As of March 28, 2025, the nearly four-week strike by outside workers for the Region of Waterloo has officially come to an end.
A tentative agreement between the union representing over 200 outside workers and the Region of Waterloo was reached on Wednesday, March 26. The following day, members of CUPE Local 1656, which represents the workers, voted in favor of the agreement.
Phil Dominas, President of CUPE Local 1656, expressed relief and optimism in a statement. “This agreement brings important gains for our members and addresses the financial pressures they’ve been facing due to inflation and the rising cost of living,” he said. “Our members are ready to move forward and return to work.”
Regional council ratified the agreement on Friday, with Regional Chair Karen Redman acknowledging the hard work that went into reaching the deal. “On behalf of Regional Council, I want to express our gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly during this challenging time. We are looking forward to welcoming all employees back to their roles. They are an essential part of the Region’s team, and their work is crucial to the community we serve,” Redman said.
Workers are expected to return to their duties in the coming days, and union representatives confirmed there would be no further picket lines.
Impact on Grand River Transit
Despite the deal being reached, picket lines remained in place at the Northfield Maintenance Facility and the Cambridge Transit Operations Centre, which led to ongoing disruptions in public transit. Grand River Transit (GRT) issued a service alert on Friday morning, notifying riders of delays caused by the picketing. A follow-up message from GRT urged patience, emphasizing that bus operators were doing their best to restore service to normal.
The union representing GRT workers also acknowledged the frustrations of affected transit riders but asked for continued understanding during this period. Although the strike had ended with a tentative agreement, the picketing led to significant disruption, causing canceled and delayed bus trips. Riders, including workers and students, faced delays in reaching their destinations, and some even missed important medical appointments.
Redman, in a statement, urged the local union leadership to reconsider their approach to picketing, given the inconvenience it caused to the public.
Closure of Waste Management Centers
The strike also impacted waste management services. Waste management centers in Cambridge and Waterloo were closed but are set to reopen on Saturday, March 29.
This tentative agreement and the eventual ratification of the deal came after nearly a month of job action that included protests and picket lines across Waterloo Region, including the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
With the strike officially over, the community can expect a return to normal operations in the coming days.
