Tentative deal reached in Canadian Hearing Services strike

It’s been eight weeks since 200 Canadian Hearing Service workers walked off the job, workers across the province who support people in the deaf community.

Negotiations between CUPE 2073 and Canadian Hearing Services have yielded a tentative agreement that could end a strike that began April 28.

Roughly 200 CUPE members across the province who support people in the deaf community have been on the picket lines for 10 weeks, including counsellors, audiologists and interpreters.

“No details of the tentative deal will be released until the membership has had the opportunity to review and vote on the deal,” a news release on the tentative contract said.

Could return to work July 14

The deal was reached Friday evening.

“The vote will take place on Monday, July 7. The earliest possible date workers could be back on the job is Monday, July 14.”

Voting takes place from 3 p.m. Monday until 3 p.m. Tuesday.

“Our members are incredibly eager to get back to jobs they love,” said Mara Waern, president of CUPE 2073, said in the news release.

“The deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing communities all supported us throughout this strike, walking our lines, sharing their stories, and now it’s our turn to support them by providing the kind of services they deserve. To the people and organizations that showed solidarity and fought alongside us: every one of our members thank you.”

CUPE 2073 represents workers in 18 communities across the province. They include general services counsellors, literacy instructors, audiologists, employment consultants and sign language interpreters.

Ninety per cent of workers are women, and many of them are deaf.