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DEEP RIVER The union representing municipal workers in the Town of Deep River has now filed a charge of Bad Faith Bargaining against their employer, after management tried to reopen a contract that was ratified in May.

If the Town reconsiders its position and agrees to recognize our negotiated collective agreement, our complaint can be withdrawn, says Bill Sikorsky, of Local 740 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). We negotiated a contract in the spring in good faith, and it is supposed to cover us until 2006. If Council doesnt respect our contract now, they will have to answer to the Labour Board. Sikorsky adds this would be an outrageous waste of tax payers dollars, attempting to defend the Towns position that Pay Equity is satisfied for the term of the contract. In my view if the clause was challenged it would not stand up in court.

Local 740 and the Town of Deep River ratified a new collective agreement in May 2003, which was to cover the workers until February 2006. The union recently received a letter dated October 14th, from Larry Simons, Clerk Administrator for the Town of Deep River, requesting more dates for negotiations. Local 740 filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board on this matter on October 28th.

Residents are starting to ask elected officials why the Town would want to do this, says Doreen Beath, CUPE National Representative. They should respect the people who provide services to the people of Deep River and honour their word.

Were urging residents to contact local candidates and tell them to respect our contract, says Sikorsky. Its not too late. They can still settle this matter and put it to rest before the municipal election. We hope voters will urge them to do the right thing.

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For further information, please contact:

Bill Sikorsky
CUPE Local 740
613-639-8018 (cell)

Doreen Beath
CUPE National Rep
613-237-0115 (office)