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Ottawa Police Association members have voted overwhelmingly to accept a new five-year contract that provides pay increases of 19.3 per cent over the term of the deal.
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But both the union and the Ottawa Police Service Board said an agreement expanding parental leave to up to 35 weeks at 93 per cent of the member’s salary was a “massive” improvement.
“It was one of the first issues resolved,” said OPA president Matthew Cox.
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Cox said both the OPSB and the union were looking for measures that would help both the recruitment and retention of police officers.
Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr, vice-chair of the services board, agreed the parental leave issue was a breakthrough.
“Policing is a male-dominated field, but (parental leave) would be an important recruitment issue for female members,” Carr said.
The present agreement allows just 10 weeks of paternity leave and 15 weeks for maternity leave.
The new Ottawa measure is believed to be the highest level of any municipal police operation. The federal RCMP provides a parental allowance of 93 per cent of members’ weekly pay for a maximum of 37 weeks.
In a release, OPSB Chair Salim Fakirani said the parental leave benefit “recognizes the needs of the employees, both sworn and civilian, and supporting them in balancing their professional responsibilities with their growing families.”
The board noted it was significant the agreement was reached ahead of the current contract’s expiry on Dec. 31.
“(The agreement marks) a significant milestone in fostering a productive and collaborative labour relations environment,” the board said.
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Cox said that almost 90 per cent of the union’s 2,258 officers and civilians voted on the deal.
Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the agreement calls for wage increases of:
- 2025: 6.85 per cent.
- 2026: 3.5 per cent.
- 2027: 3.5 per cent.
- 2028: 3 per cent.
- 2029: 2.5 per cent.
A first-class constable now earns a base salary of just over $111,000.
Both sides stressed the “important” issue that the new contract was signed before the existing deal expired, as well as the five-year term of the new deal.
“This five-year collective agreement is about valuing the dedicated people who protect our community every day,” said OPSB chair Salim Fakirani.
Carr said the wage increases are covered by the 2.9 per cent increase to the annual tax levy in the draft police budget.
However, the new salary figures meant the service will delay plans to issue body cameras for officers.
Negotiations with the much smaller “senior officers association” are expected to begin in the new year.
The OPSB is the civilian body responsible for governing the
police service.
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