Region of Waterloo says it has presented ‘final offer’ to striking CUPE 1656 members

Members of CUPE 1656 hold a protest at the Region of Waterloo headquarters on March 4, 2025. (Heather Senoran/CTV News)

The Region of Waterloo said it has made a “final offer” to striking members of CUPE Local 1656.

The union, which represents 240 workers in road maintenance, landfill services, airport support, clean water treatment and emergency vehicle repair, have been on strike since March 3.

Wages remain a sticking point between the two sides.

In a media release, the region said an offer was presented to the union Thursday morning “to end the strike and have members return to work.”

They called it “fair and competitive for employees” and “mindful of affordability for taxpayers.”

“The offer includes a salary increase of almost 12 per cent to all positions over a three-year period, with a $1.00 per hour wage adjustment, plus a 3.5 per cent increase, representing an average of 5 per cent increase in the first year,” the region explained, adding wage increases would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025.

According to the region, the offer included a commitment to “undertake a market review for the skilled trades classifications as well as several other future enhancements, including banked overtime, shift premiums, meal allowance and stand-by rates.”

The strike action has had an impact on regional services. Traffic delays have been reported at the Region of Waterloo International Airport due to the presence of picketers, though flights were not affected, and both waste management centres in Waterloo and Cambridge have been shut down since the start of the strike.

CTV News has reached out to CUPE Local 1656’s bargaining team for comment.