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IGNACE, Ont. Town of Ignace municipal workers are urging management negotiators to resume contract talks, after management asked the ministry of Labour to start the countdown to a legal lockout or strike deadline after just one day of conciliation talks.
It is a shock for our members to see the employer and councillors start the countdown to a service shutdown after just one day of conciliation talks, said CUPE National Representative Gwen Miller, representing twelve municipal workers in the Town of Ignace.
Management negotiators are seeking contract concessions that would include contracting out two part-time positions and stripping away employee benefits from part-time workers.
If they contract out work like the landfill attendant and custodial service, we will continue to see an erosion in public services and loss of public control, said Miller. Town management also wants the right to contract out other work in the future it’s a recipe for disaster. Once we lose a service, and contractors start making profits on the backs of local taxpayers, it will be difficult to set things right again.
CUPE Local 87 represents twelve municipal workers in the Town of Ignace, including custodial, office/clerical, landfill, arena and public works employees.
If we end up getting locked out, it won’t be about money or union demands, rather it will be about the town’s intention to dismantle public services, said Miller. The union is committed to resuming negotiations at any time to avoid a shutdown, and we urge management to get back to the bargaining table.
CUPE encourages residents to contact the mayor and their local councillor, to demand they resume negotiations and avoid a lockout and service shutdown. Politicians are elected to provide municipal services, not dismantle them, said Miller. It’s time for elected representatives to get involved and prevent a disruption, and protect public services in the Town of Ignace.
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For further information, please contact:
Gwen Miller, CUPE National Representative: 807-345-1731 or 807-621-4064
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications: 416-292-3999
