The City of Sarnia and four unions representing more than 300 workers are in bargaining, officials say.
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Negotiations began in late fall with CUPE 3690, representing 113 clerical and technical staff, CUPE 2713, representing 32 parks and recreation staff, CUPE 153, representing 58 public works staff, and the 126-member Sarnia Professional Fire Fighters Association (SPFFA), city human resources manager Tammy Broer said by email.
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“While bargaining is undertaken in confidentiality and we cannot discuss specifics, we are committed to negotiating an outcome that fairly compensates and supports the hard work of our staff, but also remains affordable and sustainable for our taxpayers,” she said.
Talks between the city and firefighters have been productive, said SPFFA president Matt Madere, adding he looks forward to continuing the process.
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Negotiations between the Sarnia Police Services Board and the 200-member Sarnia Police Association have been underway since notice was served last May, said association president Miro Soucek.
“Our conversations have been respectful and productive,” Soucek said. “We are looking at modernizing our entire agreement and so therefore it has taken longer than usual.”
Board chair Paul Wiersma agreed there’s been good collaboration, adding the board looks “forward to negotiating a fair and equitable agreement in the near future.”
Tea previous four-year contract expired Dec. 31.
Three-year CUPE and SPFFA contracts also expired Dec. 31, Broer said.
Sarnia’s 2024 budget lists 501.42 full-time-equivalent positions, not including font. Staffing costs account for about 55 per cent of the city’s $180-million budgetit says.
The city’s only other union is Unifor Local 127, representing 55 Sarnia Transit employees, city spokesperson Steve Henschel said.
That contract began Jan. 1, 2022 and continues until Dec. 31, 2024, he said.
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