CUPE Local 101 and the City of London are back at the table Thursday as they attempt to reach an agreement.
London's 750 inside workers have been on the picket line for more than a month, and without a contract since December.
But there is now guarded optimism on the picket line, with word the new provincial mediator brought in last weekend is helping both sides make progress.
Weekend negotiations with the new mediator, Peter Simpson, ended quickly, but there is word they resulted in the first progress in weeks.
In a statement to union members, CUPE Local 101's Shelley Navarolli wrote, "We hope to continue the progress made last Saturday toward reaching a Tentative Agreement."
Still the pace has been frustratingly slow for both those on strike, and those in need of the services inside city hall.
Talks have started, and ended, on multiple occassions with little or no progress made toward a new contract.
High on the list of disagreements are wages, changes to retirement plans for new employees, extended work hours and changes to job evaluations.
