GREATER SUDBURY The union representing 35 social workers and clerical staff at the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Social Services Administration Board, has successfully negotiated a five-year collective agreement. Members voted 96% in favour of the deal in ratification votes held earlier this week.
We are pleased we were able to reach this agreement which improves wages, benefits and job security for our members, says Wyman MacKinnon, president of Local 4705 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing the workers who serve the communities of Espanola, Manitoulin Island, Warren, Massey, Noelville and other communities in the Greater Sudbury outlying areas.
The 5-year deal includes 14% in wages increases over the life of the contract, improvements to dental benefits and eyeglass coverage, as well as improvements in job security, over-time and call-out language.
We were happy to achieve our bargaining goals without a strike, says Michelle Loiselle, CUPE National Representative. Management and the Board of Directors recognized the importance of the services our members provide, and we believe the real winners are the people who really need our services.
Its refreshing to see that not all employers in the area are trying to roll back collective agreements and throw workers on strike, MacKinnon said, contrasting the successful contract talks at the DSSAB with the failed talks at Greater Sudbury Hydro Inc. that lead to the two-month old strike by hydro workers, also members of CUPE 4705.
For further information, please contact:
WymanMacKinnon, President CUPE 4705, 705-560-4705,
705-669-8526 (cell)
Michelle Loiselle,CUPE National Representative, 705-674-7557