RICHMOND HILL, ON – Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 905 outside workers in Richmond Hill held an extremely successful information picket on Wednesday, November 3—with over 200 members on the line.
“We were joined by our brothers and sisters from other units in 905,” said Todd Field, Unit Chair for Richmond Hill outside workers. “We are a huge composite local and it’s a great show of solidarity when we get support from other towns in the Region of York.
“We’re really pleased with the turnout, and know we got our message out,” Todd said.
“We had very good media coverage—Rogers TV came to the office for interviews and they shot video of the picket, and the Liberal, the local newspaper, was also there,” said Grant Dart, CUPE National Representative.
“We know that management sent a memo to staff at the civic offices giving them advice about how to cross a picket line. We also know that some senior managers left the office early that day, presumably to avoid the picketers.”
The local is in bargaining for a new collective agreement. Some municipalities in the Region have settled fair new agreements. Conciliation begins on Friday, November 5.