News

CUPE/ City of Winnipeg Bargaining Update #18

Oct 14, 2026

Bargaining Update #18

Interest Arbitration

Local 500 has reached an impasse with the City in our current round of bargaining, and the outstanding issues have now been referred to an independent arbitration panel for a final and binding decision.

Arbitration Dates

Two arbitration dates have been scheduled:

  • November 13th
  • December 11th

These initial dates will be just the Arbitrator and the Union

Our arbitration panel will consist of:

  • Colin Robinson- Chair (Arbitrator)
  • Wassim Garzouzi- Union appointed panel member (Lawyer)
  • David Simpson- City appointed panel member (Lawyer)

The bargaining committee will provide members with any further information as the process moves forward.

What happens now?

Interest arbitration is a formal process, and it takes time. The arbitrators will hear the positions of both the Union and the City, review the proposals and supporting information presented by both sides, and consider the evidence before reaching a decision.

The panel may also need time between the hearing dates to review submissions and information provided by the parties. Once the hearing process is complete, the arbitrators will issue a final and binding decision on the outstanding issues.

While it can be frustrating to wait for a decision, this is an important part of the process. The bargaining committee will make sure that Local 500’s position is fully presented and that the interests of our members are represented throughout the arbitration process.

No Strike or Lockout

As part of the one-time agreement reached with the City in June, there will be no strike or lockout during this round of bargaining. Members will continue providing services to the public while receiving their regular wages and benefits.

We know members want to see a resolution to this round of bargaining, and we appreciate your continued patience, support and solidarity as we work through the arbitration process.

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:

Patrick Troughton 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
Kristy Halliday Member at Large
Alex McClurg CUPE National Staff Representative
Mahdia Hasan CUPE National Staff Representative
Alex Hernandez CUPE National Staff Representative
Nicholas McClurg Local 500 Special Assignments Officer
Rebecca Scott Local 500 Special Assignments Officer