Garbage pickup will continue uninterrupted in Ottawa as CUPE 1338 ratifies agreement
OTTAWA, ON – On August 19, members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1338 ratified a new collective agreement with their employer, Waste Management Inc. The agreement, reached early Wednesday morning at the end of a marathon 36-hour bargaining session, means multi-unit residential, commercial and light industrial garbage pickup will continue without disruption in Ottawa.
“This agreement is the result of hard work on the part of our negotiating committee and will ensure the public who depend on us will continue to enjoy the quality service our members provide,” said Dan Sauvé, president of CUPE Local 1338.
The agreement, which will be in effect until December 31, 2013, provides for modest wage increases in each year of the contract, and some improvements to employees benefits and holidays. The employer has also agreed to enroll in a Multi-Sector Pension Plan (MSPP).
“In a difficult economic climate, our members have demonstrated with this agreement that the system works. When negotiations began, the employer placed several concessions on the table. While we did not get everything we would have liked, we successfully protected our members’ livelihoods without a work stoppage. This would not have been possible without the incredible support we received from our members” said Sauvé.
He also thanked the public for their understanding and patience during these difficult negotiations.
For more information, contact:
Dan Sauvé,
President, CUPE 1338
Tel: (613) 295-4230
Christian Martel
CUPE Communications
Tel: (416) 292-3999