Region’s workers voting on tentative contract

Proposal is second attempt at a negotiated settlement

Niagara Region and Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1287 have reached another tentative agreement.

Information sessions were scheduled for union members Tuesday before a 24-hour electronic voting process begins Wednesday. A CUPE spokesperson said the vote result will be available Thursday.

Region staff gave councillors a confidential update on negotiations from management’s perspective at last week’s council meeting.

“I hope we do come with something good for the employees of 1287,” Welland Coun. Pat Chiocchio said after council’s closed session ended. “Considering what our staff have done in the past — and especially the past few years of the pandemic — I hope they get what they deserve.”

The union local has been without a contract since the beginning of the year.

CUPE 1287 represents nearly 1,000 members employed in operations that include infrastructure maintenance, transportation services, water and wastewater management, social assistance programs and emergency medical services.

It is the second largest union representing the Region’s workers. Overall, the Region has about 3,500 employees.

Earlier this year, the Region and CUPE reached a tentative collective agreement. However, while Region councillors ratified the deal, the union membership voted to reject the contract.

The union local also made the news in August during a rally at Region headquarters in Thorold before a council meeting. A donkey named Amigo was part of the rally and accompanied some of the workers into headquarters before it defecated on the tile floor in the lobby.

I hope we do come with something good for the employees of 1287.

PAT CHIOCCHIO WELLAND COUNCILLOR