CUPE 1287 is speaking out after members at the John Howard Society of Niagara were served with a “no board” notice by the employer, needlessly escalating bargaining tensions and paving the way for a potential lockout of workers by their employer.
“Our members are not choosing to strike,” said Brenda Cervantes, President of CUPE 1287. “This ‘no board’ notice served by the John Howard Society paves the way for the employer to lock them out. Let’s be clear: this is not workers walking away from their jobs. This is the employer threatening to force them out instead of working to negotiate a fair deal.”
CUPE 1287 represents a predominantly female workforce at the John Howard Society of Niagara that supports and supervises justice-involved clients in the community, assists individuals with finding meaningful work and offers supports to at-risk youth both in the community and local schools. Their work plays a critical role in promoting public safety and community well-being across the Niagara Region.
“These workers show up every day to do difficult, high-stakes work that keeps our communities safe and our most vulnerable community members adequately supported,” Cervantes said. “Instead of bargaining a fair agreement that respects their contributions, the employer is resorting to intimidation tactics and bullying behaviour at the bargaining table.”
The union has been working in good faith to negotiate improvements to wages and working conditions that reflect the complexity and importance of members’ roles. Rather than addressing those concerns meaningfully, the employer has escalated tensions by moving toward a lockout.
“Threatening a lockout is an attempt to pressure and silence a workforce that is simply asking for fairness,” Cervantes said. “Our members deserve respect, not intimidation.”
CUPE 1287 is calling on the John Howard Society of Niagara to return to the bargaining table prepared to negotiate a fair deal that supports workers and ensures stability for the clients and communities they serve.
“We remain committed to reaching a negotiated agreement,” said Cervantes. “The employer needs to step back from these heavy-handed tactics and focus on solutions to negotiate a fair agreement.”