London, Ont. – Municipal workers with the City of London are set to go on strike July 5 if mediation talks between the city and Local 101 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) fail to reach an agreement.
“All we want is to be treated fairly” said Cindy Cossar-Jones, president of CUPE 101. “Instead the city is showing a lack of respect for our members by doing everything possible to push us into a strike. We would like to inform the public that we will have no choice but to go on strike if the city continues to treat us in this fashion.”
Respect for workers, equitable wages and benefits similar to other Union Locals employed by the city are the main outstanding issues for CUPE 101 members. CUPE 101 members recently voted 89 per cent in favour of a strike if an equitable deal is not reached. Their last contract expired on December 31, 2007.
“This has been a long and frustrating bargaining process,” said Cossar-Jones. “Management must change their attitude and work towards a fair deal, otherwise municipal services that residents in our community count on will be put at risk.”
CUPE 101 represents 750 ‘inside’ workers at the City of London. A strike or a lockout would affect municipal services, including finance and administration, building and property standard inspections, by-law enforcement, water and waste water treatment, tourism, traffic management, roads construction management, recreation programs registration, social services, provincial offences services, streets and traffic lights management, IT services and more.
Mediation talks with the city are scheduled for July 3 and 4. “Mediation talks will give the city a final opportunity to show our members the respect we deserve,” said Cossar-Jones. CUPE 101 would like to continue to provide services to the citizens of London, but we need a fair contract to avoid a strike. “We urge residents to contact the mayor and councilors in support of an equitable offer, to avert a strike.”
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For further information, please contact:
| Cindy Cossar-Jones | Fred Blake | James Chai |
| President CUPE 101 | CUPE National Rep. | CUPE Communications |
| 519-432-6695 | 519-433-1753 | 416-292-3999 |