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HALIFAX – Outside workers with Halifax Water have given their union, CUPE Local 227, a strong strike mandate.

CUPE National Representative Karen MacKenzie says, “Of those that turned out for the vote, it was 91% in favour of job action in support of their Bargaining Committee. As per the Trade Union Act, it works out to 78% of the total membership.”

The main outstanding issues in the dispute include:

  •  Seniority
  • Overtime and how it is used
  • Pension claw back

  • Wages and premiums

Local 227 President Dave Dort says, “We were confident that a settlement could be reached and were seriously working towards one but were blindsided when the employer returned on our last day of bargaining with a proposal that they knew would not get us where we needed to be.” “We now believe that Halifax Water intentionally forced us into conciliation when, in our opinion, a deal could have been negotiated,” says Dort.