Saint John inside workers' strike ends, all parties ratify working agreement
CBC
The City of Saint John, the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners and CUPE Local 486, the union representing the city's inside workers, have all ratified a working agreement, immediately ending the strike, which has been ongoing since Sept. 12.
A tentative agreement was reached on Friday between negotiators. The union local ratified the agreement Monday, while common council and the board of police commissioners voted on Tuesday.
The striking workers included clerical, administrative and support staff as well as workers in the city's 911 operations centre.
The previous contract, which had been on the bargaining table since July 2022, had average wages between $65,000 and $75,000, and a full pension, according to the city.
On Tuesday, city commissioner of human resources Stephanie Hossack gave councillors an overview of the terms of the agreement, which includes wage provisions and other benefits.
The wage increase is as follows:
At Tuesday night's council meeting, the agreement was unanimously approved.
The bargaining process has not been without its challenges.
CUPE Local 486 was accused by the city multiple times of blocking garbage trucks, an accusation the union denied, and the City of Saint John even obtained a temporary injunction against the striking workers.
The city also temporarily paused garbage collection for a period of time during the strike because of what it alleged to be "illegal actions" by CUPE Local 486 pickets.
The strike action also caused turmoil among city councillors.
Councillors Joanna Killen and Brent Harris were stripped of their council committee duties at last week's meeting, pending an investigation by an independent law firm into their conduct.
Mayor Donna Reardon alleged the two councillors went against the city's Code of Conduct by posting on social media showing them meeting with striking workers and holding up picket signs.
This action does not bar them from common council meetings and the two were in attendance and voted at Tuesday's meeting.
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