Mayor Greg Dionne and HR manager Kevin Yates spoke to media on Wednesday about a potential strike of inside workers. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

City Hall

Prince Albert faces first ever strike over one per cent negotiation point

Jul 19, 2023 | 4:30 PM

Inside workers for the City of Prince Albert could be taking the municipality to its first ever strike as they negotiate over a one per cent difference in what was offered and what is wanted.

Mayor Greg Dionne said the workers, represented by CUPE 882, did not accept the city’s offer of an 11 per cent increase, a decision that puzzles him.

“I am surprised, but the ball is in their court. We’ve put on what we think the taxpayers can afford,” said Dionne.

The 11 per cent increase over four years is significantly higher than similar negotiations in the education sector (seven per cent) and Regina (6.7 per cent) have resulted in.

Also on the table is an extra 0.5 per cent increase aimed at the lowest paid employees.

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“As city council, we work hard to maintain the balance between salaries and our responsibilities to taxpayers. They say they want a larger increase because the cost of everything has gone up in the city. Well, the cost has gone up for everyone in the city, it’s not unique to them,” Dionne said.

The city is also in negotiations with its second union that represents outside workers and the one per cent difference would end up costing the city $1.15 million for both deals and lead to a three mil tax increase for ratepayers.

“That’s what they have to understand, we represent the majority of the citizens, and they don’t want big tax increases,” Dionne said.

CUPE 882 has asked for 12 per cent, a reduction of the 30 per cent they initially requested. Union reps also asked for more vacation eligibility earlier in employment terms.

Council stands behind administration in their negotiations, Dionne said.

He also responded to comments in a news release from the Union yesterday that referred to the increase in pay he and council have received.

City policy states that the mayor will be paid 66 per cent of an MLA’s salary, which in Dionne’s case is $88,000. Councilors receive a lower percentage that totals $29,000 annually.

When broken into percentiles, the city workers are currently in the 85 percentile when compared to other workers and would go up to 95 percentile with the current offer from the city.

“Let’s do a comparison. Well, I’m glad they did because maybe I should join them. They’re at 85 per cent and I’m at 69 per cent,” he said.

The next meeting between the two parties is on Tuesday.

If no deal is reached and workers go on strike, the biggest public impact will be to people accessing services like the Kinsmen Water Park, the EA Rawlinson Centre and the Alfred Jenkins Field House.

While workers at city hall would also strike, there are enough out of scope staff there that services continue. Contract workers would not be affected and could take up some slack at the EA Rawlinson and the Fieldhouse so the single biggest reduction in services would be the Kinsmen Water Park.

With the upcoming heat wave, the city said it is glad there are splash parks in each neighbourhood should the water park be unavailable.

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Susan.McNeil@pattisonmedia.com