New West residents don’t have to worry about a potential strike by municipal workers.
On Wednesday, members of CUPE Local 387 ratified a tentative collective agreement. The union represents more than 800 employees of the City of New Westminster, including library workers and civilian employees in the police department.
CUPE has not commented on the agreement, as it’s yet to be ratified by the City of New Westminster.
Last week, CUPE stated there had been limited progress in reaching a new contract and scheduled a strike vote for Monday, Oct. 16. The employer and the union then scheduled bargaining sessions for last Friday and Saturday, as well as Tuesday, Oct. 17 – the night the two sides reached a tentative agreement.
Employees voted on and supported the tentative agreement on Wednesday.
The Record contacted the City of New Westminster regarding ratification from the employer’s side.
“We will be seeking sign-off from council on Monday (Oct. 23), the library board (Nov. 15), and the police board (Nov. 21), as the agreement with CUPE 387 covers city staff, library staff, and NWPD civilian staff,” said Blair Fryer, the city’s senior manager, economic development and communications
Asked about the strike vote, CUPE 387 told the Record it would not be publicly disclosing those results.
