CHARLOTTETOWN – CUPE Local 830, representing 30 workers at the Charlottetown Water & Sewer Utility, has filed for conciliation after 13 days of negotiations failing to produce a tentative agreement with the City.
The workers have been without a collective agreement since December 31, 2022. While respectful dialogue was maintained at the bargaining table, the City’s final wage offer of 2% per year over four (4) years falls short of covering the rising costs of everyday essentials like groceries, housing, transportation, and utilities.
“We’re not asking for the moon,” said Rob Howatt, President of CUPE 830. “We’re asking for a fair deal that respects the work we do, the skills we bring, and to be protected from inflation eating away our pay,” added Howatt.
The Union is proposing a more reasonable 3.5% per year over four (4) years. In the last contract, the wage increase was 2% per year. With the high inflation experienced in Prince Edward Island during that time, the contract’s cost of living adjustment (COLA) provision did provide an additional 2.08% in 2021 and 5.83% in 2022. However, these adjustments did not cover the cost of living on essentials for those years. With the inflation experienced in 2023, the purchasing power of these frontline utility workers will be further eroded if they accept the employer’s offer.
“We’re hopeful the City will improve its offer in conciliation and come with a renewed commitment to fairness,” said Howatt.