A strike by city workers could take place before the end of the year.

98 percent of municipal workers in Thunder Bay represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 87 have voted in favour of supporting its bargaining committee up to and including strike action.

In a post late Friday to social media the union, which represents around 600 City of Thunder Bay workers in childcare, building inspection, waste collection, roads and parks, and importantly as we head into the winter months, snow-plow operations, states now under bargaining rules a labour conciliation officer from the province will meet with both parties to work out a deal.

Screenshot from CUPE 87’s Facebook page detailing the results of a recent vote (Screen Capture)

Should that fail a no board report can be filed by either party and a countdown of 17 days will begin, where the city could be in position to lock out the employees or the employees could hit the picket lines.