City of Brampton workers could strike if no deal reached: union

City of Brampton workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of going onstrikeif no deal is reached with their employer, a union representing the workers said Tuesday.

Negotiations are ongoing between the city and some 1,200 full-time and part-time workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 831, after the union's collective agreement expired on March 31.

About 97 per cent of the union'smembers voted Monday in favour of walking off the job if an agreement is not reached, CUPEtold CBC Toronto in an email.The union is back at the bargaining table Tuesday morning.

Though there is no deadline for an agreement negotiation yet, a strike by Brampton city workers could mean widespread disruptions in various city departments such aslegislative, transit and fire.

"[The union is]still negotiating with the city in the meantime to achieve a fair deal that treats CUPE 831 members similar to other city staff and values and respects the contributions workers make to residents of Brampton on a daily basis," Fabio Gazzola, president of the local union, told CBC Toronto on Tuesday.

The city said the union has been appointed a conciliator, who acts as a mediator to help settle an agreement before workers strike, by the Labour Ministry.

A deadline for an agreement is yet to be set, city spokesperson Jason Tammingsaid in a statement to CBC Toronto.

"We value our employees and recognize the important work they do every day to deliver critical services to the residents of Brampton.Bargaining is ongoing, and the City remains committed to negotiating in good faith and reaching a fair deal," Tammingsaid Tuesday.

"Our focus is on finding a resolution that benefits our employees and the community we serve and is in line with nearby municipalities."

Callsfor equal compensation, benefits for non-unionized workers

In an interview with CBC Toronto following the Tuesday bargaining, Gazzola said he is not satisfied with the city's response.

"We're not being unreasonable," he said.

The union represents workers in city departments such as community services, public works, corporate services, building and planning, legislative services,fire department andtransit.

Unionized workers in those departments receive lower compensation, health benefits, as well as vacation days compared to non-unionized workers, Gazzola said.

"We play a critical and vital role here at the cityand we expect to have the same standards, compensation and benefits as other workers [for the]City of Brampton," he said.

He saidinflation has skyrocketed since the last agreement five years ago.

"The economy has gonea little crazy over the last five years... the contract didn't reflect skyrocketingconsumer price index inflation. Now is the time to address that," he said.

'This is our livelihood': union president

The bargaining on Tuesday was not satisfactory, Gazzolasaid, and that the city told the union board "city's got a responsibility to council."

"I get that. But they also got a responsibility to the workers that providethe daily services on the front line. Itwas not too long ago [during]COVIDwe were applauded as frontline workers. It'stime to show that appreciation today when the contract's up," Gazzolasaid.

The union is looking to meet with a conciliator in mid-September.

Gazzola said he does not want to drag the bargaining for too long, but that setting up meetings during the summer has been "tricky.

"We take pride in our jobs. We are part of the community. We're not just workers. This is not a paycheck. This is our community. This is our livelihood. This is where our families live, shop and play," he said.

"We take that very seriously."