Montreal police have approved a new collective bargaining agreement

Montreal police officers have voted in favor of a new collective bargaining agreement.

The final results of a vote by members of Montreal's Brotherhood of Police, the union representing the city's officers, showed 95.3% support for the deal.

Montreal's 4,600 police officers have been without a collective agreement since 2015.

Just over 80 percent of members voted.

The agreement calls for a 20.75 percent wage increase over seven years.

These increases are retroactive to 2015.

Annual growth is as follows:

– 2015: 2.25%

– 2016: 2.25%

– 2017: 5.25%

– 2018: 2.75%

– 2019: 3.25%

– 2020: 2.75%

– 2021: 2.25%

These increases include an increase in base pay, an increase in the “metropolitan premium” and a new “service level” premium.

The police fraternity and the city of Montreal finalized the agreement in June. Now that the police have voted in favor of it, the agreement will be brought before the city's executive committee for final approval.

“Good news for Montrealers,” says Coderre

In a press release issued late Thursday, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre welcomed the vote ending three years of police pressure tactics, notably the wearing of colored pants.

“The contract allows us to offer working conditions that reflect the challenges inherent in police work,” Coderre said.

“It also puts an end to the pressure tactics associated with pension reform, and that's good news for Montrealers.”

The contribution to the police pension plan will also gradually increase from 7 percent on January 1 to 13.75 percent on January 1, 2020. The city contribution will also decrease to the same level.

As of January 1, 2020, the cost of the pension plan will be shared equally as required by legislation passed by the Quebec government.

Prior to the enactment of this law, the dues rate for union members was 7 percent, compared to 21 percent for the City of Montreal.

The union said part of the proposed pay increase was intended to offset a significant increase in police contributions to their pension plan.

There are no suspensions without pay, there are more cadets on road duty

The deal also ends the suspension of officers without pay pending an investigation.

According to the collective agreement, 75 percent of traffic control duties are assigned to cadets, and the remaining 25 percent are assigned to patrol officers.

Traffic enforcement duties are currently carried out by overtime agents, resulting in significant costs to taxpayers.

Earlier this summer, Sûreté du Quebec union members ratified a labor contract that calls for a 17.5 percent raise over seven years.