Union lockout continues in Matheson amid negotiation standstill, rejected offer

Union workers with the township of Black-River Matheson remain locked out of the workplace, after rejecting what town officials call their final offer.

The township issued a news release Friday commenting on the quick breakdown of the latest negotiations that ceased on Dec. 18.

Increasing its offer from an eight per cent wage boost over four years to 14 per cent, town manager Chris Wray said in an interview with CTV News that members of CUPE Local 1490 rejected the proposed deal.

Wray said 14 workers are affected and that there has been an impact to various services since the lockout began on Oct. 15.

“We continue to get complaints about the roads, for example, when there’s snow and ice,” he said.

“There’s been an impact in the office as well. We now have the arena up and going.”

CUPE officials said in a news release that the deal presented “fell short of expectations.”

Municipal workers in the town of Black River-Matheson have been locked out by their employer, the township since Oct. 15. (Supplied/CUPE Local 1490)“We came to the bargaining table with the hope of reaching a fair agreement that would allow our members to spend the holidays with their families and return to work by the new year,” said local union president Serge Bouchard.

“Unfortunately, we’re no longer optimistic.”

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Town officials said they will no longer present new offers and that it will leave the union to adjust its expectations.

“We would like nothing more than to have all of our staff back on the job but not at the expense of further increasing taxes,” said Mayor Doug Bender in a news release.

“It is now up to CUPE to revise what they are willing to accept.”