Contract talks have not been going smoothly between Delta and the union representing its civic employees, says CUPE Local 454 president Darryl Robison.
The union exchanged proposals with management at their most recent bargaining session at municipal hall two weeks ago, trying to work toward a new collective agreement.
The union represents more than 850 civic employees as well as Delta police civilians and Delta Museum and Archives employees, but those negotiations are being held separately.
Robison told the Optimist following the most recent meeting the talks didn't go particularly well.
"Talks are progressing, but not progressing as well as we'd like," he said.
Another meeting was scheduled for this week, followed by another in midJuly.
In his bargaining bulletin to CUPE members several weeks ago, Robison noted he was left frustrated after talking with Corporation of Delta counterparts.
He said there was little progress and negotiations at that time appeared to have stalled. His most recent bulletin following his June 15 meeting conveyed the same message that negotiations appear to be stalled.
Issues of contention thus far include sick leave, hours of work including lunch breaks, and benefits.
"Employers in the region appear to be deliberately slowing the pace of talks in an attempt to establish a benchmark settlement with Vancouver locals. We are closely monitoring this situation," he told members.
Members of CUPE 1698, who work for the Fraser Valley Regional Library, recently voted in favour of ratifying a four-year collective agreement.
The agreement includes a two per cent wage increase in each year of the agreement with a wage re-opener in the fourth year, as well as improvements to benefits and language. Delta is a member of the library system.
"We are reviewing both the Fraser Valley Regional (Library) settlement and other settlement patterns out there," Robison told the Optimist. "We haven't discussed wage at the table yet. We're still in the process of negotiating and haven't gotten into wage in any great detail."
