Tentative deal reached to end 6-month municipal workers strike in northern Ontario town

A tentative deal was reached Friday to end a labour dispute in a small northern Ontario town where 14 municipal workers have been walkingthe picket line for over 200 days.

The Township of Black River-Matheson and CUPE Local 1490 made the announcement after a day of negotiations.

"Both parties have agreed there will be no reprisals against any bargaining unit employee for alleged conduct during the labour dispute," the statement released by the town reads.

"The mutually agreed upon goal is to concentrate on providing good service to the community in a positive work setting. The Township and the workers together are committed to achieving this goal."

If the deal isratified by members, they would head back to work on May 15.

The agreement comes just days after the Ontario government took the unusual step of removingthe mayor and council in Matheson for not holding a meeting for 60 days, in accordance with the Municipal Act.

CUPE called the move, which will trigger a byelection in the town this summer, "the first positive sign we've seen in a while."

The 14 workers have been off the job since being locked out on Oct. 15, but the dispute turned into a strike when they rejected the town's offer in January.