Strike local 1431John McCracken CUPE Communications

The 335 members of CUPE 227 (outside workers) and CUPE 1431 (inside workers) commenced strike action against Halifax Water (HRWC) on May 19.

The main issue is an employer demand for major cuts to the pension plan.

The union has made a proposal that would save Halifax Water $25 million over 10 years while protecting pension benefits. The employer rejected it. They are determined to move the pension benefits that employees receive back by 30 or 40 years.

The Municipal Auditor General, Larry Munroe, has described Halifax Water as being heavily stacked with managers, most of whom supervise three or fewer employees. Munroe also found that Halifax Water has double the number of financial managers as it does other managers.