GREATER SUDBURY, Ont. – Local 4705 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 530 outside municipal workers with the City of Greater Sudbury, will return to the bargaining table with the City on Thursday, May 2, to try and successfully conclude negotiations.
“We look forward to sitting down with the employer and working out a settlement with the City that will be acceptable to our members,” said Rick Leroux, president of CUPE 4705.
“Last Thursday the negotiating committee of CUPE 4705 met with our outside members to hear from them about their concerns over the contract offer that was previously rejected in ratification votes,” said Leroux. “While we heard from them about their concerns and answered questions about the issues, the bargaining team explained our next steps. A strike mandate vote was taken, with 80 per cent in favour of job action if talks fail to produce a settlement. This is often part of the bargaining process when talks reach the conciliation stage, as pressure mounts to reach a settlement.”
“Nine out of ten rounds of contract negotiations reach a settlement without a strike or lockout,” said CUPE National Representative Cora-Lee Skanes. “We will do our utmost in the upcoming talks to reach a negotiated settlement.”
CUPE will not be discussing details of the contract at this time, as any tentative agreement that is reached in negotiations will need to be presented to members for review and a ratification vote.
“CUPE 4705 is committed to return to the bargaining table and make every effort to reach a negotiated settlement,” said Leroux.
Communications contact:
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications, 905-739-3999