A city council source has confirmed that the City of Vancouver and its biggest union CUPE 15 have settled on a four-year contract commencing Jan. 1, 2012 for 6.75 per cent. This is the first contract negotiated since the three month strike last time around under Sam Sullivan's NPA administration and the first since Vancouver broke away from the joint bargaining process run by Metro Vancouver.

It essentially follows the settlement reached by CUPE in New Westminster in August and gives workers 1.25 per cent in the first year retroactively, 1.75 per cent in the second and third year and two per cent in the final year.

Council was expecting to be briefed on the deal today and CUPE was planning on sending out details to its membership for ratification Nov. 6.