Municipal workers in Watson Lake have a new collective agreement in place.

Twenty-two unionized workers voted to ratify the deal Tuesday evening following council’s vote to ratify it earlier in the day.

The vote came following a week-long strike, which began March 27 after a six-hour lockout by the town. Talks on the outstanding issues resumed last weekend.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada/Yukon Employees Union (YEU) announced Monday that a tentative agreement had been reached and workers would be back on the job Tuesday morning.

YEU president Steve Geick said in an interview this morning he’s pleased a majority of workers voted to ratify the agreement.

He noted there had just been a few “sticking points” before the agreement was reached around scheduling, job classifications and insurance matters.

While the union had been seeking a 14-day notice for a change in shifts, the agreement outlines a 10-day notice.

“We can live with that,” Geick said.

He also highlighted provisions of the agreement that would give emergency workers rest time after responding to a call, and the authority for protective services to write their own work schedules. They would then go to the town’s chief administrative officer for approval.

On the issue of job classifications, a letter has been signed outlining timelines for the work to be done on an organizational review.

“It’s in writing, with signatures,” he said.

Finally, in dealing with insurance issues, Geick said there is a provision that will see the employees come up with a list of questions they want to see addressed that will then go through the process of being dealt with.

Both sides had already signed off on issues around pay.

Union members are now set to see the same increase that was negotiated for Yukon government staff over three years, at two per cent in the first year followed by 1.5 per cent for each of the final two years.

With the last agreement ending on Dec. 31, 2018, the hike is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2016.

Under the previous agreement, pay ranges were between $26,320.82 annually or $12.65 an hour and up to $79,794.57 annually or $38.36 an hour, depending on the job title.

Geick praised the workers in Watson Lake for their resolve throughout the strike as well as encouragement from those who drove or dropped by the picket line.

“We gained so much support from the community,” he said.

Both Geick and the town’s acting CAO, Rick Rotondi, have said in separate interviews they are looking forward to moving ahead under the new agreement with a good working relationship.