City of P.A. not budging despite inside workers on strike, contingency plan in place for six months

Yates explained they have no plans to concede on any other of the union’s current requests.

“We are already in the planning stage for (operations) beyond six months,” he said.

The two sides continue to be far apart on several key items. This includes a salary increase with the city offering an 11 per cent jump with CUPE asking for 12 per cent.

Yates said the additional one per cent is very important because if they approve it then other bargaining groups will want the same thing.

“It sets a precedent. At the end of the day, it may not seem like a lot if you’re just dealing with one bargaining unit but the minute we introduce any new significant benefit, it’s across a much broader group of people which represents a significant cost to taxpayers.”

According to Bear, the union has also asked for more vacation days.

“We have generous vacation provisions already in the collective agreement. So, to consider additional time off… it’s just not palatable in this climate when we have rising costs for living and we want that money that we have to offer to go to wages,” Bear said.

Other issues the two sides continue to disagree on are increases in additional duty pay and wages for lower-paid individuals.

Meanwhile, Bear added the city is willing to negotiate with CUPE though they have no plans to discuss expanding benefits past the already discussed parameters.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by Jaryn Vecchio

City of P.A. not budging despite inside workers on strike, contingency plan in place for six months

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