PEI Charlottetown city council members won’t be having a formal meeting with striking water and sewer workers any time soon.Mayor Brown breaks tie to deny motion, saying talks should stay at bargaining tableTony Davis · CBC News · Posted: Oct 15, 2025 6:01 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoCharlottetown Mayor Philip Brown breaks a tie by voting against a motion from Coun. Mitch Tweel that would have allowed council to meet with striking water and sewer workers. (Tony Davis/CBC)Charlottetown city council members won’t be having a formal meeting with striking water and sewer workers any time soon.Through horns blaring, music blasting and chants calling on the City of Charlottetown to come to the table for a “fair deal” for water and sewer workers who have been on strike for 79 days, Mayor Philip Brown broke a tie by voting against a notice of motion put forward by Coun. Mitch Tweel to potentially meet with them.“I’ll break the tie. No, it’s not moving on,” Brown said during the regular meeting of Charlottetown city council on Tuesday night.Around 50 supporters of striking city water and sewer workers rally outside Charlottetown City Hall during Tuesday night’s regular council meeting, with music, chanting and horns echoing into the chamber. (Tony Davis/CBC)“I slave my guts for this city and this is how you treat the people that work the hardest for you,” said Robbie Howatt, president of CUPE Local 830, as Brown voted against the notice of motion going back to committee for discussion.“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Howatt added, as CAO Brad MacConnell stood to calm the room and usher people out of the council chamber.‘It’s everybody’s cause’About 20 members of the union attended the meeting. Outside, more than 50 supporters of the striking workers marched on the sidewalk in front of City Hall. Horns honked, chants rang out and music blasted, forcing council members to raise their voices over hits from Aretha Franklin and the Bee Gees.“The main reason that they came tonight was in support of us, what’s actually going on about the contracting out,” Howatt said, as chants of “fair deal now” could be heard throughout City Hall.The city has been giving work to private companies that water and sewer workers would normally be doing if they were on the job, Howatt said.“So they came in tonight just to make some noise and show their support that there is, you know, more to it than just our cause. It’s everybody’s cause.”‘Council really has to step up. They have a responsibility to the citizens of Charlottetown,’ says Robbie Howatt, president of CUPE Local 830. (Connor Lamont/CBC)While wage increases are one of the union’s priorities, there are also concerns about forcing some long-time workers to obtain specific certifications, Howatt said.“That certification piece… people are going to lose their jobs over that,” he said, adding it will make it easier for outsiders to take jobs from employees who have been with the city for decades.“If you have a learning disability at all, it’s a tough test. It’s an Americanized test. And that’s what they use to certify us,” Howatt said.“If you’re somebody that can pick up a book, read the book and get it, it’s an easy test. But for people that struggle with learning disabilities and stuff, it’s a battle, that’s for sure,” he said, adding there have been no concessions for any different type of testing to gain certification.Council dividedTweel, who put forward the notice of motion, said it wasn’t about council getting involved in negotiations between city staff and the union, but about hearing what CUPE had to say about the situation.While Coun. Norman Beck agreed with Tweel that he’d like to see an end to the strike soon, he said professional bargaining teams from both sides are best equipped to handle the matter. We’ve donated our lives to this place, and we’ve given everything to this city.- Robbie Howatt, CUPE Local 830That’s the reason Brown decided to break the tie on moving the notice of motion to committee for further discussion, the mayor said.“I’m respecting the collective bargaining process and we’ve done that right from the beginning because we have a team that’s negotiating on behalf of the City of Charlottetown. They have a team negotiating on behalf of CUPE 830,” Brown said.“Their concerns are being addressed at the bargaining table… They attend our special meetings, our regular monthly meetings of council. So they’re out there all the time. They’re out here in front of City Hall, they’re in front of the work sites, they’re out at our wastewater treatment plant. They’re there. Their demands are being shouted loud and clear to the public.”Mediation meeting setA mediation meeting between the city and striking workers is scheduled for Wednesday. Brown said he’s hopeful it will help bring the two sides closer to a resolution.Tweel wasn’t so optimistic during the meeting on Tuesday night.“I wouldn’t bet the farm on it,” he said.Howatt said he wants to see council members do more.“Council really has to step up. They have a responsibility to the citizens of Charlottetown,” he said. “Some of us have been 25 to 38 years, and for them not to put us back to work and leave us out on the street like they have been doing… we’ve donated our lives to this place and we’ve given everything to this city.”While council isn’t involved with direct negotiations, it will vote to accept or reject the agreement if and when it is signed by both parties.ABOUT THE AUTHORTony Davis is a video journalist with a focus on municipal government, housing and addiction for CBC Prince Edward Island. He produces content for radio, digital and television. He grew up on P.E.I. and studied journalism at Holland College. You can email story ideas to anthony.davis@cbc.ca.
Charlottetown mayor votes against meeting with striking water and sewer workers
