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“Standing together, we achieved a new level of retirement security,” says CUPE 2221 President
TORONTO, Ont. – Workers at COSTI Immigrant Services, members of Local 2221 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 2221) have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that includes major improvements to job and retirement security.
“Standing together, we achieved a new level of retirement security. That alone is something we can all be extremely proud of,” said CUPE 2221 President Mahmoud Saddo.
Negotiators reached the agreement last week with the assistance of a Provincially-appointed conciliation officer. The agreement was presented to CUPE 2221 members on November 26 for review and ratification.
“The ball is now in COSTI’s court. We are hopeful they will also ratify this agreement quickly, so we can focus on providing the vital services our clients depend on,” said Saddo.
CUPE 2221 has 170 members who provide a wide array of services at 17 COSTI locations across the Greater Toronto Area.
In addition to shifting members away from the existing co-payment Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) into a stable Multi-Sector Pension Plan (MSPP), the new agreement includes major improvements to job security language, modest wage increases, and increased access to extended health care benefits.
Saddo thanked members and the Union’s bargaining committee for their unity and efforts to achieve a fair collective agreement.
“Many people devoted many hours to achieve this agreement. Those efforts would have been in vain had it not been for the solidarity shown by all members. COSTI’s bargaining team understood our members’ resolve, which had a clear impact on our ability to achieve our goal,” he said.
The new contract will be in effect until March 31, 2017.
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For more information, please contact:
Mahmoud Saddo, CUPE 2221 President, 647-205-7466
Kevin Wilson, CUPE Communications, 416-821-6641
