Workers with the Town of Mattawa are expecting negotiations to ramp up tomorrow with conciliation talks scheduled, trying to hammer out a new collective agreement, but things could turn nasty, quickly.
The union believes the Town is already lining up replacement workers.
"It came as a surprise to us that they brought in a company and they are touring around the workplace," Fran Belanger, a CUPE National Rep told BayToday. "It's a typical contracting company that would deal with water supply to the municipality.
“This contract expired in December of 2016, and the Town is still not showing us they are serious about getting a deal. We understand they have been busy lining up outside contractors to do our work in the event of a strike or lockout – when there isn’t even a strike or lockout deadline set. Our message to them is simple: spend your energy at the table, working with us to secure a fair agreement, instead of seeking out costly contractors to do our work.”
The talks tomorrow between the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1465-01 and the Town will be assisted by a mediator from the Ministry of Labour.
“After more than a year without a collective agreement, it’s clear that we need the assistance of the Ministry to move these negotiations along,” said Belanger.
The main roadblock, she adds, it the Town wanting concessions on sick leave.
"They want to change their present sick leave plan to a short-term disability plan which is significantly less than they are getting right now. We've asked them if there are problems with sick leave abuse and they've not confirmed there is abuse. They just want to change plans and it's simply less coverage for the workers."
The workers represent more than a dozen people employed at both “inside” and “outside” jobs, including licensing and permits, water and sewage, landfill, parks, recreation, and roads.
“We would like to remain on the job, providing high-quality services to the people of Mattawa,” said Belanger. “We need the employer to be as committed as we are to securing an agreement this week.”
Calls to Town CEO Raymond Belanger and Mayor Dean Backer were not returned.
