Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario President Sid Ryan will be returning to Windsor today to walk the picket lines with striking city workers. Ryan, who addressed the roadblocks to a strike resolution in two prior meetings with city council, is returning to the hard hit auto town. He will be walking the picket lines with the workers, and will be available 24/7 for talks or to “…go for a walk…” with the mayor as one city councilor proposed last Monday.
“Twice CUPE has tried to break the deadlock with the mayor and council and twice we have just missed the mark,” says Ryan.
The strike, entering its third week, is straining the economy of a city already suffering from massive auto industry job loss. Garbage pick-up, road work, municipal child care, public health, welfare and other municipal services are suspended. 1800 families, many with one wage earner already sidelined in the auto sector, are now cutting back spending, while the second wage earner defends their future on the picket line. Local shops and businesses are suffering.
“I’m not giving up.” States Ryan. “Windsor needs this situation resolved.”
Ryan will be in Windsor all this week.
WHO: CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan
WHAT: Waking the line with striking workers
WHEN: All this week
WHERE: Municipal picket lines throughout Windsor
WHY: To do what it takes to get a fair deal and get Windsor working
For further information, contact:
Sid Ryan President, CUPE Ontario 416 209-0066 sryan@cupe.on.ca
Humberto daSilva CUPE Communications 416 839-9550 hdasilva@cupe.ca