NEW GLASGOW After two days of unsuccessful talks between the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3928 and the Pictou County Childrens Aid Society on April 25th and 26th, the Union membership will be conducting a strike vote on Thursday, May 4, 2000. The government appointed Conciliator was not successful in getting an agreement between the parties.
Terry Goulding, National Representative and CUPE Negotiator, said that once the members vote in favour of taking strike action against their employer, the employees will be eligible to go on strike fourteen (14) days following the Conciliators report to the Minister of Labour. Mr. Goulding stated that he
expected the Conciliator to file his report on April 27th. “If that date is correct, the Union would be eligible to withdraw its services on May 10, 2000,” said Goulding.
“The majority of outstanding issues involve the Society treating its employees with some degree of respect with equality to other CAS workers throughout Nova Scotia,” said Goulding. “Workers at Pictou County CAS have to work more hours to receive the same wages as their counterparts who work at other CAS Agencies within Cape Breton and Halifax. They also have to work more time in order to be eligible for overtime compensation. This is disheartening for the workers who have expressed frustration in that they are sick and tired of being the poor cousins to other public sector workers within the province.”
The Union expressed its regret that they have been forced to take this form of action against the public for which they provide a valuable service. “It is unfortunate that the Provincial Government and Employer have not taken a more reasonable role in collective bargaining,” said Goulding.
Local 3928 represents approximately forty (40) workers at the Childrens Aid Society who provide services for children and their families who are in
distress.
For further information, please contact:
Terry Goulding, 752-2244