PRESCOTT-RUSSELL, Ont. – Working without a collective agreement since December 31st of 2006, members of local 7911 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are starting job action today in order to highlight their employer’s unfair practices.
Beginning Thursday, April 16th at 9:00 PM, the eighty paramedics at the Emergency Services Department of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell will be wearing “non standard pants” in a show of solidarity and to raise public awareness of their issues.
Martin Brouillard, president of CUPE local 7911, wants to reassure people on the nature of these measures: “These job actions will not affect our work”, says Brouillard. “We will continue to fulfill our duties with the same professionalism as before. Our goal is simply to inform the public about upcoming negotiations and tell the employer to respect the contract that binds us, especially on the issue of vacation days and negotiations around essential services.”
Both parties will enter negotiations on May 5th, to try and reach a new collective agreement.
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For further information, please contact:
Richard Gauthier, CUPE National Representative: 613-863-1285
Luc Tittley, CUPE Communications: 416-910-2389