By rdnewsNOW staff

Town of Ponoka Ratifies One-Year Collective Agreement with IBEW Local 254

Mar 19, 2019 | 10:00 AM

The Town of Ponoka is pleased to announce it has ratified a one-year collective agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 254. 

In recognition of the current economic climate, officials say the Town and IBEW Local 254 agreed to a one-year contract with a 1.75 per cent wage increase for 2019, which is intended to reflect cost of living increases.

If the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Edmonton region exceeds 1.75 per cent in December 2019, that additional amount will be added to the 1.75 per cent wage increase for 2019.

For example, if the December 2019 CPI is 2 per cent, an additional wage increase of .25 per cent will be retroactively applied to all IBEW Local 254 wages for 2019.

According to officials, the newly ratified agreement also includes a flexible work arrangement which was introduced as a one-year pilot project in 2018. 

Red Deer man charged after police locate stolen vehicle

6m ago

City and County to collaborate on regional economic development with NRED grant

2h ago

don't be fooled

Fake gold jewelry scam going around Red Deer, RCMP warn

6h ago

The flexible work arrangement is said to have worked well last year with no impact on service levels, so has now been added as a schedule to the new agreement.

In addition, the flexible work arrangement will continue with employees working 8.5 hours Monday to Thursday and eight hours on Friday, all at straight time pay, with a 30 minute unpaid lunch break and every fourth Friday taken as unpaid time off.

Designated days off will also be scheduled to minimize the number of employees taking time off at one time.  

Finally, the new agreement includes articles on harassment and discrimination, and on disciplinary action, which are consistent with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) agreement. 

“The negotiations were very amicable and positive,” says Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett, in a news release. “The IBEW Local 254 was willing to work together with the Town to arrive at an agreement that we feel suitably reflects Alberta’s economic reality.”

(With files from the Town of Ponoka)