Hamilton Council ratifies collective agreement with city workers

Hamilton City Council has officially ratified its agreement with the city’s largest union that avoided the strike of nearly 3,200 workers back in August.

The City says the new four-year deal with CUPE Local 5167 ratified Wednesday includes a 12.7 per cent wage increase over the next four years.

This wage increase is equal to many being implemented for city workers across the province this year, including in nearby St. Catharines, according to provincial records.

Officials say the agreement ensures fairness to both taxpayers and public workers.

READ MORE: No strike Monday as City of Hamilton, unionized workers reach tentative agreement

The union and the city had been bargaining since Feb. 6 and 3,200 workers were in a legal strike position as of August 21. Union members would ultimately vote in favour of the deal on Sept. 1, with a formal announcement of the approval being shared by local president Jay Hunter late that day.

Members of CUPE Local 5167 effectively represent over one third of unionized Hamilton employees. Strike action would have seen impacts in all city-run services including city-run child care, parks and recreation, garbage pick-up, road work and bylaw enforcement among others.

Speaking on the ratification, Mayor Andrea Horwath says it “reflects the vital role CUPE employees play in delivering City services, the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that guided these negotiations, and our commitment to taxpayers to maintain ongoing fiscal responsibility.”

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