SUDBURY, Ont. – Local 4705 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 1400 municipal workers with the City of Greater Sudbury, will enter conciliation talks with the City on Tuesday, May 18, hoping to reach a negotiated settlement and avert a strike or lockout.
“Our members gave us a solid strike mandate last night,” said CUPE 4705 president Steve Speck. “We hope city management will take negotiations more seriously, and stop demanding contract rollbacks that would almost certainly lead to a strike.”
The workers voted 87 per cent in favour of strike action, if their negotiating committee cannot reach a settlement with the city.
A strike or lockout would affect many city services, including roads maintenance, solid waste (garbage collection), child care, paramedics, by-law enforcement, construction services, citizen services centres, parks and recreation, community centres, arenas, public transit, libraries, museums, social services, office, clerical, building maintenance, water and wastewater, airport maintenance and other services.
“We urge residents to contact the mayor and councillors to tell them a fair contract must be reached without a strike,” said Speck. “The last thing our members want is a strike that will further hurt this already struggling community.”
-30-
For further information, please contact:
Steve Speck, CUPE 4705 president: 705-507-6730
Kristy Davidson, CUPE national representative: 705-674-7557
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications: 416-292-3999