“It’s simply taking too long to reach an agreement,” said Karen Martin, president of CUPE Local 87. “We hope that having a deadline will focus talks and help our employer get serious about reaching a fair deal.”
The parties have been bargaining for over a year, and remain apart on a number of key issues.
“The employer is seeking concessions to our benefits plan, and on a number of basic collective agreement rights,” said Martin, “and this is a problem. We deliver quality public services in Thunder Bay every day – our goal is to negotiate a fair deal for our members, and to keep delivering those services.”
The parties have talks scheduled for October 31, with a provincially appointed mediator.
