After more than four months on the picket line, CUPE Local #65 workers at the Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living are optimistic their strike soon may be over.
After negotiating with ACL administration behind closed doors at La Place Rendez-Vous for more than 15 hours from Tuesday afternoon until about 5 a.m. Wednesday, CUPE reps presented their members with a tentative agreement yesterday at noon.
“The talks went really well,” said CUPE #65 president Gwen Miller. “We’re recommending accepting and I’m quite certain the members will approve.”
A mediator kept things moving during the marathon bargaining talks.
“I think there was some compromise,” noted ACL executive director Alanna Barr. “That’s part of negotiating.
“We are optimistic that members will support the agreement,” she added.
Picket lines were down for the first time yesterday morning as CUPE #65 members prepared for the noon-hour meeting at old CN station, where the parameters of the tentative agreement were presented.
Union members now have two days to consider the deal before they vote on it tomorrow from 1-3 p.m.
“It’s so people have a chance to make sure they know what they want to do,” explained Miller.
Picket lines are back up pending ratification of the deal.
When contract talks broke off April 30, employees were demanding a retroactive five percent wage increase in 2001, a five percent hike in 2002, and a pension plan.
ACL administration, meanwhile, only had offered 1.5 percent each year, non-retroactive, which led to the four-month plus stalemate.
While details of the tentative agreement have not been revealed, ACL administration was able to change its stance as a result of an additional $124,960 in funding announced last week by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
“There’s been a substantial [wage] increase and a pension plan,” revealed Miller.
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