Region of Waterloo workers on strike as of Monday morning

Region of Waterloo workers with CUPE local 1656 went on strike on Monday morning.

Both sides were unable to come to a contract agreement during negotiations over the weekend.

The strike means the waste management centres in Cambridge and Waterloo are closed.

Other services like curbside waste collection, road maintenance and water services will continue.

Flights will proceed at the region's airport, but the region warns there could be delays.

"As always, travellers are reminded to check the status of their flight with their airline," the region said in a release.

Workers picketed outside the airport Monday morning, allowing one vehicle in at a time and backing up traffic. They held signs that said "fair wages for essential work" and "we keep the region running."

Officers with the Waterloo Regional Police Service were on scene, but were observing the picket. Traffic was slowed in the area as the line-up of vehicles entering the airport grew and other drivers slowed down to look at the picketing workers.

The union says it's calling for higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living. 

In a release on Monday, the union accused the region of breaking "its promises made during negotiations," and said workers were asked to "settle for less than half of what had originally been offered."

"If it wasn't for Chair [Karen] Redman and Council's decision to break their promises, we would have reached a deal weeks ago and we would be at work today," CUPE 1656 president Phil Dominas said in the release.

Dominas said workers will be on strike "until the Region comes back to the table and honours the commitments they made — we won't accept anything less."

The region says no further negotiations are scheduled at this time.