PRINCE ALBERT - The City of Prince Albert outside workers could soon join the inside workers on the picket lines.
According to a news release from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, CUPE 160 members representing City of Prince Albert outside workers have voted 80 per cent in favour of job action, up to and including a full withdrawal of services.
CUPE 160 is the union representing outside workers at the water treatment plant, waste water treatment plant, sanitation department, parks and recreation, roadways, rink operations, janitors, fleet mechanics, airport maintenance, and the cemetery. They have been without a contract since Dec. 2021.
“We want to emphasize that we are not yet in a legal strike position. There are several steps we need to undertake before any job action can occur – including declaring impasse, mandatory conciliation, and a formal essential service agreement,” said Leslie Mourot Bartley, president of CUPE 160, in a statement.
“We hope that this vote will send a clear message to the city that we can reach a fair collective agreement that works for both parties without job action.”
CUPE 160 is stating the city is pushing for a reduction in sick days, changes to overtime call back, and hours of work for some classifications. The union also says the city is not moving on union proposals such as providing a coffee pot, fridge, and microwave in breakrooms, as well as a provision for domestic violence leave.
In a news release, The City of Prince Albert says planning is underway to prepare for a potential CUPE 160 strike. They say many of the areas impacted are covered under essential services legislation, such as garbage pick-up, mechanics, cemetery, snow removal and water and sewer services.
“We have already started planning for the potential outcome of a strike and we can assure residents that disruptions will be limited,” said Kiley Bear, Director of Corporate Services for the City of Prince Albert, in a statement.
“Similar to CUPE 882, there are plans in place and we are committed to limiting impacts to any services not covered by essential services legislation.”
The city said it has offered a general wage increase of 11 per cent over four years, a wage adjustment for the lowest paid employees from $15.83 to $19.44 starting wage to assist with recruitment and retention, a shift differential increase for Water Treatment Plant employees to bring it in line with all other work groups, a winter wage adjustment for Airport Maintenance employees from $27.68 to $28.29 in the winter months to align with other Equipment Operators rates, and introduction of an Airport Supervisor position.
The City states the most recent proposal from CUPE 160 puts forward a general wage increase of 22 per cent over four years and another eight per cent in monetary asks, including another three sick days for a total of 18 per year. The total requests amount to at least 30 per cent over four years.
“CUPE 160’s bargaining team continues to put forward unreasonable monetary demands that are well beyond the realm of possibility. It is clear they are not motivated to find a resolve and keep their members at work,” said Bear.
Should CUPE 160 start job action, they would join CUPE 882 in job action against the City of Prince Albert. CUPE 882, representing inside workers at the City, commenced a full withdrawal of services on Sept. 11. A tentative agreement in that dispute has since been voted down by the union, and talks have yet to resume.
