Mayor hopeful talks with CUPE 500 will resume even if union receives strike mandate

Mayor Brian Bowman says he hopes the city can achieve labour peace with its largest union even if the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500 gives their leadership a strike mandate tonight.

More than 5,000 CUPE 500 workers will vote on a city contract offer today, with the tally expected early this evening. CUPE 500 president Gord Delbridge has said he expects the membership to reject the offer and provide union leadership with a strike mandate.

• Latest offer to city workers includes wage freeze, CUPE says

Winnipeg's mayor said he is hopeful negotiations between the two parties will resume even if CUPE 500 leaders are armed with a strike mandate.

"It is not uncommon for the discussions to continue," Bowman said at city hall following an executive policy committee meeting on Wednesday morning. 

"Let's wait and see what the members of CUPE have to say and we respect their ability work through the process that they're following right now."

CUPE 500's contract expired two days before Christmas. Delbridge has said the city is seeking major concessions from the union.

Downtown dog park coming 'soon'

Winnipeg's mayor says the city is still working on fulfilling his 2014 campaign promise to create a downtown dog park.

The city announced a plan last summer to carve a 16,000-square-foot turn off-leash area out of Bonnycastle Park into a dog park, but this effort stalled because the city did not consult with the owner of the 25-storey residential building immediately west of the park.

• Downtown dog park receives rough ride

Brian Bowman said Wednesday the city is still working with Crystal Developers as well as area councillor Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry).

"It's coming soon and it can't come soon enough," Bowman said of the dog park. 'I'd like to have it up and running as soon as possible. The last time I was advised, they were looking at it later this year."