A second round of negotiations between City of Cornwall workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and management has been scheduled for June 14. Caleb Roach, president of CUPE 3251, which represents over 135 municipal workers, told this newspaper the talks will be conciliated negotiations, involving a mediator from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development.
“I think the city will show a willingness to (come to an agreement), I’m hopeful,” Roach said. “No one wants to strike, nobody wants to lose workers. I’m hopeful we’ll get a contract signed.”
The local represents municipal workers – who’ve been without a contract since late last year – including aquatic instructors, water and wastewater treatment plant operators, bylaw officers, city hall clerks, as well as social and housing support workers.
Roach said a first round of negotiations was slated for three days in March, but city negotiators walked away midway in the second day.
“It was a little frustrating,” Roach said. “We want to negotiate a good contract.”
He said wages are one of the main issues, and that (in early talks) “we didn’t feel wage compensation matched what’s been going on globally, in terms of inflation.”
Click here to read the full article on the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder.
