SPRINGHILL, N.S. – Public Works and arena employees with the Town of Springhill have voted 100% in favour of strike action, following their employer’s demand for concessions at the bargaining table.
The 20 employees, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 919, voted Thursday night to strike if they don’t receive a fair settlement.
CUPE National Representative Terry Goulding says, “There are five issues – all of which are standing in the way of a negotiated settlement”:
- The town’s demand for concessions on the group health and medical plan
- The town’s demand for concessions to a longstanding WCB benefit (Workers’ Compensation)
- Job security as it relates to contracting out in the winter months
- A wage offer which is substantially less than what’s already been accepted in other surrounding municipalities
- A proposed, five-year deal with no wage increase in the second year
Goulding says Local 919 members have been without a contract for two years. Their contract expired in October, 2003.
For information:
Fred Arsenault
CUPE Local 919 president
(902) 597-8130 (h)
John McCracken
CUPE communications representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)