Thunder Bay city employees have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike.
CUPE 87 President Dana Vacek suggests for now there is no danger of a walk-out since both sides are will be meeting with a conciliator on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
“We’re hopeful with a third party involved in bargaining we can come out of those two days with a deal that’s fair to our members and also fair to the employer…the taxpayers of The City of Thunder Bay,” explains Vacek.
During a recent virtual union meeting, the members voted 97 percent in favour of strike action to back their demands in a new contract.
The union official is reluctant to get into details but tells us the major issues for the 500 to 600 inside and outside workers are wage and benefit increases.
They have been working without a new contract since January.
The last time there was a threat of strike action by the workers was four years ago, but that was averted when the union members voted to accept the city’s contract offer.
