The federal government and the National Police Federation, the union representing RCMP Members below the rank of Inspector and Reservists, are getting closer to finalizing a second Collective Agreement. This comes after an independent arbitrator has awarded RCMP Members a 4% salary increase per year for two years. Binding arbitration was pursued to resolve outstanding issues, including compensation.
The arbitral decision has awarded the following:
- A two-year Collective Agreement (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2025).
- An 8% salary increase, including economic increases and market adjustments:
- April 1, 2023: 4% (3% economic increase, 1% market adjustment).
- April 1, 2024: 4% (2% economic increase, 2% market adjustment).
- A one-time allowance of $2,500 related to the performance of regular duties.
- Implementation timelines as previously agreed to by the parties.
The Collective Agreement will also include several items agreed to by the parties during negotiations. This information will be made public once the Collective Agreement is finalized.
Once the Collective Agreement is approved by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and all parties have signed, implementation of the Agreement will begin under the timelines previously agreed to by the parties. Additional information will be provided regarding retroactive costs owed by contract partners, including B.C. municipalities over 5,000 in population. The retroactive amount associated with the second Collective Agreement will be much less than the amount owed as part of the first Collective Agreement, which expired on March 31, 2023.
Previously, the RCMP included a non-contractual estimate of 3.5% in Multi-Year Financial Plans for planning purposes, and this figure was acknowledged by the national Contract Management Committee. UBCM members were advised that negotiated salary increases or those imposed through third-party arbitration could result in increases below or above the planning rate. B.C. municipalities that wished to build contingencies that were higher than those included in the Multi-Year Financial Plans into their financial planning processes to mitigate potential fluctuations in negotiated rates or the possibility of arbitration, were encouraged to do so.
The second Collective Agreement is set to expire on March 31, 2025. UBCM, through its participation on the B.C. Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee, has continued to raise the need to improve engagement with local governments as part of the collective bargaining process. UBCM will continue to seek opportunities for local government input to be considered as part of the next round of collective bargaining.