City and union finalize new labour deal

A new collective agreement has been ratified by the City of West Kelowna and close to 200 of its staff.

The four year deal was reached by the city and the Association of Local Government Employees Union (ALGEU) following three days of bargaining from April 10 to 12.

The agreement, which the ALGEU ratified on April 17 and which West Kelowna city council ratified on April 23, provides 155 full-time and 40 relief and term positions with wage increases that are consistent with recent labour agreements elsewhere in B.C.

The increases for West Kelowna’s 195 ALGEU employees are:

• 4.5 per cent starting Jan. 1, 2024
• 5.0 per cent starting Jan. 1, 2025
• 3.5 per cent starting Jan. 1, 2026
• 3.5 per cent starting Jan. 1, 2027

The city said the agreement ensures labour stability at the City of West Kelowna through 2027, and also included minor housekeeping changes.