After months of negotiations, outside workers for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) have voted “yes” to strike action. Late last week, CUPE 759 members held a strike vote, with 96% of votes in favour of possible job action.
“As we have shown our employer in the past, our members are ready to fight for what we know we deserve,” said CUPE 759 President, Dave Kelloway.
Several issues remain on the table: workers are seeking improvements to leave benefits, competitive wage increases to combat staffing shortages, and improved protections that would prevent the employer from undermining seniority.
CUPE 759 represents over 300 workers employed by the CBRM, including carpenters, cleaners, heavy equipment operators, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, horticulturalists, transit operators, solid waste collection & processing workers, parks and grounds workers, and water & wastewater treatment operators.
“We maintain all CBRM infrastructure, buildings, and public assets. From roads, to parks, to ice surfaces—and everything in between,” continued Kelloway. “As public workers, we feel privileged to serve the communities in which we live and work. We are proud of the work we do, and we are proud of the island we call home.”