City of Calgary inside workers vote in favour of strike action

The union representing inside workers at the City of Calgary says the majority of its membership have voted in favour of taking strike action to back contract demands.

D'Arcy Lanovaz, president of Local 38 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), said 89 per cent of members who voted were in favour of a strike mandate.

Overall turnout, he added, was 4,148, approximately 75 per cent of the membership.

While CUPE has to give a 72-hour strike notice, Lanovaz said the union has no intention to do so yetas contract talks with the city and a mediator resumed Tuesday morning.

He said wages and greater flexibility on work-from-home policies are key sticking points.

In a statement, the city acknowledged the union's strike mandate.

"We are disappointed with the outcome of the strike vote but discussions are continuing," said a spokesperson.

"We remain hopeful that we can achieve a fair and reasonable collective agreement in future bargaining sessions."

Lanovaz said that any potential labour action could take several forms, from working-to-rule,torotating job action to a full strike.

"[The employer] should be aware that their offer is quite low, quite substandard to the expectation among members," said Lanovaz.

"So this is part of that process. If the employer is going to take a hard stand, well then, you know, we have to look at whatever escalation, you know, is warranted at that time."