Winnipeg and its main police union reach tentative labour deal

The City of Winnipeg has reached a tentative labour deal with its largest police union.

The Winnipeg Police Association, which represents 526 civilian police employees and 1,443 officers in uniform, will vote on a collective bargaining agreement with the city this month, union president Moe Sabourin said Tuesday.

The police union's last deal expired on Dec. 23. The vote on the new deal will take place in time for the next council meeting on June 21.

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The tentative deal eases the city's labour-relations workload, as five city unions entered the year without contracts.

The city reached a deal with the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg but has yet to settle with the Winnipeg Police Senior Officers Association, the Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers or the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500.

CUPE 500, which represents 5,070 city workers, is expected to reject a contract offer in a vote on Wednesday. This would provide the union with a strike mandate.

The city and WAPSO, which represents professionals and middle managers, are in arbitration.