TIMMINS, Ont. – Members of Local 2196 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) voted yesterday to reject a tentative contract settlement presented for ratification following mediated contract talks late last week, between the union and management of Child and Family Services of Timmins and District.
“Our members have spoken and we will stay on strike until we see an improved offer from our employer,” said CUPE 2196 spokesperson Kim Cress. “Yesterday’s vote shows how important the issue of workload management is to our members – it’s a matter of being able to do our jobs and offer the best services, without getting burnt out in the process.”
The workers are seeking grievable language in their contract to deal with excessive workloads. A compressed workweek that would force some workers to take 12-hour shifts in a four-day workweek was also a deal breaker for a majority of members.
CUPE 2196 represents 150 child protection, mental health and other counselling service workers at the agency, serving children and families in Timmins and District, and covering a wide area from Moosonee to Temagami. The social workers, children and youth therapists, mental health counsellors, residential counsellors, early childhood educators, and child and welfare workers, have been on strike since April 19th.
“It is clear we have more work to do to achieve a settlement that will be acceptable to the frontline workers who deliver child and family services in our communities,” said Cress. “We urge management to return to the bargaining table and resume negotiations as soon as possible.”
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For further information, please contact:
Kim Cress, Bargaining Cttee spokesperson, CUPE 2196 - 705-465-2543 (cell)
Fran Ludwick, CUPE National Representative - 705-264-1269 (office) - 705-363-8387 (cell)
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications - 416-292-3999 (office)