The City of Calgary’s inside workers have agreed to a three-year deal with annual pay increases, along with more flexibility in working from home.

The agreement, mentioned in late June in a Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 38 newsletter, came nearly a month after workers threatened to walk off the job and were prepared for a work-to-rule campaign. The City of Calgary also confirmed the deal had been struck.

CUPE 38 represents roughly 5,600 workers. Their last contract expired at the end of 2023.

The City of Calgary initially offered a nine per cent pay bump over three years, which the union rejected. They wanted 10.5 per cent and flexibility working from home. The City of Calgary had provided new, post-pandemic, work-from-home rules back in January 2023 that allowed only two days per week.

The new deal, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, gives a three per cent increase this year, 3.25 in 2025, and 3.25 in 2026, for a total of 9.5 per cent over three years.

Also included in the deal was a Telework Letter of Understanding, which, according to the City of Calgary, recognizes that an employee may now request up to five days of work from home each week.  These requests must be submitted to the employee’s director for consideration, based on operational requirements of the employee’s position.

Workers will also get one hour of pay for standby hours after any workday, and two hours of pay for standby on any non-workday. Previously, it was a flat $25 per day.  They will also get top-up payments, minus EI benefits, up to 95 per cent of regular biweekly earnings for sixteen weeks of a maternity leave period.

They also included a letter of intent to develop and implement an employment program for people with developmental disabilities.

Sides happy to hammer out a deal

CUPE 38 has been airing radio advertisements celebrating the union’s solidarity in securing a new deal. It also congratulated the workers who had been putting in time to deal with Calgary’s water main repair.

Cherise Stock, business agent with CUPE Local 38, said while it wasn’t in line with what the union had originally wanted, she said they feel they were able to reach a fair settlement. While the wage increases were a good move forward, Stock said the work-from-home changes were key.

“It was identified to us as one of the key issues that would be impactful to our members,” she said.

“We fill a number of different roles in public service across the city and for many jobs, an element of work from home can be accommodated and still complete the services that are required of that job. So for our members, this flexibility was very, very important.”

Stock said the sentiment among members was that they were pleased with the overall outcome. She said the top-up pay, standby pay and shift differentials were other wins for union members.

“There are certainly positive impacts and improvements for our membership base across the board,” she said.

Back in May, Calgary city councillors were hopeful a deal could be struck, knowing there was a balance between ensuring employees were able to deal with increasing affordability issues and the City of Calgary keeping a lid on cost increases.

“Like every Calgarian, they are proud of where they work and also at the same time trying to provide a livelihood for their families and everything else,” Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said on May 22.

“So, in the economy today, when we take a look at inflation rates, where they’re at and affordability in general, we certainly understand the challenges they’ve got, but similarly the challenges we get as administration, sort of as Council and Administration has to take a look at the balance sheet as to who’s paying for increases on that, and are we getting value for that service.”

The City of Calgary said they were happy that members of the CUPE Local 38 voted in favour of their proposal.

“We know we have dedicated employees and are very proud of the work they do,” the City of Calgary wrote in an emailed statement.

“The City was committed to reaching an agreement with CUPE Local 38 and the negotiating committees on both sides worked hard to reach one. Acceptance of this agreement ensures continued services and allows our employees to do what they do best – making life better every day for Calgarians.”