The City of Prince Albert’s Executive Director of Labour relations says the city’s mandate has not changed, following the local CUPE members’ vote not to accept the most recent contract. Kristin Anderson says, “We are considering our next steps. In the meantime, we invite the union to submit a new proposal for our review.”

City workers in CUPE Local 882 voted 81 per cent in favour of rejecting the deal. A news release from the City of Prince Albert contends that picketers have engaged in disruptive behaviour and intimidation tactics directed at the public and City Management, particularly at the EA Rawlinson Centre and City Hall. It is alleged picketers are blocking vehicles from entering parking lots, blowing horns in the faces of seniors, posting derogatory signs and disturbing downtown businesses and customers with loud music and blowing horns non-stop. Anyone who notices bad behaviour is encouraged to contact CUPE directly to report any issues and if you notice anything that violates the law, report it to the police.

The union began job action August 10th, and then went on strike September 11th, impacting service levels at Prince Albert City Hall, EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts, Frank Dunn Pool, Alfred Jenkins Field House, and the Art Hauser Centre. An earlier ratification vote was halted when the union learned that the city was going to maintain a call centre at City Hall that was created during the strike to manage calls.

After results of the vote were revealed, CUPE National Representative Mira Lewis said in a news release that Mayor Greg Dionne told the Tuesday City Council meeting that the ball was in the union’s court and if the union voted no then it would mean going back to the table. She says she would urge administration to immediate return to the bargaining table prepared to offer a meaningful deal. The union’s bargaining committee will be reaching out to the city and Kristin Anderson, Executive Director of Labour Relations to set bargaining dates.