The City of Prince Albert's second union which represents outside workers, will hold a strike vote today. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Second union to vote on strike today

Outside P.A. city workers to hold strike vote

Nov 9, 2023 | 9:55 AM

The union representing the City of Prince Albert’s outside workers, including arena staff, the water treatment plant, mechanics and airport workers will be holding a strike vote today, said CUPE 160.

Should CUPE 160 vote in favour of joining the CUPE 882, which has been on strike since Sept. 11, it will still take some time before workers actually go on the picket line.

“We have many steps to complete before any job action could commence,” said Leslie Mourot Bartley, president of CUPE 160. “But the City of Prince Albert needs to realize that their current approach to labour relations is failing.”

Residents of Prince Albert would notice an immediate impact as CUPE 160 includes workers from the water treatment plant, the sanitation department, parks and recreation, roads, rink operations staff, all janitors at city facilities, fleet mechanics, airport maintenance workers and cemetery staff.

CUPE 882 and the city have reached a stalemate as both sides wait for the other side to set a meeting date.

Court proceedings

Drugs and weapons bust in Stanley Mission, results in two year sentence

17h ago

health care

La Loche recipient of new portable blood analyzer, printer kit

19h ago

Crime

Dangerous driving report at Red Wing, leads to arrest of man with gun

22h ago

CUPE says it wants to negotiate and the city has said for weeks that the union rejected its last offer and should propose a new one.

CIPE 160 is asking for wage increases that match inflation, said Mourot Bartley.

“The city continues to seek numerous concessions, and the current wage mandate is well below the rate of inflation,” said Mourot Bartley. “Without movement from the city, we will be at a stalemate. We believe that a strong strike mandate is needed to motivate our employer to settle.”

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com