Local unions have been granted time to discuss concerns with the city on benefit cuts affecting employees eligible for early retirement.
Monday, Sarnia City Council voted 5-4 to table the motion to its December 7th meeting. The City Manager had proposed changes including retirees pay 25 per cent of premium costs, post-retirement benefits eliminated altogether, or eliminated for new hires as of 2016.
In a delegation to city council, CUPE Local 2713 President Shawn Keck said they feel it's unfair to have the proposal sprung on members without bringing it to the table as a bargaining item.
"Currently we have up to 39 members that are eligible to retire this year and will be affected by these proposed changes in benefits," said Keck.
"Those individuals have put in hard work and contributed to the success of the operations of the City of Sarnia, and those individuals expect that the city, in good faith, would stand by their benefit practice which has been in place since 1991."
Councillor Mike Kelch successfully passed the motion. He felt as though the proposed changes were sprung on the employee group and did not allow them enough time to provide feedback.
"After this difficult decision gets made, I want to be able to look back and say everyone had ample time to make their case, and I don't believe that's happened yet."
Since 1991, the city has been providing health and dental benefits up to the age of 65 for employees with at least 25 years of service.
