The union representing Pacific Western Transit Canada workers in Pemberton, Squamish and Whistler, B.C., has ratified a five-year collective agreement that will see members move to the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology pension plan’s DBplus.
Members will contribute three per cent to the plan with an equivalent employer match, says Gavin Davies, a national representative at Unifor. He notes members previously contributed to a group registered retirement savings plan.
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The agreement also extends health benefits to part-time workers and includes annual wage increases equivalent to 13.5 per cent over the five-year term, retroactive to April 2020. And if the average B.C. monthly consumer price index exceeds the average annual wage increase negotiated for 2021 to 2023, PW Transit will add the difference to the four per cent wage increase scheduled for 2024.
The agreement’s ratification ended a strike by PW Transit workers that began Jan. 29.
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