The Region of Peel, today, walked away from the bargaining table with CUPE 966, representing Ontario Works, the social service employees at the Region of Peel.
“The Region of Peel needs to stick to its own ‘regional values’ when it comes to equality in the workplace and the community, and restore trust and confidence to front line workers. They are intentionally targeting women at their workplaces,” said Michel Revelin, vice-president of CUPE Local 966.
“The pattern in Peel, one of the richest municipalities in Ontario, has been to provide its male- dominated, unionized workers in the Cities of Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon, with a 2 per cent wage increase per year over the next three years with no clawbacks on benefits and, in fact, with some increases.
“The Region, however, has targeted its female-dominated positions, once again, refusing wage increases and demanding extensive reductions to their benefits plan,” Revelin continued.
“The employer is trying to reduce wages and benefits for some workers while, at the same time, providing management and non-union personnel a 2 per cent increase to the management grid, with performance bonuses up to 7.5 per cent.
“Management is demanding no wage increases and clawbacks from female-dominated units while they can potentially realize a 9.5 per cent wage increase this year.”
“Worse yet,” said Mary Jo Falle, president of CUPE 966, “the employer has indicated at the bargaining table that it further intends to target women on pregnancy leave, workers who are on compensation, and even totally disabled workers on long-term disability, and fire those workers immediately if they are off work for two years.”