ONTARIO

CUPE 1331 and HPPH reach tentative agreement

Story by The Canadian Press

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After over three years of negotiations, Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members have reached a tentative agreement.

The tentative agreement was reached Feb. 15 after more than eight hours of bargaining. The union is pleased to have reached a tentative deal it says will improve working conditions for members. 

With the assistance of a ministry of labour conciliator, this agreement aims to offer fair working conditions for CUPE members currently employed at HPPH. 

At this time, details of the negotiation are not available, however CUPE 1331 president Pam Hanington says more details will come once the board of health votes on the tentative agreement on March 8. 

CUPE Local 1331, representing a wide range of HPPH employees from health promoters to custodians, were seeking a 35-hour work week and increased wages and benefits.

“The possibility of labour disruption is there should conciliation not lead to a deal these workers deserve,” a CUPE Local 1331 representative told the Stratford Times before a tentative agreement was reached.

CUPE Local 1331 was formed in July 2020 after the locals of the former Huron County and Perth District health units merged. 

CUPE Local 1331 advocates for workers who deliver the public services people depend on. They aim to help members by providing the highest level of service by ensuring they are safe and healthy at work and they get fair pay and benefits for the services they provide.

Amanda Modaragamage, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Stratford Times