REGINA: A cold wind couldn’t put a damper on high spirits and smiling faces Thursday as the Regina Civic Coalition reunited to celebrate one year back on the job.
Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Locals 7 and 21 unified last year along with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 822 to bargain with the City of Regina. The partnership they forged is still strong. One year ago, the coalition stood together through negotiations, through strike action, and, finally, through the signing of a new collective agreement.
“Dedicate yourself to working with your sisters and brothers through the ATU, Local 21 and Local 7,” urged CUPE National President Paul Moist in an address to the crowd, who made the trip to Regina to show his support for the ongoing solidarity among City of Regina workers.
Other guest speakers, including CUPE Saskatchewan President Tom Graham and CUPE B.C. President Barry O’Neil, congratulated the coalition on the unified resolve they showed last year during negotiations.
“The rest of the country looked toward you last year,” said O’Neil in his address to the crowd. “And they are very proud of the strength you showed.”
CUPE Local 21 President, Tim Anderson, said Thursday’s celebration - including a lunch-time barbecue - not only marked the anniversary of the coalition’s return to work, but the excellent bridge-building between the coalition and Regina City Hall since then.
“We’re willing to work with new city manager, Mr. Glen Davies, to do what we need to do,” said Anderson. “And, what we need to do is work on building a good working relationship.” Anderson added that great strides have been made in that building process over the last year, making public workers, and the city of Regina, stronger.
CUPE represents over 24,000 public sector workers in Saskatchewan who work at health care facilities, municipalities, school boards, universities, libraries and community-based organizations.