree to amend Article 21.01 (b) (1), (2), (3), and create new (6), as follows, to be effective one month following ratification:

• Eyeglass and Laser Eye Surgery Coverage ($500.00 $600 per person in a twenty-four (24) month period) to be used either for Eyeglasses or Laser Eye Surgery. Additionally, the employee will be covered for routine eye examinations that are performed by a Physician or Optometrist.
• Hearing Aid Coverage ($1000 $1,500 per person per ear hearing aid, each five (5) years). Expenses for repairs and maintenance of hearing aids, and expenses for batteries, recharging devices, or other such accessories are eligible under this provision.
• $50,000 maximum benefits per person renewable in a two (2) year period with a lifetime maximum benefit of $1,000,000 $2,500,000 per person.01 (b) (4), (5) shall remain unchanged.
  

6. Employee vaccination for shingles as recommended by the BC Public       Health Officer.

Additionally, the Parties will instruct the Employees Health and Benefit Trust to amend the following benefits in the benefit plan:

 acupuncturist……………………            $400 $600

chiropractor………………………            $400 $600

naturopath………………………             $200 $400

podiatrist…………………………             $400 $600

psychologist, clinical counsellor and online cognitive behavioral therapy combined

$2,000 $4,000

speech language pathologist…..        $500 $1,200

4. SHIFT PREMIUMS

 The Parties agree to amend the language of Article 11.04 as follows:

For the purposes of calculation of shift premiums, the day shift is defined as 08:00 07:30 to 16:30 and the basis of payment is as follows:

 Effective April 1, 2023: $1.80 per hour

Effective April 1, 2024: $1.90 per hour

Effective April 1, 2025: $2.00 per hour

5. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS

 Commitment to not use split shifts for the life of this agreement

• Remote work policy update
• Depot Day-Off request trial procedure
• Pregnancy leave increase

 Your committee is working on scheduling  virtual meetings next week to review all the changes with an online vote to follow.  The full memorandum of agreement will be reviewed at the meetings and there will of course be an opportunity to seek clarification on any proposed changes.  We want to thank members for the support received by the bargaining committee and we look forward to seeing everyone at the meetings.

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee:

Tej Basi, Executive Councillor
Simone Byrne, Job Steward
Sean Gosse, Executive Councillor
Stephen Lebrechthausen, Job Steward
Andrew Cheverie, Union Representative
Shawn Lakusta, Union Representative

File Number: 23-CMBC-BARG-BLTN-Tentative Agreement and Ratification Meetings

Union Label: SL/HP: USW2009

Reply to: hparmar@moveuptogether.ca