TORONTO - CUPE Local 79, representing the Service Units and Nurses and Paramedical Units at Bridgepoint Hospital (Gerrard and Broadview), will hold an information picket and a picnic Thursday, May 18th, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The “picket-nic” will be held on Broadview Ave north of Gerrard St. E. The Service Units and Nurses and Paramedical Units have been without a contract since 2004.
“We have been trying to get acceptable collective agreements for both our units at Bridgepoint for some time,” explained Ann Dembinski, President of CUPE Local 79. “But in our opinion Bridgepoint management is not serious about achieving a deal and we have asked the Ministry of Labour for a conciliator.”
“Our members deserve strong contracts. Contracts that do not demand the significant concessions that Bridgepoint management is seeking.”
The members of CUPE Local 79 Service Units and Nurses and Paramedical Units will be joined on the line by a number of labour activists, other unions, and politicians including NDP Leader Howard Hampton and NDP MPP Peter Tabuns, in whose riding Bridgepoint sits, and members of the NDP caucus, Sid Ryan President of CUPE Ontario, City of Toronto councillor Janet Davis, and representatives of the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Toronto Professional Firefighters’ Association, the Carpenters Union, the Toronto Central Ontario Building Trades Council, CUPE Local One, CUPE Local 4400, the Ontario Health Coalition and the United Steel Workers who will provide rain ponchos in case of inclement weather.
A rally and speeches are planned for 12:15 p.m. Handouts on the issues will be available as well as sandwiches and soft drinks. Rain or shine CUPE Local 79 members will picket for parity and dine for a deal.
-30-
For further information, contact:
Wendy Forbes, CUPE Communication, 416 292-3999 ex 278