Inside and outside workers for the County of Essex are willing to hit the picket line to back contract demands. The workers who are represented by CUPE Local 2974.1 recently voted 93.3 per cent in favour of strike action. According to the union, the strike action comes after months of bargaining marked by demands for concessions and delay tactics from management. The union says one of its demands is equitable treatment between union and non-union workers. Local 2974.1 says to address long-standing recruitment and retention challenges, Essex County brought all non-union and management workers up to the 60th percentile of neighbouring municipalities with a roughly 18 per cent wage increase. CUPE says the county has claimed that it’s impossible to do the same for its members. Another issue the union has pointed out is the county’s push related to changing generic drug coverage that would shift costs onto workers and reduce the flexibility of their coverage. The union says the county has refused every proposal to improve benefits, including increases to eyeglasses, dental crowns, and chiropractic coverage. Local 2974.1 vice president Lindsay Simpson feels that talks are moving “a bit slowly.” “We’ve had about seven bargaining sessions; we still got some distance between us that we’re trying to close,” says Simpson. “We have one more date scheduled, and then after that we’re not sure what happens.” He says his members are frustrated. “Obviously nobody is looking for a strike, but at this point like we have to get some movement here from the other side of the table,” he says. Local 2974.1 represents about 60 workers at the Essex County Civic Centre, the regional landfill, the Kingsville transfer station, and the recycling centre. The union and county representatives are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Wednesday, August 26. The workers’ deal expired on March 31, 2026.
