Contract negotiations stall between GRCA and union representing front-line workers
Posted Jun 5, 2026 10:25:18 AM.
Last Updated Jun 5, 2026 03:42:11 PM.
Negotiations have stalled between the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and the union representing more than 100 workers over a new contract.
OPSEU Local 259, representing 102 front-line workers at the GRCA, have filed for conciliation in negotiations for fairer wages and transparencey.
The union alleges that GRCA management have denied multiple requests to view a 2024 wage comparison study as they search for a new deal, adding that management and non-union workers have received raises three times what is currently being offered.
“Their refusal to share the findings raises huge concerns about transparency and fairness at a critical time for GRCA,” said OPSEU President JP Hornick in a press release.
The provincial government is currently in the process of amalgamating the 36 Ontario conservation authorities into just nine, a project that includes the GRCA.
“A fair contract at the GRCA is part of ensuring a fair transition for these workers and the 38 municipalities and nearly one million residents they serve,” added Hornick. “GRCA staff are on the front lines of flood prevention, clean water and protecting our natural areas.”
The union represents campground staff, ecologists, forestry workers, water quality staff and more.
But in a statement to 570 NewsRadio the GRCA refuted the claims of the union:
“The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) deeply values its employees and their contributions. We are approaching this collective bargaining process with respect, aiming to reach a balanced, fair, and financially sustainable agreement at the bargaining table that reflects our organizational values and supports our workforce.
The GRCA is disappointed by OPSEU’s recent news release falsely claiming we refused to offer fair wages. While this round of bargaining has been challenging, we have made significant progress by attending every session ready for constructive problem-solving. OPSEU’s focus on the GRCA’s confidential 2024 wage benchmarking data is misplaced as that information is outdated. OPSEU also omitted from its release that the previous collective agreement, which expired on December 31, 2025, provided all bargaining unit employees with negotiated annual wage increases. Furthermore, despite that active agreement and upon review of the benchmarking data, the GRCA voluntarily provided a special wage adjustment to nearly all bargaining unit job classifications. The claim that non-union staff received wage increases up to three times greater than unionized employees is simply untrue.
Reaching an agreement will not happen through the media; it requires good-faith negotiations at the bargaining table. The GRCA remains fully committed to allocating financial resources responsibly to ensure long-term stability, support our dedicated staff, and maintain healthy operations moving forward.”
