A tentative agreement was announced Sunday, but in separate news releases Tuesday night, both the city and CUPE said the contract had been accepted by members, although the exact vote count was not released. “This collective bargaining agreement is the result of months of hard work and dedication to reach a contract that is fair and balanced for all parties involved,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “The Council would like to thank residents and community groups for their patience as we worked to reach an agreement which focused on the sustainability of our services.” The new agreement covers the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026 and includes a 9 percent wage increase, a reduction in sick leave days from 21 to 18 days, the introduction of two personal leave days for employees, an increase in the meal allowance from $15 to 17 $ and an increase from four to six employees scheduled for weekend maintenance and snow removal during the winter season. The union called the wage increase “modest”, adding that workers would return to work on Wednesday morning. The city, however, says a return-to-work plan will include a phased approach to restarting services, adding that details will be announced “in the coming days.” CUPE 2099 President Ken Turner said members are looking forward to getting back to serving the community they love. “We will work with the employer to see that the agreed ‘back to work’ is implemented, ensuring a smooth transition back into the workplace,” said Turner, who thanked the negotiating committee for their hard work and praised members for support and solidarity. “We believe this is a fair deal for our members, the city and the residents.” CUPE 2099 represents more than 200 municipal employees working in recreation, administration, taxation and finance, road maintenance, water and sanitation, facilities maintenance, landscape maintenance, and engineering and planning.
