The Resort Municipality of Whistler has confirmed a four-year wage agreement with its staff.
The 6.75 per cent raise over four years is based on wage patterns from the Lower Mainland. The Consumer Price Index for the Lower Mainland for July 2012 - 2013 is 0.1 per cent.
"We believe the increases are fair and reasonable," said chief administrative officer Mike Furey in a press release on Aug. 23.
The agreement addresses the 2012 to 2015 time period and includes the following wage increases: 2012: 1.25 per cent, 2013: 1.75 per cent, 2014: 1.75 per cent and 2015: 2 per cent.
"Our discussions with staff have also resulted in some tradeoffs, for example we have eliminated the payout of any banked sick leave for employees leaving the organization, something that will result in future savings for the organization," added Furey.
Whistler's mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden welcomed the news.
"We are pleased to finalize this as we begin the 2014-2018 budget planning process," she said in a release.
"The Finance and Audit Committee is committed to establishing budgets that balance the most effective use of public funds to operate the programs, services and initiatives of our resort community."
Over the past two years, the RMOW has undertaken a review of the budget, including an organizational review in 2012 that resulted in a savings of half-a-million dollars annually and achieved other savings and efficiencies in operations.
"We are committed to delivering quality and effective operations in our work on behalf of the resort community and our staff are a significant element of ensuring we achieve this," said Furey.
The RMOW budget process will begin this fall and will include a variety of opportunities for the community to be involved in discussions about plans for programs, services, facilities and other municipal initiatives for 2014 through to 2018.
Whistler firefighters have yet to reach an agreement.
Check back for more details, and pick up Pique Thursday for the full story.
