Workers without contracts since 2015, 2016: CUPE
The Ontario Ministry of Labour issued a “no-board report,” setting a strike or lockout deadline for Cornwall municipal workers of 12:01 a.m. on May 17.
The workers — who are represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Locals 234, 3251-01 and 5734 — work for the City in outside jobs, at the library, and as paramedics.
Members of CUPE Local 1792 — who work at long-term care home Glen Stor Dun Lodge — have also requested a “no-board,”, but as they do not have the right to strike, their issues will be resolved by interest arbitration, said the union.
“We formally offered them every day except one, between now and the May 17 deadline,” said Alison Denis, CUPE National Representative. “This is ample opportunity to avoid a work stoppage if they want to. We hope they take us up on the offer.”
The workers have been without a contract since 2015 (in the case of the library) and 2016 (in the case of the others), according to CUPE.
Paramedics' right to strike is partially limited by an essential services agreement between the parties, which is a requirement of the Ambulance Services Collective Bargaining Act. Under the agreement signed between CUPE and the City of Cornwall, only three cars of the regular complement of nine would be on the road in a strike or lockout situation, said the union.
