Saying, "obviously, they are essential to running city hall," Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced city council ratified a three-year agreement with its hundreds of inside unionized workers.
CUPE 543 also represents employees at city-run daycares, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, and Seasons Retirement Community in Amherstburg.
The agreement still must go before the members, and until it is, the details will remain under wraps.
"Both sides came to the table with the intent to get a deal," said CAO Onorio Colucci. "It will still be up to the membership to decide, but today represents a positive step forward in labour relations at the City of Windsor."
Members could vote on the agreement in early November.
"Every round of bargaining has its challenges, and we work through those challenges," said Dilkens. "Certainly, the pandemic and inflation added to this round of bargaining, but I think we found a resolution that, from city council's perspective, is fair to the residents of the city but also fair to our employees."
The workers had voted 77 per cent of strike action if needed last month, but no date was set for a walkout.
The city reached a three-year agreement with its outside workers back in May.
* With files Maureen Revait.
