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Magog, Wednesday, January 23, 2002 - The municipal employees’ union (CUPE Local 1054-QFL) has announced it will maintain its notice of a general strike for Thursday, January 31. This notice was issued following a unanimous vote held on January 8.

This latest announcement is the Union’s reaction to offers made by the Town,” stated Jean-Pierre Roy, CUPE negotiator. “Since the Town is maintaining its request to freeze the agreement for two more years, apart from certain salary adjustments, we have no other choice than to maintain the order to strike,” he added

Brief bargaining meetings have been held, but the only tangible results involved essential services. Richard Houde, union president, also commented on the situation: “Our objective is to obtain an acceptable agreement, something we have not had since 1993. The Town is offering exactly what it would obtain through an order for a municipal merger: a freeze on the agreement. We do not want to wait any longer.”

The strike will begin on Thursday, January 31 in the morning and essential services will be provided according to an agreement submitted to the Conseil des services essentiels.

CUPE represents about 70% of all municipal employees in Qub0065c. In addition to the municipal sector, CUPE is active in 10 other sectors of activity in the Province, including health and social services, communications, education, universities, urban and air transport, hydroelectricity, government corporations and public agencies in Qub0065c. With close to 100,000 members in Qub0065c, it is also the largest QFL affiliated union.

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