(St. Catharines) - Despite being outnumbered almost 10 to 1, the Canadian Union Of Public Employees pulled off a significantly strong showing in a union representation vote for Niagara area hospitals.
The votes were conducted to determine which unions would represent hospital workers at Niagara Health System. For Service workers which was far and away the largest of the 3 groups - CUPE had a particularly strong showing in the vote coming a close second to SEIU with 45% of the total vote despite having only 20% of the membership. In the vote for Clerical workers CUPE garnered 26% of the vote despite having only 3% of the members. In the vote for Paramedical workers CUPE had 11% of the vote despite having only 4% of the members.
CUPE Local 7100 spokesperson Brent Leclair says, on behalf of all the presidents of the local, I want to give a huge thank you to all of the CUPE members, activists and staff who worked flat out on this campaign.
Says Leclair, we had an 86% turnout from CUPE members in this vote which speaks highly of how much regard they have for their union.
The Service workers vote was won by SEIU with 54%. The Clerical workers vote was won by SEIU with 72% and the Paramedical vote was won by OPSEU with 55%.
For Information:
Brent Leclair, Spokesperson CUPE Local 7100
905-834-4501 Ext. 2026
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep.
416-292-3999 (o)