La Prairie, Wednesday, August 1, 2001 The statement made by the Administration of the Municipality of La Prairie, claiming that striking employees are responsible for the cancellation of La Prairie en ft0065, is an outright lie declared Serge Pilote, union representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (QFL). The Municipal Administration is doing everything possible to worsen the situation and prolong the bargaining, he added.
Yesterday, in a leaflet distributed to all the households in the City, the Municipal Administration announced that the La Prairie en ft0065 was being cancelled and to blame the employees. It also implied that the safety of the participants could have been endangered and took the opportunity to mention an act of vandalism committed in the Parc des Js0075ites. Its completely ridiculous! Last Saturday, in an article in the newspaper, Le Reflet, Police Officer, Mauril Turbide, pointed out that there was no connection between this act and the strikers. I think that Mayor Guy Dupr 0077ants to ensure chaos in the management of La Prairie! continued Serge Pilote, who also wondered about the Mayors true reasons for cancelling La Prairie en ft0065.
A conciliation meeting was scheduled yesterday, but had to be cancelled at the request of the municipal administration. Bargaining should continue this afternoon in the Ministry of Labour offices in the presence of a conciliator.
Key issues in dispute are the pension plan, the assignment of permanent status to employees, wages and job assessments. Without a collective agreement since December 31, 2000, some 60 outside and inside employees of the Municipality of La Prairie, members of CUPE (QFL) Local 309, have been on strike since July 23.
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SOURCE: CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (QFL)
Information:
Serge Pilote (514) 919-8385
Robert Bellerose (514) 384-9681, ext. 239 (514) 247-9266 (cell.)
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