Ituna: CUPE group home workers in Ituna will mark the 100th day of their strike on Friday, September 10, by releasing a giant bouquet of balloons at a noon hour rally on the towns main street.
The balloons, one for every day of the strike, contain messages calling on local residents to encourage the employer Deer Park Villa to return to the bargaining table and conclude a fair contract settlement. Deer Park Villa operates three group homes and an activity centre in the town for adults with mental and physical challenges.
The 27 CUPE members employed by the group home have been trying to negotiate their first collective agreement for more than a year. They walked off the job on June 3, after the employer refused to bargain language that would ensure the fair application of seniority in its hiring practices.
We have received tremendous support from area residents, says CUPE 4552 President Cyndi Salynuik. People come by nearly every day to give us food, donations and encouraging words. It has meant a lot to us.
But she says there wont be any settlement to the dispute until Deer Park Villa agrees to return to the bargaining table and thats going to require continued public pressure, she says.
So far, the employer has refused to resume contract negotiations until the strikers drop their demand for meaningful seniority rights. It also has rejected the assistance of a provincial labour conciliator.
Although Salynuik says members miss their jobs and their clients, they remain united in their resolve to secure seniority rights.
Weve walked miles and miles on our picket line and endured all kinds of stormy weather since our strike began, says CUPE 4552 President Cyndi Salynuik. And we are prepared to walk many more miles to achieve our goal.
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For more information, contact Cyndi Salynuik at 306 795-7755.
The balloons, one for every day of the strike, contain messages calling on local residents to encourage the employer Deer Park Villa to return to the bargaining table and conclude a fair contract settlement. Deer Park Villa operates three group homes and an activity centre in the town for adults with mental and physical challenges.
The 27 CUPE members employed by the group home have been trying to negotiate their first collective agreement for more than a year. They walked off the job on June 3, after the employer refused to bargain language that would ensure the fair application of seniority in its hiring practices.
We have received tremendous support from area residents, says CUPE 4552 President Cyndi Salynuik. People come by nearly every day to give us food, donations and encouraging words. It has meant a lot to us.
But she says there wont be any settlement to the dispute until Deer Park Villa agrees to return to the bargaining table and thats going to require continued public pressure, she says.
So far, the employer has refused to resume contract negotiations until the strikers drop their demand for meaningful seniority rights. It also has rejected the assistance of a provincial labour conciliator.
Although Salynuik says members miss their jobs and their clients, they remain united in their resolve to secure seniority rights.
Weve walked miles and miles on our picket line and endured all kinds of stormy weather since our strike began, says CUPE 4552 President Cyndi Salynuik. And we are prepared to walk many more miles to achieve our goal.
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For more information, contact Cyndi Salynuik at 306 795-7755.