Municipal workers in the town of Cochrane, Ontario, are still on strike over wages, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
“We’ve been on the picket lines for over a week now because the Town of Cochrane’s offer just isn’t good enough,” said Lyne Nolet, President of CUPE Local 71, representing the roughly 60 members now on strike. “They continue to tell residents of Cochrane that their offer is great and that they did everything they could to avert a strike but that’s just not true.”
Nolet’s remarks follow a Facebook post released by the Town of Cochrane on Friday applauding its wage proposals for the workers. Nolet notes that the employer’s offer of 2% wage increases is still below the rate of inflation, amounting to a wage cut, and is far below the union’s proposal, which she calls necessary in light of the cost of living.
“We’re staying on the lines and we’re continuing to talk with residents about what we do until we get the deal we deserve,” said Nolet.