Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

Waterville, NS Employees of the Kings County Regional Rehabilitation Centre have voted to strike, said Barbara Kowalski, National Representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

CUPE Local 1472 has sent a strong message to the Employer and the Department of Community Services, said Kowalski that they will not tolerate wages being rolled back for positions and at the same time demanding more qualifications to do the job.

The conciliation officer has filed his report today and 14 days from today the union will be in a position to take strike action.

This is the last thing the local wants to do, said Kowalski, but if it means achieving a fair and just contract then the union is prepared to take whatever action it needs to take.

Negotiations have been ongoing for the past two years, said Kowalski and they have been slow and difficult. There are a number of outstanding issues to be resolved before any agreement can be reached.

If the employees were asking for anything other than what other employees in the province who have doing the same jobs, there may be some reason for the employer to take the stand it has but they have not.

There are approximately 300 employees in both regular and casual positions and are employed as dietary workers, cleaners, laundry workers, LPNs, maintenance, engine operators, cooks, industrial therapists, Residential Rehab Workers, Rehab Counsellors, etc.

For information:

Barb Kowalski
CUPE National Representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)
(902) 225-9412 (cell)