Region of Waterloo and union members at odds, strike possible on Monday

Landfills may be closed and some regional roads may not be maintained if a strike happens on Monday.

The Region of Waterloo and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1656 are at odds over contract negotiations.

CUPE 1656 represents approximately 240 members, including people who work in road maintenance, landfill services, airport services, clean water treatment services and emergency vehicle repairs.

“We do not want to go on strike, but at this point, the Region of Waterloo is giving us no other option,” CUPE 1656 President Phil Dominas said in an email to CTV News on Wednesday.

Dominas said union members are prepared to go on strike as of 12:01 a.m. on March 3 if a deal is not reached. He said a strike would impact winter plowing on regional roads, pothole repairs, airport services including departures and arrivals and regional housing maintenance.

In a statement on Tuesday, the region said if the strike happens, the Region of Waterloo Landfill and Recycling Centres in Cambridge and Waterloo will be closed to the public.

The union is accusing the region of rescinding a wage offer and putting forth a different, ‘significantly lower’ proposal.

“As of right now we are working hard to get a fair deal to avoid a strike, last week the employer made reaching a deal much more difficult by going back on wages they had already proposed to us, and asking us to accept a much smaller increase instead. From our perspective we thought we were very close to a deal, only to find out that they lied to us and had no intention of negotiating the wages they offered us or they made a mistake,” Dominas wrote in an email.

“The reality is CUPE 1656 members are proud of the work they do for the Region of Waterloo, proud to service the Region of Waterloo, we just want fair wages and to be recognized for the work we do,” Dominas said.

A statement from the region on Tuesday said, “Region of Waterloo employees provide services to nearly 700,000 residents daily. This work is critical and is valued and appreciated.”

Dominas said no further bargaining dates have been scheduled as of Wednesday morning. Union members are planning to stage a rally at 6 p.m. ahead of Wednesday night’s regional council meeting.