A contract dispute between the local chapter of Canadian Union of Public Employees and the city of Belleville could lead to a strike in just over two weeks.
In a release, CUPE 907, which represents over 200 of the city’s workers, said they’ve met with the city 21 times in negotiations and had come to agreements on many issues. Now, they say the city has reversed its position on all the items they’d agreed on.
On Friday morning the union requested a no-board report from the Ministry of Labour which triggers a 17-day countdown at which point the union can initiate a strike or the city can initiate a lockout.
The affected workers include building inspectors, payroll and permit clerks, office staff, parks and rec, including outdoor rinks and arenas, tree trimming and maintenance, bylaw, water and wastewater treatment and snow plowing.
Mayor of Belleville Mitch Panciuk said “it’s too early to tell how things will go”. Panciuk wondered why the union wouldn’t see job security as a good enough offer during pandemic times.
The earliest a lockout or strike can happen is February 22.
