After being on strike since July 4th, the 34 members of CUPE 72 are finally going back to work. The North Bay Hydro workers voted Friday to accept a recommended settlement.
The deal gives the workers raises of 3, 2.5 and 2.5 per cent over a three-year contract. It also maintains post-retirement benefits for all current employees, which was a key strike issue.
“We had a difficult time with this employer,” says Ken Hull, the local’s President. “We had to mount an intensive, election-style public relations campaign to move this employer – and it still took over three months.”
“We wish to thank the Ontario Federation of Labour and President Wayne Samuelson for putting pressure on local politicians with a threatened economic boycott against North Bay,” says CUPE representative Jo-Ann Breton. “That may have been the last straw for councilors, who until this past week, refused to get involved and end the dispute.”
The deal gives the workers raises of 3, 2.5 and 2.5 per cent over a three-year contract. It also maintains post-retirement benefits for all current employees, which was a key strike issue.
“We had a difficult time with this employer,” says Ken Hull, the local’s President. “We had to mount an intensive, election-style public relations campaign to move this employer – and it still took over three months.”
“We wish to thank the Ontario Federation of Labour and President Wayne Samuelson for putting pressure on local politicians with a threatened economic boycott against North Bay,” says CUPE representative Jo-Ann Breton. “That may have been the last straw for councilors, who until this past week, refused to get involved and end the dispute.”