Black River-Matheson municipal workers reject contract

Following a 15-week lockout, municipal employees with the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ont., are now officially on strike.

Following a 15-week lockout, municipal employees with the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ont., are now officially on strike.

Members of CUPE Local 1490, which represents full-time employees with public works, recreation and some accountants, rejected a proposed contract from the municipality, with 13 votes against it and three votes in favour of the new terms.

At issue for the union is what it's calling a "two-tier" wage system, which would place new employees on a lower pay grid than existing workers.