Pay raises coming for Barrie City workers under new three-year agreement

The City of Barrie sign is shown at Barrie City Hall in Barrie, Ont. (CTV News/Luke Simard)

A new contract is set to deliver raises for municipal workers through 2028.

The City of Barrie and CUPE Local 2380 have reached a new three-year collective agreement after several months of negotiations.

The tentative agreement, reached March 25, was ratified by Barrie City Council at its April 1 meeting and approved by CUPE Local 2380 members that evening.

“We’re pleased to have reached a fair and balanced agreement that reflects the contributions of our employees while supporting the long-term sustainability of our municipality,” said Michael Prowse, chief administrative officer. “This outcome demonstrates a shared commitment to collaboration and to continuing to deliver high-quality services to our community.”

The agreement

The agreement runs from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2028, and includes wage increases of 3.75 per cent in 2026, 3.25 per cent in 2027 and three per cent in 2028.

The previous contract expired on Dec. 31, 2025. The city said the settlement aligns with recent agreements reached in similar municipalities.

“We worked hard throughout this round of bargaining to secure improvements for our members, including wage increases and important updates to the agreement,” said Megan Varga, president of CUPE Local 2380. “We believe this is the best deal possible for the membership as a whole, and we’re pleased it has been ratified.”

According to the release, CUPE Local 2380 is made up of municipal workers who deliver a range of public services, including parks and recreation, water and wastewater treatment, public works, courthouse services, financial and administrative services, city planning, by-law enforcement, building services, marina operations and more.