NIAGARA FALLS – The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) and its Parks Employees, members of the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union (OPSEU) Local 217, are pleased to announce after only one day of conciliation talks, a tentative contract agreement has been reached.
The memorandum of settlement must still be ratified by both sides. OPSEU has scheduled a ratification vote for its approximately 600 members on Thursday, January 21, while NPC will review and vote on the new agreement during its regularly scheduled Commission meeting set for Friday, January 22. No details on the agreement are being released until then.
“I want to thank the provincial conciliator for her assistance in helping us reach what I believe is an agreement in the best interests of NPC, our staff and the entire tourism community,” NPC General Manager John Kernahan said this morning.
OPSEU negotiator Patricia Habermann agreed, stating, “We appreciate the input and guidance the provincial conciliator provided. Her involvement was helpful in us reaching this deal…one we think addresses some of the priority issues that are important to our members.”
Once ratified, the new agreement will take effect November 1, 2009.