TORONTO, ON – Tuesday saw workers in two southwestern Ontario municipalities vote to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). “Outside” workers in the municipality of West Elgin and the Township of Southwold both voted to join the union, which represents municipal workers throughout the province.
“Small municipalities often present themselves as being like a ‘family,’ but the reality is a lot of workers don’t feel safe raising concerns with management. Joining a union gives them a safe way to initiate conversations that will create safer, healthier, happier workplaces,” said Daniela Scarpelli, a CUPE National Representative who helped the groups to organize.
In both municipalities, the vote involved workers in Roads, Public Works, Utilities, and Parks & Recreation.
While workers in most large cities enjoy the support of a union and collective agreement, workers in many smaller communities struggle without a collective voice.
Southwold and West Elgin follow similar successful votes in Port Hope, Otonabee-South Monaghan and Springwater.
CUPE is the largest union in Canada, representing more than 700,000 workers in education, healthcare, municipalities, social services, universities, transportation and communications.
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For more information, please contact:
Craig Saunders, CUPE Communications 416-576-7316 [email protected]
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