A tentative agreement has been reached between the City of Thunder Bay and its employees.
Local CUPE 87 president Dana Vacek tells us it was done Tuesday night, with almost 600 employees set to vote on it next week for ratification.
“I can’t go into much details of what was discussed, of course, but like I think with any municipality at this time they’re looking for cost containment, which would’ve meant benefit concessions, which CUPE doesn’t negotiate,” notes Vacek.
If members vote to accept, a city wide strike will be averted.
The union president adds he didn’t hear much negativity concerning the negotiations, but mainly community support.
“A lot of positive support. I think the public realizes how many of our staff have been the front line that have kept things rolling through the last eight or nine months or so, and I think the public wanted to see them treated fairly,” says Vacek.
The last contract expired this year, the current negotiations centred around wages and benefits.
City councillors are expected to vote on the tentative deal at their December 21st meeting.
