The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) bargaining committee at Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) is heading into a second conciliation meeting after three years of contract talks.
"We are frustrated by how long it has taken to get a first collective agreement as a newly merged Local, and we feel disrespected by the employer," said CUPE Local 1331 President Pam Hanington.
HPPH employees represented by CUPE have been without a contract since December 31, 2020 and have been bargaining with the employer since the spring of 2021.
There has been little progress made during that time.
"We are trying to maintain as much of our predecessor collective agreements as possible and, at a time when the cost of everything has gone up, we are asking for reasonable increases to wages and benefits," Hanington said.
"The employer has yet to come to the table with a deal that we can confidently take to our members; they have failed to offer us the same wage increases that our HPPH colleagues in ONA and OPSEU received over the last three years,” she added.
According to CUPE, if a deal can't be reached the next step is job action. In September, members voted 93 per cent in favour of a strike.
"We are dedicated to our work and want to avoid a strike," Hanington said, adding that they are prepared to do so if the employers won't come to the table with a fair deal.
In addition to wages, members are looking to discuss benefits, work hours, overtime, and leaves of absence including pregnancy and parental leave.
The conciliation meeting is set to take place on February 15.
CUPE Local 1331 represents HPPH administrative assistants, custodians, dental assistants, dental hygienists, IT support technicians, public health inspectors, and others.
