Region of Waterloo and union disagree on whether negotiations have resumed as strike enters 2nd week

As the strike by outdoor workers enters week two, neither the Region of Waterloo nor the union can agree on whether negotiations have resumed. 

On Friday, after five days of stalled negotiations, the Region of Waterloo sent a statement saying talks were to resume that day. 

On Monday, however, Local 1656 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representing the workers sent a release saying "negotiations between CUPE and the Region of Waterloo have not resumed, despite the Region's claim in a release issued last week."

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the region said those talks did indeed take place.

"The Region of Waterloo and members of CUPE Local 1656 met virtually this past Friday afternoon. At that meeting, the Region provided a revised proposal to CUPE Local 1656," said spokesperson Lynsey Slupeiks in an email.

"The Region is available to continue negotiations as soon as possible to secure an agreement that is fair for CUPE 1656 members and affordable for residents," she continued.

In response, the union said they were presented with an offer by the region on Friday, but "it was still significantly lower than the offer they had presented to [the union] originally and are now attempting to take away through bad faith negotiations," said union spokesperson Eric Bell.

Those on strike are outside workers, including working in departments like landfill, roads and water, and the airport.

The strike started at 12:01 a.m. March 3. The union says it's calling for higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living. 

"We have been very clear that we will not return to the table until the employer is ready to bring back the offer that they made to us," said CUPE Local 1656 President Phil Dominas.

The union has said that the region initially offered a proposal "that they gave to us and are now trying to take away," Dominas said in the release Monday.

The region and union say some disruptions are anticipated due to the strike action.

They include:

• Delays getting into the airport, as pickets are slowing down traffic in the area. People are advised to allow an extra hour when arriving at the airport for potential traffic delays.
• Landfills in Cambridge and Waterloo are closed to the public.