THUNDER BAY -- A strike or lockout deadline for city workers has been set for 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 1 unless a new collective contract is signed.
After nearly two years since their last contract expired, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 87 announced Thursday its members have requested a "no-board" from the Ministry of Labour, which would trigger a work stoppage. ,
"It's simply taking too long to reach an agreement," said CUPE Local 87 president Karen Martin in a release.
"We hope that having a deadline will focus talks and help our employer get serious about reaching a fair deal."
The parties have talks scheduled for October 31, with a provincially appointed mediator. Bargaining has been underway for over a year, and Martin said they remain distant on a number of key issues.
"The employer is seeking concessions to our benefits plan, and on a number of basic collective agreement rights," she said,
"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 union represents approximately 700 municipal workers.
