MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, April 10, 2019 • PAGE A1
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Volume 12, Issue 15 Wed., April 10, 2019
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New collective agreement values efforts of police, says union Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express Reporter
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The signing of a new collective agreement between the City of Moose Jaw and its police union sends a message that the municipality’s police officers are valued, the union says. “Different communities are facing different economic challenges across the province, but we were able to work through some challenges … ,” said Taylor Mickleborough, vice-president of the Moose Jaw Police Association. “We can get back to focusing on what we love to do, which is serving the community, rather than sitting at the negotiating table.” In looking at the salaries of other Canadian Police Chief Rick Bourassa, Mayor Fraser Tolmie, Taylor Mickleborough and Taylor policing agencies, it was important to nar- Elder, president of the Moose Jaw Police Association, gather at city hall after the row that salary gap here, he continued. The signing of a new collective agreement. Photo by Jason G. Antonio union is pleased with its members’ efforts throughout the community. • In Moose Jaw, the salary of a constable Moose Jaw’s police force is currently deal“We feel it is a fair deal,” Mickleborough ranges from $69,208.55 to $106,357.12 to ing with some major challenges, such as added. $123,330.53. crystal meth, Tolmie said. However, ofThe Moose Jaw Board of Police Commis• In Prince Albert, the salary range for a ficers are building positive relationships sioners and the police association reached constable is from $73,428.69 to $109,079.24 throughout the community. For example, an agreement on April 1 after more than to $113,186.48. they hand out positive tickets in the sumtwo years of negotiations. The agreement • In Regina, the salary of a constable rang- mer to youths demonstrating safe becovers the period from Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec. es from $52,531 to $111,398 to $120,221. haviours. They also go into schools to help 31, 2020. It includes salary increases of 2.75 The agreement was officially signed on students understand the role police play. per cent in 2017, 2.25 per cent in 2018, 1.9 April 3 at city hall. Mayor Fraser Tolmie, Having a police contract that runs until Deper cent in 2019 and 2.5 per cent in 2020. chair of the board of police commissioners, cember 2020 is important since it removes According to the 2017 public accounts reand Mickleborough each signed on behalf a stressful issue from the minds of officers, port: of their respective organizations. Tolmie said. A signed deal means the board Tolmie was elected in October 2016, which of police commissioners and the union can is also roughly when negotiations began. move forward without an unsigned conHe explained that he had to see both sides tract hovering over them. of the negotiations when going through “We think it’s a fair contract and they agree this process. It was a different experience (as well),” added Tolmie. for him since this negotiation came so early The negotiation teams participated in a in his mayoral career. lengthy bargaining process that was imThe goal is to settle negotiations quickly, portant, but was also challenging, said but sometimes conversations need to hap- Police Chief Rick Bourassa. Sometimes Mayor Fraser Tolmie, chair of the Moose pen, he continued. Deep discussions were groups don’t always get what they want Jaw Board of Police Commissioners, and required to understand why certain de- during negotiations. However, with this Taylor Mickleborough, vice-president of mands were coming forward. He compared agreement in place, both parties can focus the Moose Jaw Police Association, offi- it to pealing the layers of an onion. on keeping the community safe and harcially sign the new collective bargaining “On the whole, I think the negotiations monious. agreement at city hall. The contract ex- went very well concerning the result,” Tol- “We have a very busy police service,” he pires in December 2020. Photo by Jason mie said. “We’re very proud of our police added. “It’s good to get that out of the way.” G. Antonio force.”
Property Owners. Residents. The City of Moose Jaw wants your feedback on proposed amendments to the Noise and Smoking Bylaws. Visit www.MooseJaw.ca for details.