Ottawa–CUPE National President Paul Moist and National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Généreux called on Capital Sports Properties Inc. president Mr. Eugene Melnik to come to the negotiations table and bargain a fair and decent collective agreement with the over 60 conversion staff of the Scotiabank Place Arena in Ottawa, who are members of CUPE Local 4809.
The conversion workers joined CUPE in June of 2006. Mediation talks have broken off and as of Monday, May 7, Capital Sports Inc. and Scotiabank Place are in a legal lockout position and the workers have the legal right to strike.
“We are not interested in striking,” said Moist. “We want to negotiate a decent collective agreement for these skilled workers, and we want Mr. Melnik to make the decision that a settlement is best for everyone. It is good for the company, the workers and the general public who enjoy professional hockey games and concerts at Scotiabank Place”
“We have a situation where Scotiabank Place is one of the most profitable arenas in the world - yet they want to pay their skilled workers $10.00 an hour with no benefits or job security. That just doesn’t work for us and it is unfair to expect the conversion workers to sign a contract with such low wages,” explained CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Généreux.
CUPE hopes to reach an agreement with Capital Sports over the coming days to avoid any disruption during the NHL playoff season.
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For further information, please contact:
Andy Mele Robert LamoureuxCUPE National Representative CUPE Communications
613-237-0115 416-292-3999
613-878-4444 (cell)