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(Halifax) – Outside workers with the Halifax Regional Water Commission (HRWC) have joined their inside worker colleagues in voting strongly in favour of strike action.

The 100 members of Local 227 - labourers, maintenance, technicians, operators, water treatment plant operators – have voted 97% in favour of job action to back their union’s contract demands.
 
CUPE National Representative Jacquie Bramwell says, “This group of workers, which are currently involved in a merger with HRM, had agreed to extend their contract and bargain only wages because of the impending merger.  The employer is now insisting that they fund a deficit in their pension and have insulted them with a wage offer of 1/2 %.

That same pension issue,” says Bramwell, “prompted the inside workers in Local 1431 to recently vote 100% in favour of strike action.  I’d say this employer has a bit of a labour relations problem on its hands.”

Local 227 members are employed in the potable water division with HRWC.

The HRWC employees will be planning an ‘information picket’ in the days ahead, in an effort to get their issues out to taxpayers and the public.

Brian MacDonald                Jacquie Bramwell                 John McCracken
CUPE Local 227                 CUPE National Rep.            CUPE Communications Rep.
237-2963  (Cell)               240-7928 (Cell)                 455-4180 (o)