Labour peace appears to be close to returning to CNC.
The college and CUPE Local 4951 reached a tentative agreement on local issues over the weekend, but ratification from both sides won't happen until early next year.
A financial framework was in place earlier this month when the union and the provincial bargaining body for the colleges reached an agreement, but how that would be applied locally was part of the deal reached Sunday.
"You always have local issues that have a bump and a rub, but all in all the big issue was the provincial framework, that was hard," CUPE 4951 president Lily Bachand said.
Details of the contract will not be made public until after ratification, however Bachand is pleased with what the two sides have agreed to, given the economic climate in the province.
"I'm as happy as I would be during the bargaining season," she said. "Is it the be all and end all? Absolutely not. Am I happy they got what they got? Absolutely."
The union, which represents 345 support staff at the college, will hold its vote on Jan. 6. The college board of governors is set to vote on Jan. 25.
Bachand said the delay in the union vote was necessitated by the holiday break.
"I want to make sure that there are the most people here that can vote on it," she said.
The union held a two-day strike in November, which shut down classes at the institution.
CNC communications director Randall Heidt said in a news release he was "delighted" a deal had been reached.
If ratified, the new contract would run until June 2014. Bachand said the union will begin preparing for that round of bargaining within six months.
"Wouldn't be nice if we created a collective agreement before it expires, not after?" she said.
