MEDIA ADVISORY
TORONTO The Executive of Local 3896 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 160 striking home care and supportive housing employees at the Senior Peoples Resources in North Toronto (SPRINT), will present an open letter to members of the Board of Directors at their meeting this evening, at 6:15 p.m., at SPRINTs head office. (140 Merton Street, between Yonge and Mount Pleasant, South of Davisville.)
In the letter, written by a striking member to the Board on behalf of all members of CUPE Local 3896, reference is made to long standing grievances with the employer, including non-payment of pay equity owing since 1995, proposed cuts to benefits and the difficulty of raising a family without earning a decent wage.
We have been on strike for 42 days nowthe days are getting shorter and colder and damperhow do I explain to my children why SPRINT wont pay me what Im owed in pay equity, while giving my hours to new employees so they can pay them a lower rate of pay? asks the striker.
SPRINT workers have been on strike since September 7th. They are fighting a long list of concessions, a final wage offer of 0% in a one-year contract, their employers refusal to hand over pay equity owing since 1995, and no benefits.
(Attention News and Assignment Editors: The Executive of Local 3896 will present an Open letter to the Board of Directors of SPRINT at their head office, 140 Merton Street, at 6:15 p.m. Copies of the letter will be available at that time.)
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For further information, please contact:
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications
(416) 292-3999
Joanne Martin, CUPE National Rep.
(416) 292-3999
(416) 571-1256