Corner Brook Civic Centre stadium closes as a potential union strike looms

A potential labour dispute between the City of Corner Brook and CUPE Local 4386, the union that represents the workers at the Corner Brook Civic Centre, is threatening to shutdown the stadium for an extended period of time.

On Oct. 16, the city issued an advisory that on-ice operations at the stadium could be suspended as early as Monday, Oct. 19.

That’s when the city and union representatives are set to meet for a final conciliation meeting as the two parties attempt to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement.

If an agreement isn’t reached by then, the union is in a legal position to strike.

As a precaution, the city has cancelled any on-ice bookings after Oct. 16.

“We recognize the importance of the Civic Centre to our residents, user groups, and community partners,” wrote Corner Brook Mayor Linda Chaisson in a statement. “Closing the facility is not a step that we wish to take. Our priority remains reaching a fair and reasonable agreement through the collective bargaining process while ensuring the safety of our employees, the public, and the facility.”

The city is declining to speak to the media until after the Oct. 19 meeting.

The deal between the city and CUPE expired at the end of 2025, and shortly after that, the two parties began negotiating toward a new agreement.

Things were progressing, but they hit an impasse on Sept. 14. As talks stalled, the Oct. 19 meeting date was set as an 11th-hour effort to reach an agreement.

Meanwhile, the city could legally lock out the union on Oct. 10. As such, the union could legally take a strike vote at the time.

On Oct. 14, they did just that, with 95 per cent of the 24-member bargaining unit — 11 full-time and 13 casual workers — voting in favour of a strike.

CUPE Local 4386 and the city have made progress on several non-monetary items; they’re still far apart on wages.

Corner Brook’s offer to the union is one they believe to be a fair one to their employees and will allow them to maintain a level of fiscal responsibility.

They’re offering a compensation package they value at 12 per cent. That includes a 10 per cent wage increase over the next four years, as well as a two per cent increase through adjustments to the base wages for all employees in the union’s bargaining unit.

It’s an offer that the city believes is consistent with the agreements it’s reached with other CUPE units in the past year. They also believe it’s similar to comparable facilities elsewhere.

“The city remains committed to negotiating in good faith and reaching an agreement that is fair to employees while also respecting its responsibility to residents,” wrote a city spokesperson in a prepared statement.

The union’s position is fairly clear: they want a fair wage increase that will pull their lowest-paid workers as close to a livable wage as they can. According to information provided by the union, workers in Corner Brook are the lowest paid when compared to rinks that are around the same size.

To help with that, the union is looking for an increase that comes to 22 per cent, which would still leave them a couple of dollars short of their goal.

“Our hope is that, on Monday, we can reach a deal that makes everyone happy. We don’t want to strike,” wrote a union spokesperson on Oct. 16. “We don’t want to cause disruption, but that doesn’t mean we won’t fight for better.”

Any closure of the stadium is sure to have an adverse effect on anyone looking to use one of the two ice surfaces.

Groups like Corner Brook minor hockey, the Silver Blades figure skating club, the Corner Brook Royals senior hockey team, Corner Brook broomball and any of the AAA hockey clubs that operate out of the stadium are going to feel the pinch.

On Oct. 15, the Silver Blades announced it was halting their programming until a resolution between the city and the union could be reached.

Corner Brook minor hockey did the same on Oct. 16.

“We understand this may cause some inconvenience for our players, families, and volunteers, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” the minor hockey association wrote in a social media post.

The Royals, however, weren’t scheduled to open season at home until Nov. 15.

Meanwhile, any activities that don’t require use of the ice surface will continue this weekend, which includes a craft fair scheduled for the Civic Centre.

Also not affected are the studio, the walking track and the fitness centre, which operates out of the rink.

A Registered Nurses’ Union NL conference was scheduled for Oct. 20 at the centre, but a release issued by the organization Oct. 16 indicated they will now be meeting at Marble Mountain Resort instead.

The earliest the standoff between the city and the union could be resolved would be Oct. 19, when they meet for one final session.

From the union’s perspective, the city will bring the same deal they’ve been offering to the table again, which it has already rejected, but the hope is that the two parties will find enough common ground to get a deal done.

If the two parties fail to reach an agreement by then, it could be a month or so before ice is ready, and groups can get back to using the facility.

Both the city and the union hope it doesn’t reach that point, but things aren’t looking good.

“The city remains hopeful that meaningful progress can be achieved and that a negotiated settlement can be reached with little disruption to services,” said a spokesperson.