It took three tries, but employees of The Works finally voted to accept the terms of the most recent tentative agreement worked out between their union and their employer.

The Works is the recreation complex at Memorial University that includes the Field House, the Aquarena and other services. It is managed as a separately incorporate entity of Memorial University by a volunteer board of directors that includes representatives of the university, undergraduate and graduate students, the City of St. John’s and the general community. Its 299 maintenance, aquatic, fitness, food and customer service employees are represented by CUPE Local 3336.

Bill Thistle, chairman of the volunteer board that manages The Works, welcomed the positive vote. “Our negotiating team and the CUPE team worked very hard to get to this agreement and the entire board of directors is delighted that the employees have accepted it,” he said. “I know the members of our fitness club and the users of our aquatics and other facilities, including the thousands of students of Memorial University, are also very pleased at this outcome. We have superb employees and we have a great set of facilities. We’re looking at upgrading and expanding those in the near future to further enhance the experience for our current and future members.”