City workers to vote June 6 on tentative deal

The city has struck a second tentative agreement with its 530 outside workers, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Kevin Fowke, the city's manager of human resources, said a deal was struck May 24 in talks that included the help of a provincial mediator.

“We were able to reach a second tentative agreement,” Fowke said. “My understanding is CUPE has organized meetings for Tuesday and Thursday of next week.”

Fowke said he couldn't reveal details of the agreement because the union is still in the process of presenting it to its members.

Before talks began, CUPE Local 4705 announced it had a strike mandate supported by 80 per cent of members who voted to back up their negotiating committee heading into the negotiations.

The outside workers, including snow plow drivers, road repair workers, arena staff, parks workers and water and waste water staff, voted 64 per cent to reject an earlier tentative agreement that was unanimously recommended by the union's negotiating committee.

But the 970 inside workers, also represented by Local 4705, voted to accept the same contract, creating an awkward situation for CUPE.

Rick Leroux, president of CUPE 4705, said in a news release that the negotiating committee met with the outside workers to get a better idea of what their concerns were.

"We look forward to sitting down with the employer and working out a settlement with the city that will be acceptable to our members," said Leroux in a press release. "CUPE 4705 is committed to return to the bargaining table and make every effort to reach a negotiated settlement."

The hourly pay for the outside workers ranges from $13.71 for student employees to $31.04 for tradespeople. The union has scheduled an information meeting on the tentative deals on Tuesday at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at locations still to be announced.

A vote will be held Thursday next week from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the CUPE union hall in Copper Cliff.

Fowke wouldn't say what changes have been made in the tentative agreement since workers rejected the first one.

“That will be for the employees to judge, but certainly we made attempts to clarify what was in the original deal,” he said.

“And we have CUPE's assurance that they'll unanimously recommend this second agreement as they did the first.”