Strike over: Inside workers, council vote in favour of tentative agreement

CUPE Local 101 members mingle following the ratification vote on a new contract in London, Ont. on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. (Chuck Dickson / CTV London)

Soon after the City of London's inside workers voted 77 per cent in favour of a new contract at a meeting on Wednesday, council approved the deal.

Members of CUPE Local 101 had been on strike for more than eight weeks, and while most believed they were getting a fair deal, there were still some who weren't happy with the agreement.

Union president Shelley Navarroli says, "It's how the members voted. So it's a vote in favour, so we walk out of our meeting united and unified...A strike is hard, right, it was eight-and-a-half weeks so there were a lot of emotions inside the meeting."

The four-year contract includes wage increases of one percent the first year and 1.25 per cent each year for the next three years - only slightly higher that what the city offered before the strike.

Some expanded daytime shifts are included - 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday - as well as some Saturday shifts with a $1/hour shift premium.

City hall had been pushing for Sunday work, but that demand was eventually dropped.

Comparing previous tentative agreements to the current contract offer indicates neither side is likely to declare victory.

However, delays for city services and permits, the use of replacement workers, lost pay for CUPE members, overtime for city managers and leadership on both sides are likely to have a long-last impact.

The union and the city announced they had reached an agreement on Sunday after a week of steady talks.

Following a special closed-door meeting held Wednesday night to discuss the terms of the agreement, concil voted unanimously in favour of the deal.

With the strike over, workers could be back on the job on Friday.