Essex County Council Endorses Three-Year Agreement with CUPE Local 2974.1

Essex County Council has endorsed a new, three-year collective agreement with CUPE Local 2974.1, which represents inside and outside County of Essex employees in a range of administrative, technical, operational and professional classifications.

The previous agreement expired on March 31, 2026. The new agreement, ratified by union members earlier this week, includes general wage increases of:

• Four per cent retroactive to April 1, 2026;
• Four per cent effective April 1, 2027; and
• Four per cent effective April 1, 2028

The agreement also includes enhanced vision-care coverage, a new annual health care spending account, improved statutory holiday pay, increased safety footwear allowances and paid time for employees to complete testing required to maintain specialized driver’s licenses.

Non-monetary changes include updated language related to job postings, bereavement leave and organizational changes. The agreement also includes a Letter of Commitment aimed at improving the understanding of, and confidence in, the job evaluation process.

“This agreement recognizes the dedication and professionalism of County of Essex employees while also respecting the ability of residents to pay,” said Danielle Dunlop, Interim Director of Human Resources. “Our discussions with the union were positive and productive, resulting in an agreement that provides labour stability through to March 31 2029, and supports the continued delivery of quality County of Essex services.”