Contract talks have stalled between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing city workers, and the City of Weyburn.
CUPE Local 90 has issued a written notice to the city along with the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, stating they have reached an impasse in negotiations.
Concessions the City of Weyburn is seeking include changes to bereavement leave, changes to emergency and serious illness leave, changes to the grievance process and changes to seniority and promotion rights.
“Our members work hard for the City of Weyburn. We deserve a fair and reasonable deal,” Sherri Blackburn, president of CUPE Local 90, said.
“The monetary offer they have outlined does not keep up with the costs of living and lags behind the wage increases that CUPE members employed by other municipalities will receive.”
Negotiations fell apart when the city sent their final offer of a new collective agreement for the period of Jan.1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2020, to employees.
They asked the CUPE Local 90 bargaining committee to take the offer to its members for a vote.
“The City claims they want to maintain a harmonious relationship with the union, yet they acted in a very disrespectful manner by trying to undermine the union’s bargaining committee and sent their final offer directly to the membership,” Blackburn said.
“The members saw right through this, and at a membership meeting they were adamant that the final offer was not worthy of a vote, and mediation should be the next step. Though bargaining has broken down, the local is hopeful that a deal can be reached through mediation. At this time there are no plans for a strike vote or job action, but CUPE is committed to reaching a fair deal for our members.”
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