‘Compromise’: Raises, cash payment in tentative deal for unionized Edmonton library and city workers

After narrowly averting a strike, city and library workers have a new tentative deal with annual raises and a lump sum of cash the union says came from a compromise.

Civic Service Union (CSU) 52 released some details of the potential new four-year agreement on Friday. It includes a $1,000 cash payment for 2021 rather than a raise, plus raises of 1.25 per cent, two per cent, and three per cent for 2022-2024 for library and city staff.

Union president Lanny Chudyk said he is relieved and feels optimistic about the result after 18 months of negotiations, which must be voted on and ratified by members.

“We are pleased with the outcome of negotiations and are optimistic that members will appreciate the end result and see where both sides had to compromise,” he said in a news release. “Ensuring we present a reasonable deal to our members has been our top priority.”

Saying the members never wanted to get to the point of strike, Chudyk named Coun. Tim Cartmell as instrumental in helping both sides get to a productive discussion.

This plan, he says, minimizes the financial burden to taxpayers while increasing pay for unionized staff.

“We certainly didn’t want to interrupt services,” he said “I’d like to thank Councillor Cartmell for getting the ball rolling and helping both sides engage in a productive conversation.”

The union had gone into this negotiation asking for a 1.5 per cent increase for 2021 and 2022, and two per cent in 2023. The city had offered 0 per cent for 2021, one percent for 2022, and two per cent for 2023 and 2024.

At a news conference Friday morning, Chudyk said the deal could have been reached sooner if city council had not taken a hands-off approach to negotiations for so long.

He also said there were concerns about the potential for the province to intervene and halt the strike.