Niagara Regional Police officers have a new four year contract.
The new agreement which is effective dating back to January 1st 2016 impacts close to 700 NRP officers and over 300 civilian members.
Today, an Arbitration Award was issued renewing collective agreements.
The Award brings to a close a process that started almost 10 months ago.
Highlights of the Award include salary increases, which will see officers get a 7 percent increase in pay over the life of the agreement.
An example of the pay increase is below.
It provides benefit and vacation enhancements for members as well as a modest increase to the shift premium, new specialist pay provisions for Scenes of Crime officers and Breath Alcohol Technicians and a modification to the Long Term Disability provisions of the agreement.
It also includes cost saving provisions dealing with WSIB accrual entitlements, delayed payment of constable reclassification and changes to the Ontario Police College tuition provisions, and gives police management some tools to better manage the organization in the areas of court allowance, annual leave choices, and sick leave provisions.
The Award ruled on a number of other issues including overtime banks, deployment, minimum staffing numbers, civilian service pay, member fitness (in the form of a one-time contribution to the member gym) and reimbursement of medical notes.
Salary Increases:
(First Class Constable rates are listed in brackets)
January 1, 2016 1.3% ($93,718)
July 1, 2016 1.0% ($94,655)
January 1, 2017 1.0% ($95,601)
July 1, 2017 1.0% ($96,557)
January 1, 2018 1.9% ($98,392)
January 1, 2019 1.95% ($100,311)