PEIThe City of Charlottetown is hiring private contractors to do the work of water and sewer employees who have been on strike for more than two months.’The citizens are going to pay for that and they’re going to pay big,’ says union presidentJenna Banfield · CBC News · Posted: Oct 03, 2025 7:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 3Charlottetown hiring private contractors amid water and sewer workers strikeThe City of Charlottetown is hiring contractors to do the work of striking water and sewer employees. The workers walked off the job over two months ago, demanding better job security and wages. As CBC’s Connor Lamont reports, the union says a deal could still be far off.The City of Charlottetown is hiring private contractors to do the work of water and sewer employees who have been on strike for more than two months.The workers’ union is demanding better job security and a 3.5 per cent wage increase for each of the next four years. The city has previously said that it offered two per cent annual bumps over that timeframe.Twenty eight workers walked off the job on July 29 after more than two and a half years without a contract. The city has now opened a tender seeking contractors who are able to perform water and sewer tasks such as installations and repairs.”We’re at this point where we have people here that are capable to do that work,” said Robbie Howatt, president of CUPE Local 830, which represents the striking workers. “What’s that telling us? Is that telling us that they don’t want to come back to the table and deal with us?”Around this time of the year, Howatt said, workers would be getting some jobs done before winter, including hydrant maintenance and connecting new buildings to the city’s water service. Robbie Howatt, president of CUPE Local 830, says the cost of the city hiring contractors for water and sewer work will be passed along to customers. (Connor Lamont/CBC)In a statement to CBC News, the City of Charlottetown it has activated “contingency plans” to maintain service during the strike. “When required, the utility is working with experienced contractors who are chosen depending on availability and the required scope of work,” the statement reads. “The city remains committed to maintaining essential services and to working constructively with the union toward a solution.”Water bills delayedHowatt said he anticipates the cost of hiring contractors will not be cheap, and that will reflect on residents’ next water bills.Charlottetown water and sewer workers have been striking since mid-summer. (Connor Lamont/CBC)”The citizens are going to pay for that and they’re going to pay big,” he said. “If any citizens asked their councillors about how much that’s costing them, it’s costing them.”The city said in its statement that information about the costs associated with hiring contractors will be made public as the information becomes available.Additionally, the city said that there’s been a delay in issuing water bills to residents due to the CUPE strike, as well as the Canada Post strike.It said water bills would soon be sent to online accounts, and that penalties for late payments are temporarily suspended.Residents can pay through their online accounts or through their bank. Cheques for payment can also be placed in the City Hall drop box weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.ABOUT THE AUTHORJenna Banfield is an associate producer for CBC Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at jenna.banfield@cbc.caWith files from Connor Lamont
Charlottetown hiring private contractors to do jobs of striking water and sewer workers
