The Corporation of Delta and CUPE Local 454 have reached a tentative agreement.
Delta chief administrative officer George Harvie confirmed Thursday morning that the agreement was reached late Wednesday night with the help of provincial mediator Grant McArthur.
"We're very pleased that we reached a tentative agreement with CUPE Local 454," he said.
While no one can comment publicly on the details of the agreement until it is ratified by both sides, which will take place early in the new year, Harvie did say that it falls within the mandate that was set out by council.
As well, in a statement posted on the union's web site, president Darryl Robison said the settlement is consistent with agreements that have been reached in other Lower Mainland municipalities.
Agreements recently reached between New Westminster and CUPE Local 387, as well as Vancouver's deal with CUPE Local 15, both included four-year contracts that provide 6.75 per cent wage increases.
Both sides have 30 days to ratify the agreement. According to the statement on CUPE's website, ratification will take place during the week of Jan. 7. Harvie said staff will take the tentative agreement to council for ratification around that same time.
The agreement came after several months of negotiations that saw the union, which represents more than 850 civic employees, including civilian workers at the Delta Police Department and Delta Museum and Archives employees, file for mediation last month.
Delta's unionized workforce has been without a contract since the end of 2011. Delta negotiated directly with its employees after leaving the Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau.
