VAUGHAN, Ont — Full-time workers in the City of Vaughan could be on strike as of October 29 if they are not able to reach a fair contract with the City. The members of CUPE 905 have voted 94% in favour of strike action.
“We share council’s vision for the future, as described in Vaughan Vision 2020,” said Heather Vidito, Bargaining Unit Chair. “For us, the workers who keep Vaughan operating, the principles of accountability, creativity, fairness, inclusiveness, integrity, leadership, respect, and transparency have real, concrete meaning”.
“Unfortunately, our employer seems to think they can get there without fairness and respect for their staff.”
“The decision of the Vaughan Library Board to set the stage for a lockout of librarians has been deeply disturbing for City workers”, Vidito said.
“We know the City is bargaining with us using the same financial target as the Library Board had — 10% over three years, which is barely enough to make improvements in wages and benefits that will allow us to keep pace with other Ontario municipalities,” she said. “But the issues go deeper than that. We believe the City is trying to create a crisis in service delivery so they can justify contracting out our work.”
“The mission outlined in Vaughan Vision 2020 — Citizens First Through Service Excellence — cannot be achieved in an environment where seniority is overlooked, job security is at risk and the union is hampered in its ability to tend to members’ problems”, she said.
“We hope we can achieve a fair contract without being forced to take job action,” Vidito said. “But our members are telling us, fairness and respect are overdue in the City of Vaughan.”
CUPE 905 and the City resume talks with the help of a mediator on October 26.
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For more information, contact
Heather Vidito, CUPE 905 Vaughan Bargaining Unit Chair, 416-891-7884
Michelle Loiselle, CUPE National Representative, 705-929-3160
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, 416-616-6142 :
me:cope491