Water and sewer staff in Charlottetown strike over wages, mandatory certification tests

Around 30 water and sewer employees in Charlottetown walked off the job Tuesday for the first time in around 60 years.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 830 said in a news release that the workers went on strike due to unfair wages, and that the city "has failed to show any willingness to compromise" in the contract negotiations. 

The workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2022. 

"We've been at the negotiating table for approximately two and a half years, which equals out to be about 17 times we've been in conciliation," said Robbie Howatt, president of CUPE Local 830.

The striking workers are responsible for several duties, including maintaining the city's water and wastewater systems, repairing water and sewer lines, conducting inspections, responding to water main breaks and ensuring water safety guidelines are being met. 

The union has asked for a 3.5 per cent wage increase each year for the next four years.

The city said in a statement that is has offered 2 per cent annual bumps over that timeframe, "which it believes is both fair to employees and fiscally responsible for taxpayers."

"If accepted, the offer would mean workers in Charlottetown would earn comparable wages to others in the industry in the Maritime provinces," the statement reads. 

Howatt said the hourly wage for a senior foreman is currently around the $28 to $35 range. 

They want everybody to be certified… and they're going to bring in people that have no certification.— Robbie Howatt, CUPE Local 830

Another point of contention for the water and sewer staff is job descriptions and a mandatory certification program. 

Some workers who have done the job for years now have to write exams through a testing agency. It means some people could be demoted. 

"We had a foreman here that's been a foreman for 16 years, and he doesn't have his full certification for his job, he's missing half his certification," Howatt said.

"They've given us notice and said that if he doesn't get it he's going to be demoted." 

He said some of the workers have learning disabilities that make it difficult to write the exams for their certifications, but that doesn't mean they can't do their jobs.

"It doesn't mean that they're not smart people, it just means that they learn in a different way than other people."

The city said it's activated a contingency plan during the strike, and that managers and other contractors will do the work for now. Officials said services will continue and the water supply is safe. 

Howatt said bringing in contractors during the strike presents another ripple in the city's certification plan.

"They'll take those people in here to do our work... and none of them will have certification," he said. "They want everybody to be certified… and they're going to bring in people that have no certification."

'Disheartening'

Blaine Parkman, a foreman for the water and sewer utility, said he's disappointed the negotiations have broken down and the city doesn't seem willing to compromise. 

He said the staff take pride in their work, but that their wages aren't keeping up with the cost of living.

"We're not getting the respect from the employer, which is disheartening," Parkman said. "They don't want to provide a fair wage.... We deserve more than that, and I'm just very disappointed."

Parkman, who is only a year from retirement, said he wanted to stand with his fellow workers who will be working for the city after he's gone. 

"I'm not only speaking for myself going out the door, but for these younger people that are coming up that are going to move this utility forward to the future," he said. "We need the city to see us and know that we are serious about what we're talking about here."