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RICHMOND HILL, ON - Outside workers in Richmond Hill have voted 100 per cent to strike.

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 905 are trying to achieve a fair contract that includes the same wage increase as other municipal workers in the Region of York, and a one-time market adjustment to meet the municipality’s job evaluation requirements.

We are not asking for the moon,” said Derek Bakshi, president of Local 905. “We know there are 79 members of the Richmond Hill management who are on the sunshine list (those who earn over $100,000) and we don’t earn anywhere near that.  We just want a fair wage so we can support our families.”

We don’t just work here, we pay our taxes here and we are members of this community and we contribute to it. In fact, our local just donated $3,000 to charity.”

There are approximately 100 full-time and seasonal workers in this unit. They are responsible for maintaining roads, parks, recreation centres. They also work to ensure that municipal water is safe and that wastewater (sewage) disposal is also done in a safe and reliable manner.

On October 1, the union asked for a conciliator to join the negotiations in hopes that an objective third-party might assist with gaining a fair contract.
  

For more information, please contact:

Grant Dart 
CUPE National Representative  
705-641-0968

Wendy Forbes 
CUPE Communications   
 416-292-3999