City Hall, 510 Main Street (CITY OF WINNIPEG / FILE)
The City of Winnipeg and CUPE Local 500 have reached an agreement to avoid a potential workers’ strike.
Both sides negotiated throughout the weekend and announced Tuesday night a new deal had been reached.
“I extend my deepest thanks to our negotiating team and strike committee for their hard work during a tough round of bargaining, and to all our membership for their steadfast resolve and support,” said Gord Delbridge, president of CUPE Local 500.
“We are not happy with the way the city handled this process, but are relieved that we have a package to review prior to bringing it to our members for their vote”.
The union, which represents city employees, issued a statement on Monday saying a tentative agreement had been reached between the union and the City of Winnipeg. The city on Tuesday issued its own statement saying that wasn’t the case and that negotiations were continuing.
“It is unfortunate that we had to push until mere hours before our strike was set to begin,” added Delbridge. “Leaving this much uncertainty for workers and the public was unfair, but we are satisfied that the tentative agreement is one we can bring to our members for their vote.”
Details of the new agreement will be released once employees vote to ratify it.
CUPE Local 500 represents about 5,000 workers at the City of Winnipeg.
