Melville, Sask., city workers vote to go on strike amid high turnover and wage disputes

Members of CUPE Local 456, which represents city workers in Melville, Sask., have voted in favour of job action due to wage disputes and high employee turnover.

Dylan Breeland, the national servicing representative for CUPE, says bargaining has been ongoing since early 2024, but the employer's offer has not addressed the "extreme turnover" seen in the city.

"The union has asked the employer three times to increase their monetary offer, and so far, they have not," Breeland said. "The members are willing to bend to find some agreement here, but so far we have not seen the same from the employer."

Melville is about 140 kilometres northeast of Regina.

The most recent collective agreement between the city and the union expired on Dec. 31, 2023. Bargaining has been ongoing since March 2024, CUPE said in a news release.

CBC News has reached out to the City of Melville for comment, but it has not responded to the request.

The union held a meeting on Feb. 13 where more than 90 per cent of members turned out, and 93 per cent voted in favour of supporting job action if necessary. 

However, Breeland said no job action is imminent due to requirements under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

"We are currently in mediated conciliated bargaining with the employer," said Breeland. "Once that process concludes, if we still don't have agreement, we have to go through a mandatory cooling off with the ministry. We also have to have an essential services agreement in place … before job action can take place."

If job action were to occur, Breeland said potential impacts include a full withdrawal of services from members in parks and recreation, and administration. 

Melville has been facing significant staff turnover. Since 2021, 32 full-time staff members have resigned, with 18 leaving in 2023 alone. 

"Currently, the city only employs 31 permanent full-time staff in the union," said Breeland. "This amount of turnover is just unsustainable for the amount of services that the city provides."

Breeland said the turnover is because of non-competitive wages.

"We're seeing members leave employment with the City of Melville to take positions for anywhere from two to five dollars per hour more for equal or lesser qualifications," he said.

The union is asking for a monetary offer that provides competitive wages and accounts for inflation.

"The previous agreement saw wage increases of 5 per cent and over that same term the cost of living increased by almost 14 per cent," said Breeland. "We need wages that are keeping track with the increased cost of living. That's what we need to see."

Breeland warned of long-term service disruptions if wages remain low and turnover continues.

"We're talking snow clearing services, water, wastewater infrastructure maintenance and repair, road and sidewalk repair, green space maintenance, city general administration," he said. "If we don't have experienced staff to provide those services, the ratepayers will see long-term increased disruptions."

Despite the challenges, Breeland remains optimistic about reaching an agreement. 

"We are always hopeful that we're going to get a negotiated agreement at the table," he said.

"It was the employer who filed the notice of impasse … and did not bring any 'horses to trade,' so to speak, to the mediated bargaining session. It's the employer that has been driving this process to where we're at. We are hoping that the employer will provide a deal."

The union is scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Feb. 26.