Bargaining Update #15 City of Winnipeg

May 22, 2026

Your Bargaining Committee continues to make steady progress in negotiations with the employer. Since our last update, we have met on April 15 and 30, as well as May 12 and 14, where discussions focused on advancing outstanding items within the collective agreement.

We are pleased to report that much of the collective agreement language has now been worked through, and bargaining has recently moved into monetary discussions following the employer receiving its bargaining mandate from Council.

Your Bargaining Committee remains focused on continuing negotiations toward a fair agreement for all members. At the same time, we are preparing to seek direction from the membership on next steps in the bargaining process, including the possibility of a strike mandate vote, in order to strengthen our position at the table and secure a better deal.

Once there is meaningful progress to report, or a package ready for membership consideration, we will provide a further update.

As bargaining continues and the Committee prepares to seek direction from the membership on potential next steps, including a possible strike mandate vote, members are encouraged to review their personal financial situation and plan accordingly. Taking proactive steps now to prepare for any potential job action can help reduce stress and ensure members are in the best possible position should further action become necessary.

Thank you for your continued patience and support throughout this process.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

We want to provide members with an update on the ongoing discussions regarding the Essential Services Agreement (ESA).

This process has now been ongoing for approximately 18 months. While we recognize the complexity of ESA negotiations, we feel the employer has not moved quickly enough to reach a resolution, resulting in unnecessary delay in finalizing this important step in bargaining.

As a reminder, the ESA is required under Manitoba labour legislation and must be in place before any legal job action—strike or lockout—can occur. Until it is agreed to or determined by the Manitoba Labour Board, job action is not permitted.

We are currently in mediation with assistance from a neutral mediator appointed through the Labour Board. However, given the lack of sufficient progress to date, we have set a firm deadline of Friday, May 22nd (afternoon) for meaningful movement at the table.

If this deadline is not met, we will be applying for binding mediation, which would be imposed by the Manitoba Labour Board and result in a final and binding decision on the outstanding ESA provisions.

Since setting this deadline, we have seen the employer begin to move more quickly and agree to some previously stalled provisions. While this is encouraging, continued progress is necessary to reach a fair and timely agreement.

We remain focused on ensuring the ESA is fair, balanced, and does not unnecessarily limit members’ rights now or in the future.

Rumours

The rumour mill will be hard at work during bargaining. Please don’t believe anything you hear unless it comes from the Union. If you have a serious concern about something you’ve heard, contact us at 204-942-1001 or send us an email: union@cupe500.mb.ca.

Watch for more information

Your bargaining committee will keep you informed as progress is made. As a reminder, because of the sensitive nature of negotiations, the bargaining committee is not able to give you a step-by-step explanation of everything that is discussed during the bargaining process. However, should we reach a settlement or impasse, members will be fully informed.

Members should continue to check the bulletin boards or visit the Local 500 website for updates. Remember, if you have personal email access, you can sign up to receive email updates on the home page of the Local’s website at cupe500.mb.ca.

Thank you for your continued support and solidarity.

Negotiating Committee

The negotiating committee for CUPE Local 500 is:

Gord Delbridge President, CUPE Local 500
Andrea Sontag President, Civic Services Unit
Phil Dembicki President, Community Services Unit
Jon Shalapata President, Public Works Unit
Rachel Hildebrandt President, Water and Waste Unit
Patrick Troughton Member at Large
Kristy Halliday Member at Large
Alex McClurg CUPE National Staff Representative
Kevin Carswell CUPE National Staff Representative
Mahdia Hasan CUPE National Staff Representative
Nicholas McClurg Local 500 Special Assignments Officer
Rebecca Scott Local 500 Special Assignments Officer