Jul122022
Image shows a line of CUPE 3251 workers, holding handwritten signs and pink CUPE Ontario flags, standing outside the Cornwall Civic Complex.
Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3251 rallied outside the Cornwall Civic Complex Monday night after the city walked away from bargaining last week.

The city has asked for and received a so-called ‘no board’ report, which is issued by a conciliator when the employer and union cannot reach a deal. It is one of the required steps that could lead to a mass service disruption across numerous municipal departments if members strike, or Cornwall locks them out.

Currently, this sets a lockout or strike deadline at July 24.

“We just want fairness,” said Krista Godard, who participated in the rally.

She spoke for the crowd saying everyone is hurt a fair deal cannot be made and Cornwall staff represented by CUPE are facing a strike for a second consecutive time. Employees within the city’s CUPE units were on strike for about a month in May-June 2018, prior to the last contracts being approved.

Back in March of this year, the city walked away from the first round of bargaining after one and a half days, said spokesperson and vice-president of the executive board Michelle Beaulne. In the second round, CUPE 3251 returned to bargaining for another one and a half days with a conciliation officer from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, in accordance with the collective bargaining process set out by the province of Ontario.

Click here to read the full article on The Kingston Whig Standard.

Category: 3251-lockout2022