Toronto - Last night eighty or so workers at the Port Authority of Toronto overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement, giving them a contract that will expire in December, 2004.
The workers, members of the Toronto Civic Employees Union (CUPE Local 416), include ferry operators (Toronto Island airport), custodial, maintenance and clerical staff, harbour emergency environmental response services, and firefighters at the Toronto Island airport.
The workers have achieved a 3% wage increase in each year of the three-year contract, have made major improvements in benefits, and have retained protection against lay-off in the event of contracting out.
This new contract is fair it gives our members many of the things we sought to achieve in this round of negotiations, and retains job security for those ferry workers who might be displaced should the fixed link to the airport proceed, said Brian Cochrane, president of Local 416. The new Port Authority CEO and Harbourmaster, Lisa Raitt, showed genuine commitment to averting a strike or lockout, and we hope that signals a new labour relations atmosphere at the Port.
CUPE Local 416 also represents another 9,000 city workers, including library workers, water/wastewater workers, paramedics (EMS), solid waste workers, parks and recreation workers, corporate services and transportation workers.
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For more information:
Andrea Addario, CUPE Communications
(416) 738-4329 (cell)
The workers, members of the Toronto Civic Employees Union (CUPE Local 416), include ferry operators (Toronto Island airport), custodial, maintenance and clerical staff, harbour emergency environmental response services, and firefighters at the Toronto Island airport.
The workers have achieved a 3% wage increase in each year of the three-year contract, have made major improvements in benefits, and have retained protection against lay-off in the event of contracting out.
This new contract is fair it gives our members many of the things we sought to achieve in this round of negotiations, and retains job security for those ferry workers who might be displaced should the fixed link to the airport proceed, said Brian Cochrane, president of Local 416. The new Port Authority CEO and Harbourmaster, Lisa Raitt, showed genuine commitment to averting a strike or lockout, and we hope that signals a new labour relations atmosphere at the Port.
CUPE Local 416 also represents another 9,000 city workers, including library workers, water/wastewater workers, paramedics (EMS), solid waste workers, parks and recreation workers, corporate services and transportation workers.
-30-
For more information:
Andrea Addario, CUPE Communications
(416) 738-4329 (cell)