CUPE 5428 Reaffirms Bargaining Stance Before Esterhazy Town Council

After being denied the chance to speak at a town of Esterhazy council meeting earlier this month, members of CUPE 5428 and their supporters were finally able to address the April 24th town council meeting, where they shared concerns over their employers’ recent bargaining actions. At the meeting the mayor moved the presentation to an in camera, confidential setting.

CUPE local 5428 members recently rejected an offer that was pushed to a vote by the employer. They are united against what they see as strong-arm tactics from the employer.

“Throughout this process, we have remained firm that seniority should remain date of hire, that to shift to hourly would have an unfair impact on members who work shorter shifts such as admin workers or folks who may be on leave,” stated Joe Richardson, CUPE 5428 president. “Our local remains united despite the union busting tactics that are being used against us. We want a fair deal.”

Members of CUPE 5428 are concerned by the employer’s proposed removal of seniority accumulation for provincially legislated leaves and disability leaves. The members are also concerned about the employer’s proposal to remove the finance officer from the town office and contract out some of those previous workers’ duties. “The employer is spending Esterhazy tax dollars on a consultant to do some of our members’ work while at the same time reducing staff coverage in the town office,” Richardson added.

CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson was one of the supporters in attendance who were asked to leave council chambers while CUPE 5428 presented their concerns. “Delaying bargaining and preventing the public from hearing concerns directly from the union are intimidation tactics, and they won’t work. CUPE 5428 has our support, the public’s support, and the town of Esterhazy has to resume bargaining and deliver our members a fair deal.”

“The best deals are made at the bargaining table,” adds Dylan Breland, CUPE national staff representative. “We remain ready to bargain and look forward to the opportunity to do so.”