The union representing employees at Burnaby Public Library in Burnaby, B.C. has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes improvements to flexible working arrangements.
Members voted 91 per cent in favour of ratifying the new agreement, which includes a nine-day fortnight arrangement — consisting of a five-day workweek followed by a four-day workweek — to allow flexible working options that better accommodate employees’ family commitments and a mechanism to better compensate non-standard work hours if services are expanded.
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It will also provide employees with wage increases of three per cent in 2022, 4.5 per cent in 2023 and four per cent in 2024, as well as a one-time 3.5 per cent inflationary support supplemental payment for 2022 wages.
“This new agreement recognizes the important services frontline library workers provide across Burnaby,” said Sarah Bjorknas, CUPE 23 library division chair, in a press release. “It addresses some of our members’ ongoing affordability challenges and provides expanded library services for residents.”