Halifax-area CUPE workers to return to work Monday after accepting tentative deal

After more than a month of picketing, CUPE Local 5047 members will be returning to work Monday after ratifying their latest contract offer.

After more than a month of picketing, about 1,800 CUPE Local 5047 members will be returning to work Monday after ratifying their latest contract offer.

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education announced Sunday the striking educational support workers had voted in favour of the tentative agreement on Saturday.

While CUPE members are happy to be returning back to work, the union said they are still disappointed with the agreement.

“It’s not a day of celebration, it’s a bit of a somber day,” said Chris Melanson, CUPE Local 5047 president. “The agreement has some small gains -- but it’s not perfect. No one can say that.”

For members, receiving higher pay was a major sticking point. The union said this is because some workers were having a hard time making ends meet.

The initial agreement offered by the province included a 6.5 per cent wage hike over three years, which other locals around Nova Scotia accepted.

However, due to the cost of living in the Halifax-area, CUPE Local 5047 did not agree to the deal.