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The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners and the Saint John Police Association have reached a new four-year collective agreement. Both parties voted in favour of the agreement on Tuesday April 5, 2022. The new contract extends retroactively from January 1, 2020 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2023.
The Chair of the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners, Tamara Kelly, and the President of the Saint John Police Association, Duane Squires, recognize the importance of strong labour relations, and that compromise from both sides was necessary to achieve this agreement. They have expressed their mutual appreciation for the committed efforts, time, and hard work of the bargaining teams during the negotiation process.
The new agreement provides competitive compensation and benefits, clauses to ensure continued quality police services, and financial arrangements that respect the City of Saint John’s economic and fiscal context.
Among the items negotiated within the agreement is a wage increase for police officers that, cumulative over the duration of the four years, falls within the City of Saint John Wage Escalation Policy. The wage increases have two elements: cost of living increases, and wage compensation for negotiated items required by the employer.
Collective Agreement Highlights
The previous contract between the two parties expired on December 31, 2019. The collective agreement is between Saint John Board of Police Commissioners and the Saint John Police Association, which represents Saint John Police Force sworn police officers at the ranks of Probational Constable to Sergeant.
Although there are many changes to the collective agreement, such as return to work process enhancement and improved psychological services, we recognize that the wage increases traditionally garner the most attention. In that regard, the following provisions apply within this four-year term:
Jan. 1, 2020 – 1.89% annual increase plus .5% based on equivalent future savings from the union’s acceptance of the employer’s Long-Term Disability (LTD) proposal and plus .5% for the equivalent future savings from the union’s acceptance of the employer’s rank differential proposal.
Jan. 1, 2021 – 1.7% annual increase plus .5% for the equivalent future savings from the union’s acceptance of the employer’s LTD proposal.
Jan. 1, 2022 – 1.7% annual increase plus .5% for the equivalent future savings from the union’s acceptance of the employer’s LTD proposal.
Jan. 1, 2023 – 1.7% annual increase plus .5% for the equivalent savings from the union’s acceptance of the employer’s LTD proposal.
Media Contacts
Tamara Kelly
President, Saint John Board of Police Commissioners
tamara.kelly@saintjohn.ca / 506-648-3324
Duane Squires
President, Saint John Police Association
duanesquires@hotmail.com / 506-333-5202
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