Union hopes strike action can be averted City of Whitehorse workers could strike as early as Saturday after members sent their unions “clear strike mandates”. By Stephanie Waddell on March 13, 2018

City of Whitehorse workers could strike as early as Saturday after members sent their unions “clear strike mandates”.

Union officials, however, say they’re hopeful it won’t come to that.

Steve Geick, the president of the Yukon Employees’ Union, said transit staffers represented by Local Y022 and city workers in other positions (except for fire department employees, represented by another union) represented by Local Y023 voted through last week and over the weekend in favour of job action.

But Geick is hopeful mediation scheduled from Wednesday to Friday will prove successful and there will be no need to take job action.

“I am glad to see the city workers showing support for their bargaining team by giving such a strong strike mandate,” Geick said in a statement Monday.

“Hopefully, we will be able to reach a deal with the city at the table, and not have to use it.”

Specific vote numbers were not released.

Transit wages range between $25.75 and $35.25 per hour.

Others covered under Y023 are paid anywhere between $12.35 and $52.73 per hour. That depends on position, level of training and years of service.

This morning, Geick said the union has no plans to take action yet.

Consequently, he could not say what form it might take – whether it be a general strike, rotating walkouts, picket lines or more.

Job action could, however, be taken, with members showing clear support over what Geick described as an attack on severance pay and the city’s attempts to create a two-tiered system that would harm newer employees.

In a previous Facebook post, the union provided some details on the city’s offer:

“The city wants to roll back benefits for its workers equivalent to a wage claw-back, a salary reduction of about two per cent a year.

“They plan to do away with any severance pay except in a layoff, and eliminate long service awards entirely for anyone who hasn’t already qualified – that’s a significant and sudden reduction in compensation.”

The union then went on to highlight wage package details proposed by the city for transit workers.

It pointed out the city offered no increase in pay for six years for anyone who has fewer than four years’ service.

“That means no increase for many current and all new workers until 2024,” reads the post.

“Only those transit workers currently at the top of their pay grid would be eligible for any increase during the life of the city’s desired six-year contract; the city wants six years with no pay increase for many transit workers until 2024.

“You can be confident the workers and union were requesting an infinitely more modest pay increase than the 80-per-cent increase council has approved for themselves.”

City council recently approved an increase for the next members of council who are elected in October.

Honouraria for councillors will rise from $20,496 to $36,036 each year to account for income tax changes to council pay, and to bring it closer in line with what councillors make in other jurisdictions.

The annual salary for the mayor is set to rise from $87,942 to $101,100 to reflect the change to the tax regime.

After last night’s council meeting, Mayor Dan Curtis said he’s hopeful a deal that works for everybody will be reached through mediation this week.

He referred to the current situation as all part of the process when it comes to negotiating contracts.

Curtis also pointed out that the union would have to provide 72 hours’ notice before taking job action.

In highlighting the importance of negotiating a fair contract for everyone, he also stressed the city recognizes it “obviously has amazing staff.”