By Andrew Bates | Telegraph-Journal
The City of Saint John said it’s reached a deal with the union representing its outside workers after around five months of bargaining.
In a press release from the city Tuesday, bargaining teams representing the city and CUPE Local 18 announced a tentative agreement on May 26. In the release, the city said the previous contract, which began in January of 2020, expired on Jan. 1 this year and negotiations began on Jan. 16.
“Representatives of the bargaining teams worked collaboratively to reach this tentative agreement, and details of the tentative agreement will be available once both sides have ratified,” the release reads.
The employees affected work in a range of roles including garbage collection, water and wastewater system, in parks, on road repair and vehicle maintenance, according to past council documents. The deal affects approximately 235 permanent employees, according to Stephanie Hossack, the city’s human resources commissioner.
“So happy to have a tentative agreement,” Mayor Donna Reardon said in a message Thursday. She said that the agreement would be presented to council for ratification on Monday.
According to the release, union leadership will present the deal to workers for a ratification vote in the next few weeks. CUPE Local 18 spokesperson Simon Ouellette declined a request for comment.
