Province Reaches Tentative Agreement with CUPE

The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today announced the Provincial Government has reached a tentative agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The tentative four-year agreement includes the same framework as the previously reached deal with the Newfoundland Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), including a five per cent salary increase over the term of the agreement. It consists of zero per cent salary increase in years one and two, two per cent in year three and three per cent in year four. In addition, all employees will receive a signing bonus of $1,400 on a pro-rated basis, in year two of the agreement.

“We are pleased to announce a tentative agreement with CUPE, which includes benefits for hard-working public employees in a wide range of programs and services,” said Premier Dunderdale. “This is a fair deal for employees, who will see general economic increases in 2015 and 2016, and it is a good deal for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, as our government works toward a sustainable future in a fiscally responsible way.”

CUPE represents more than 4,300 public employees in Newfoundland and Labrador. The deal will be voted on by CUPE members in the coming weeks.

“The terms of this tentative deal reflect the commitment of our government to operate sustainably, and allows us to acknowledge the dedicated professionals in the public service,” said Minister Kennedy. “Once again, I would like to thank all those involved in the bargaining process for their work on this important deal.”

- 30 -

Media contacts:

2013 09 30             1:00 p.m.