Fair to All Employees. Responsible to All Taxpayers.
The City of Corner Brook is providing residents, user groups, tenants, sports organizations, and the general public with an update on the ongoing labour dispute involving CUPE Local 4386 at the Corner Brook Civic Centre.
The City has tabled an improved offer and remains ready to return to the bargaining table at any time.
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 14%, consisting of:
- A 10% general wage increase over four years: 3% in 2026, 3% in 2027, 2% in 2028 and 2% in 2029;An increase to the Chief Power Engineer premium from $1.00/hr to $2.00/hr for every hour worked (paid in addition to the hourly wage);
- The Power Engineer Certification premium ($2.00/hr) added to the base wage;
- Additional base wage increases for Facility Technicians of $0.30, $0.35, $0.35 and $0.40 over the four years;
- Additional base wage increases for Cleaners and Casual Workers of $0.30, $0.35, $0.35 and $0.55 over the four years;
- An additional base wage increase of $0.15 for Power Engineers in year one; and
- Retroactive pay at 3% on all hours worked in 2026.
Under the City’s offer, wage rates would increase as follows:
| Classification | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Power Engineer | $30.71 | $33.84 | $34.86 | $35.55 | $36.26 |
| Power Engineer | $29.71 | $32.81 | $33.80 | $34.47 | $35.16 |
| Facility Technician | $23.78 | $24.79 | $25.90 | $26.77 | $27.72 |
| Cleaner & Casual | $18.16 | $19.00 | $19.94 | $20.69 | $21.67 |
Union Position
The Union is currently seeking a 17% increase, consisting of:
- A 10% general wage increase over four years: 3% in 2026, 3% in 2027, 2% in 2028 and 2% in 2029;
- An increase to the Chief Power Engineer premium from $1.00/hr to $2.00/hr for every hour worked (paid in addition to the hourly wage);
- The Power Engineer Certification premium ($2.00/hr) added to the base wage; and
- Additional base wage increases over the four years:
- Chief Power Engineer: $0.25, $0.25, $0.25 and $0.35
- Power Engineer: $0.25, $0.25, $0.25 and $0.35
- Facility Technician: $0.50, $0.50, $0.50 and $0.60
- Cleaner & Casual: $0.60, $0.60, $0.60 and $0.70
Under the Union’s proposal, wage rates would increase as follows:
| Classification | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Power Engineer | $30.71 | $33.95 | $35.22 | $36.18 | $37.26 |
| Power Engineer | $29.71 | $32.92 | $34.16 | $35.10 | $36.17 |
| Facility Technician | $23.78 | $25.01 | $26.27 | $27.31 | $28.47 |
| Cleaner & Casual | $18.16 | $19.32 | $20.52 | $21.54 | $22.68 |
Both proposals include the same 10% general wage increase and the same changes to premiums. The parties remain apart on the additional increases to base wages.
Balancing Employee Compensation and Taxpayer Affordability
The City subsidizes the operation of the Civic Centre by approximately $1.2 million to $1.5 million each year. Like all municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador, the City is required to operate with a balanced budget. Any permanent increase in operating costs must be funded through increased taxes, increased user fees, or reductions to the services and programs the City provides.
Public Safety and Facility Operations
Whether a work stoppage takes the form of a strike or a lockout, the impact on the public is the same: the facility closes.
The Civic Centre relies on specialized technical systems, including refrigeration and ammonia-related infrastructure, that cannot be left unattended. The Union held a strike vote on October 10, 2026, with 95% voting in favour, nine days before the scheduled conciliation meeting of October 19. During conciliation, the City asked the Union to commit to 24 hours’ notice before any strike action, so the facility’s systems could be shut down safely. The Union declined and walked away from the conciliation table.
Without that commitment, the City had to safely shut down and protect the facility, which resulted in the lockout. This was not an action the City wanted to take, and it would not have been taken had the Union agreed to provide notice.
Correcting the Record
The City is aware of claims circulating in the community that Mayor and Council have received a pay increase. This is not accurate. The Mayor and members of Council have not received a pay increase of any kind since 2018.
A Word from the Mayor
“We understand how important the Civic Centre is to families, athletes, seniors, and user groups across our region, and we want to see it reopen as much as anyone. Council respects the work these employees do, and our improved offer reflects that. That offer also has to be one our residents can afford, because every resident helps fund City services. We are ready to return to the table whenever the Union is.”
Mayor Linda Chaisson
Looking Ahead
The City remains committed to negotiating in good faith and reaching a fair and sustainable collective agreement. The City is ready to resume discussions at any time.
Fair to All Employees. Responsible to All Taxpayers.
