The City of Corner Brook is advising residents, user groups, tenants, sports organizations, and the general public that operations at the Corner Brook Civic Centre may be suspended as early as Monday, October 19th, should labour action involving CUPE Local 4386 proceed.
The decision to cancel programming has not been an easy one. The Civic Centre serves as a vital community facility hosting recreational programming, hockey, figure skating, walking track users, special events, and numerous community organizations. However, the City also has a legal and operational responsibility to ensure the facility can be safely operated or safely shut down prior to a work stoppage occurring.
On-ice activities are suspended as of today however non-ice activities such as the walking track, craft fair and others will continue through the weekend.
The potential closure follows the Union’s public announcement that its members have taken a strike vote and could be in a legal strike position as early as next week if a collective agreement is not reached when we return to conciliation this coming Monday, October 19th.
QUOTE
“We recognize the importance of the Civic Centre to our residents, user groups, and community partners. Closing the facility is not a step that we wish to take. Our priority remains reaching a fair and reasonable agreement through the collective bargaining process while ensuring the safety of our employees, the public, and the facility.” – Mayor Linda Chaisson.
City’s Current Offer:
The City has tabled what it believes is a fair and competitive offer that recognizes employees’ contributions while maintaining fiscal responsibility to taxpayers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of City services.
The current proposal provides a total compensation package valued at 12%, consisting of:
- A 10% wage increase over four years (2026-2029); and
- An additional 2% increase through adjustments to base wage rates for all bargaining unit employees.
Under the City’s offer, wage rates would increase as follows:
| Position | Upon Signing (2026 rate) | 2029 |
| Chief Power Engineer | $35.75/hr | $38.31/hr |
| 4th Class Power Engineer | $32.66/hr | $35.00/hr |
| Facility Technician | $25.27/hr | $27.08/hr |
| Cleaner & Casual Workers | $19.48/hr | $20.87/hr |
The City notes that the proposed wage settlement is consistent with agreements reached with other City CUPE bargaining units over the past year as well as other similar positions at comparable facilities, taking into consideration similar education and/or training.
Union Position
Throughout the bargaining process, the Union has indicated it is seeking a wage increase of no less than 22%.
While significant progress has been made on a number of non-monetary items, the parties remain apart on compensation.
| Position | Upon Signing (2026 rate) | 2029 |
| Chief Power Engineer | $34.49/hr plus $2.00 premium for each hour worked | $39.50/hr plus $2.00 premium for each hour worked |
| 4th Class Power Engineer | $31.49/hr plus $2.00 premium for each hour worked | $36.80/hr plus $2.00 premium for each hour worked |
| Facility Technician | $25.21/hr | $29.46/hr |
| Cleaner & Casual Workers | $19.25/hr | $22.49/hr |
Balancing Employee Compensation and Taxpayer Affordability
Mayor and Council, together with City Administration, must balance multiple responsibilities when negotiating collective agreements.
Like municipalities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the City continues to face increasing operational costs, including fuel, utilities, chemicals, equipment, maintenance materials, and contracted services. Any agreement reached must be financially sustainable and support the City’s ability to maintain services without creating undue pressure on future municipal budgets and taxpayers.
The City remains committed to negotiating in good faith and reaching an agreement that is fair to employees while also respecting its responsibility to residents.
Public Safety and Facility Operations
Operating a facility such as the Civic Centre involves specialized technical systems that cannot simply be turned off and left unattended.
In the event of a labour disruption, the City must undertake a carefully planned shutdown process to ensure the continued integrity and safety of critical building systems, including refrigeration and ammonia-related infrastructure. This process is essential to protect public safety, City assets, and the facility itself.
For that reason, decisions regarding bookings, programming, and facility access must be made in advance of any potential labour action.
Looking Ahead
The parties are scheduled to resume conciliation discussions on October 19.
The City remains hopeful that meaningful progress can be achieved and that a negotiated settlement can be reached with little disruption to services.
