(Sydney) – Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s (CBRM) 310 outside and transit workers, members of CUPE Local 759, say the wage increases received by other employees of the municipality should lead the way in settling their labour dispute.
CUPE National Representative Kathy MacLeod says, “Three groups of workers with CBRM have deals in place which clearly point the way for a settlement for Local 759.
“Outside and transit workers have now been without a contract for over two years. We have a new mayor and council in place and we simply cannot understand why these 310 employees have been given such short shrift,” says MacLeod.
The three other union contracts include:
• CUPE Local 933 (inside workers) who received increases of 3% in 2010 and 3% in 2011;
• NSGEU Local 1995 (police) who received increases of 3.5% in 2011, 3.25% in 2012 and 3.25% in 2013;
• IAFF Local 2779 (firefighters) whose last deal ran from November 1, 2008 to May 1, 2011 and had increases of 4.75%, 4%, 2.5% and 1.75%.
CUPE Local 759’s last contract expired October 31, 2010. They held strike votes on November 19.
Local 759 represents 310 CBRM employees who work in Public Works, Solid Waste, Transit, Arenas, Water Department, Water Treatment, Wastewater, Parks and Grounds, Building Maintenance as well as Cleaners and Janitors.