Employees of the Region of Peel, Transhelp Unit, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 966, filed for a “no board” on May 17 with the Ministry of Labour, putting them in a legal strike or lockout position in the second week of June.
“We exchanged opening proposals with the Region yesterday afternoon,” said Mary Jo Falle, president CUPE Local 966. “Even without any proposals being exchanged on wages, it was clear to us that the Region is following the same misguided pattern that began with our Public Health Unit and has kept our Ontario Works Unit on strike since May 3.”
“The concessions Transhelp members are being asked to accept are a gutting of our benefits and proposals by the Region to reduce the number of full-time jobs and will lead to the extinction of decent paying, full-time jobs within Transhelp.”
Transhelp members transport the ill and infirmed patients that require dialysis, and those who cannot drive or take public transit, to medical and social appointments.
“We provide frequently urgent and definitely needed services to the entire community in Peel,” said Michel Revelin, vice-president of CUPE Local 966. “Why can the Region not provide us with the same respect and recompense that they have given themselves and other employees?”
“We have no desire to remove our services from the vulnerable needy citizens of our community,” said Falle. “However, we can’t sacrifice our members’ full-time jobs which give them a living wage in exchange for part-time work.
“We stand in solidarity not only with our members in different Local 966 units, but also with all workers in the Region. If we allow concessions and poor wages, others in the employ of Peel, and in private business, will be forced into the downward spiral the Region is asking us to accept,” concluded Falle.
For more information, please contact:
Mary Jo Falle
President, CUPE Local 966
(289) 233-3714
Michel Revelin
Vice-President, CUPE Local 966
(416) 822-3779
Helen Manning
CUPE National Representative
(416) 220-9794
Wendy Forbes
CUPE Communications
(416) 892-8716