Oct 03, 2008 - 08:39 AM

By Reka Szekely

DURHAM -- Durham's outdoor workers are set to walk off the job as early as Oct. 13, but both sides say they're still looking for a deal.

About 370 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1785 work in Durham's waste management, road maintenance, traffic control, sanitary sewer and municipal water supply operations.

However, Local 1785 president Dan McGregor said the union and the Region are headed for mediation on Oct. 10 and the union is still looking for a deal. If they don't reach one, the union will be in a legal strike position.

"We have full intention to go to mediation still, to work hard at a settlement. It's disappointing the Region doesn't seem to be taking that stance along with us," said Mr. McGregor in response to a press release from the Region on the issue.

The Region says it has offered the union a three-year contract with a 3.25-per cent wage increase each year and the offer is identical to the one accepted by indoor regional workers.

But Mr. McGregor said the issue isn't the wage increase. Instead, the sticking points are job reviews that the union say would determine whether the employees are being paid fairly and new working schedules being proposed by the Region.

"For the schedule end of things, the Region is asking for major schedule changes and we are trying to work with them to come up with something that's fair and we haven't had any luck to date," said Mr. McGregor.

However, the Region said what the union is omitting is that the job review would lead to an eight per cent salary hike.

"I don't mind reviewing everyone's position, but it's not going to result in an eight per cent increase .... I'm not going to saddle the taxpayers with that," said Garth Johns, Durham's commissioner of human resources.

In terms of scheduling, Mr. Johns said the Region wants to be able to schedule evening shifts without paying overtime.

"If there's a snowstorm we don't want to call people in on overtime, there should be people ready to hit the road," he said.

So far, an essential services agreement with the union was not reached, meaning management would run services such as water and sewer treatment facilities in the event of a strike.

The Region reminded residents that municipal drinking water is safe. Should the employees hit the picket lines, all water testing will continue, however the Region says boil water advisories may be issued. Any such advisories would be sent out as public service announcements to local media and the information would be available on the Region's website, www.region.durham.on.ca.

Garbage, recycling and green bin kitchen waste pick-up would continue as the work is contracted out, however there may be delays. The three Region-owned waste transfer stations in Brock, Scugog and Oshawa would be closed.

Mr. McGregor said the union would discuss an essential services agreement when they felt they would be withdrawing their services.

"We're taking this day by day, we haven't said we're withdrawing our services yet, we're still going through the bargaining process."

Mr. Johns said the Region is committed to the bargaining process and plans to stay with mediation beyond Oct. 10, if necessary. He said there won't be an employer-initiated lockout of workers.

"You can absolutely be assured that we will not lock anybody out. If anything happens it's the union's initiative, not ours."

Durham residents are being asked to tune into local media for updates on the situation and instructions on what to do in the event of a strike.

When asked if the Region released details of the situation to light a fire under the union, Mr. Johns responded it was more to inform the public of what was unfolding.

"At the same time if we communicate to the public we've put more than a three per cent per year (raise) on the table and they're turning their nose up, I think we're being more than fair."

Mr. McGregor, meanwhile, said he felt there would be a likely conclusion to the talks, but the Region's news release about the situation has made him unsure.

"I thought they were willing to sit down at the mediation process and try to work out our difference, I'm not sure that's the case anymore."