(Halifax) The government is going to soon be feeling labours discontent if they dont start dealing fairly with their 1500 highway workers, says union President Gareth Drinnan. Our agreement expired in October of 2002 and after over 20 bargaining sessions with this government, we dont seem to be any closer to getting a deal.
The provincial highway workers represented by CUPE Local 1867 have applied for the services of a conciliation officer. They begin two days of meetings tomorrow morning with two more scheduled for September.
I hope this minority government situation will have an affect on the employers attitude, says Drinnan. For the past three years we have been fighting against the loss of highway worker jobs as a result of contacting out and privatization. All this Tory government seems to want to do is hand out contracts instead of having the work done by provincial highway workers. It is time for this practice to stop.
Major items in dispute include, contracting out, health benefits, job security and wages. Tomorrows conciliation meeting is being held at the Dartmouth Holiday Inn.
For further information contact:
Gareth Drinnan, President, CUPE Local 1867
499-5794 (cell)
Ken Charsley, CUPE National Representative
497-3151 (cell)