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NORTH BAY, ON – As the deadline for a strike or lockout looms for members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4720-04 at the AIDS Committee of North Bay supporters and local members are coming together for a solidarity rally on August 12.

A number of outstanding issues remain on the table as bargaining for the local’s first contract is set to resume on August 13 and 14. Chief among these are wages and working conditions which will need to be addressed before the strike or lockout deadline that is set for August 15 at 12:01 a.m.

“Board members need to feel the urgency of the situation,” says Kathleen Jodouin, a member of the local’s strike committee. Jodouin thinks it is time to increase the pressure on the employer who she says has delayed coming to the negotiating table for months. “We need to settle this as soon as possible so that we can focus on providing the critical services the community needs.”

CUPE 4720-04 members include social workers, outreach workers, medical professionals and others. They provide services like dispensing medications, needle exchange and retrieval, counselling and critical coordination with other agencies for people in crisis.

“There’s been a steady erosion of working conditions here,” said Diana Zawadzki, a CUPE National Representative working with the local. “We are doing important work in the community and we’re seeking nothing more than a fair deal.”

The local will be holding a rally outside the offices of the AIDS Committee on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12.

Rally Details:

WHO:        Members of Local 4720-04 and community supporters
WHEN:      Wednesday, August 12, 12:00 p.m.
WHERE:    AIDS Committee of North Bay, 269 Main Street West (at Fraser), North Bay

For more information, please contact:

Diana Zawadzki
CUPE National Representative (in North Bay)
 905-515-9536

Mario Emond
CUPE Communications
 613-237-9475