City of Melville and unionized workers reach tentative agreement

The City of Melville and the union representing its workers have reached a tentative agreement after about a year of negotiations.

The deal has been ratified by the union members but must still pass through city council.

Dylan Breland, the national servicing representative for CUPE, said the deal brought mixed reactions from union members, but he believes it is fair.

"We still recognize we have some work to do going forward in the future to make sure that we we continually address some of the ways disparities that we've noticed in this round of bargaining," he said.

Breland said he is hopeful councillors will ratify the agreement at the next council meeting on March 17, but that the union will be ready if council decides not to.

"If that's the case, then that will force the parties back to the bargaining table. But that being said, if the parties continue to not find mutual agreement, then that likely moves us back down the road for a potential future job action."

CUPE said the details will not be shared publicly until the agreement is ratified.

The City of Melville did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.