A tentative agreement has been reached by the City of Richmond and its civic workers — but details won't be disclosed until union members vote on it Wednesday and Thursday.

'You can't just be taking your ball and bat and going home every time you feel there's no progress.'— CUPE B.C. president Barry O'Neill

CUPE expects members to vote yes. For its part, city council ratified the agreement Monday night.

The deal comes as the civic strike in Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver enters its fifth day and all sides remain far apart on key issues.

CUPE B.C.'s president, Barry O'Neill, said there's one key difference in Richmond that's led to a tentative agreement.

"Bargaining. That's the key," said O'Neill, "You can't just be taking your ball and bat and going home every time you feel there's no progress. And you can't be leaving the room or leaving the building or leaving the process if, in fact, you think you're too far apart.

"That's not the way you negotiate collective agreements. That's not how you negotiate anything. It's a tough grind, but you keep going."

Port Moody is the only other Lower Mainland municipality to sign an agreement with its CUPE workers, reaching an agreement last October, after a quick round of bargaining.

Port Moody city manager Gaetan Royer said Tuesday the current strike in Vancouver is not just about money and the length of the contract — it's also about relationships.

"It's pretty obvious that money and term are easy issues for people to package and present to the media. But there are a lot of other smaller issues [that] need to be knocked off," Royer said.

Port Moody's workers accepted a 39-month term with a 9.75 per cent pay increase over three years.

Royer said that was thanks to an atmosphere of caring and compassion year round — not just when contracts expire.