City of Melville workers vote 93% in favour of job action including full pause of services

Unionized City of Melville workers have voted 93 per cent in favour of job action that could include a full stoppage of providing city services.

In a news release sent on behalf of Tria Donaldson, a CUPE communications representative, a major issue at the bargaining table has been wage increases that would address “concerning levels of turnover” among City of Melville employees.

The release said the City of Melville employes 32 permanent unionized staff, adding that since 2021 32 permanent fulltime staff have resigned. That included 18 in 2023 alone and another nine in 2024.

“During the last collective agreement period, wage increases for City of Melville employees were far outstripped by inflation costs over the same period - a 5% wage increase over four years compared to a 13.8% in increased costs,” the release said.

The city’s last agreement with employees ended on Dec. 31, 2023. Bargaining for a new contract has been ongoing since March 2024 with an impasse declared by the city on Dec. 23, 2024.

“The first mediation session ended quickly when the employer walked backwards from where the parties had been prior to mediation,” the release said.

Kevin Schick, president of CUPE 456, said they remain hopeful a deal can be made at the bargaining table after employees sent a strong message with the threat of job action.

According to the release, more bargaining between the two sides and a mediator is scheduled for Feb. 26, adding “the local is not currently in a legal strike position.”

CUPE said 90 per cent of employees eligible to vote on job action did so.

CTV News reached out to the City of Melville but a representative was not immediately available for comment.