HALIFAX – The union representing outside workers at the Halifax Regional Municipality is pleased on two counts with the actions of city councillors on Tuesday night—ratifying a collective agreement with 360 employees, the members of CUPE Local 108, and voting to save the Halifax forum.
“It was a hard road to settlement,” says CUPE National Representative Karen MacKenzie, “but with perseverance and compromises on both sides, we now have a fair and proactive agreement that will benefit taxpayers as well as members.”
The three-year agreement includes more than thirty changes including improvements to training and assignment of work. The deal was ratified by the local on July 21 and by HRM Council last evening.
Local 108 President Mike Young says that the two years it took to reach the agreement was well worth the effort. “These are improvements and changes that both the employees and the municipality needed, to make our work more efficient and to avoid any contracting out of services.”
Additionally, the local would like to pass on congratulations to HRM councillors for the decision to save the forum. “Our members stood side by side with members of the public, not to save jobs, but because the forum is a vital part of the community. We are thrilled that councillors have listened to the public on this one.”