Strike averted for thousands of Region of Waterloo public service workers
A strike has been averted for more than 1,000 of Waterloo Region's public service workers.
Just hours before a midnight deadline, a deal has been reached with one of the two unions involved and talks are being extended with another.
CUPE 1883, which represents more than 900 indoor employees, announced Friday evening it had reached a deal with the region.
CUPE 5191, which covers paramedics, has agreed to extend their talks to next week.
The unions and the region have been in talks for months.
Recently, negotiations became heated after the union accused the Region of Waterloo of union-busting when regional officials sent an email to employees saying they won't be stopped from working if they chose to cross the picket line.
According to the union, the main sticking points boil down to heavy workloads, job security and mental health concerns.
In a release issued Friday night, the indoor workers with CUPE 1883 say they have been able to find common ground on those issues. The deal for indoor workers still needs to be ratified by the membership.
“We have had a very tough round of bargaining but thanks to the solidarity among our membership, the support of our sister local CUPE 5191 and the public, we were able to secure a fair deal," union president Noelle Fletcher said in a release. "While this round of bargaining is over, our quest to improve public services in the Region of Waterloo continues.”
The paramedic group, CUPE 5191, says they have made good progress and will continue talks next week.
“Our local continued talks with the employer yesterday (after negotiations on Tuesday). We remain optimistic and committed to getting a deal done, and to avoid any interruptions of the vital service we provide to the community," union president Luke McCann said in a release. "If this momentum stalls, or our talks hit an impasse we remain prepared to consider our options, with the full support of our membership and the surrounding paramedic unions.”
Both updates mean there will be no strike this weekend.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.