News Media Release
June 18, 1998
The CUPE 87 Negotiating Committee has completed tabulating the results of the membership wage increase survey.
The question asked on the survey was:
“Assuming that everything else in the agreement is acceptable and assuming that there are no concessions on our contracting out/job security protections, including the Letter of Understanding, what is your bottom line for a wage increase? You must pick a number between $0.34 and $1.75, per hour!”
A total of 340 members out of 650 completed the survey. Only 17 members stated that they were prepared to accept the Citys present offer of 2%.
“Considering that we are in the 8th week of the strike, it is remarkable that less than 5% of our members indicated that they would accept the Citys present position,” said Judith Mongrain, CUPE 87 President. “We believe that virtually all of these 17 would reject the Citys present proposal because of the concession that the City is demanding on the contracting out letter of understanding.”
“It shows how preposterous Don Halperts calls for CUPE to conduct a vote really are. If Halpert wants a vote, he has a right to call for one under the Labour Relations Act.”
Meanwhile, Halperts comments in the Chronicle-Journal that Howard Matthews, CUPE Negotiator, could not be reached by Mediator, Herman Stewart, are false. Matthews spoke with Stewart yesterday afternoon at 4:00 PM.
“The Mediator advised me that the City was not prepared to amend its position in any meaningful way,” advised Matthews. “There is no point going to the bargaining table only to hear the City repeat the same position. We are prepared to negotiate and to amend our position significantly. The City has to be prepared to do the same.”
“It is important to note that the Mediator has not called for negotiations,” said Matthews. “He is on the record as stating that he would only do so when he felt that there was a good chance of reaching a settlement.”
- 30 -
For further information please call Judith Mongrain at: Work: 345-9511 or Home: 623-6095.