One week into strike, Region of Waterloo still refuses to honour commitments made to workers

WATERLOO, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– Marking one week since the start of their strike, CUPE Local 1656 members at the Region of Waterloo are determined to continue fighting for a fair deal as their employer continues to turn its back on workers after backtracking on proposals made during negotiations.

“It’s upsetting that we are still on strike as Council Chair Karen Redman and Region of Waterloo Council continue to dig in their heels and refuse to return to the table with the original proposals that they gave to us and are now trying to take away,” said CUPE Local 1656 President Phil Dominas. “One week into our strike, our members are standing strong and united and are determined to fight for a fair deal for as long as it takes.”

CUPE 1656 members are full and part-time workers who work to provide clean drinking water, airport services, regional road maintenance, maintenance of emergency vehicles, and landfill services to the Region of Waterloo. They also are trades workers including millwrights, HVAC, plumbing and signals who keep water, traffic, and buildings running.

Negotiations between CUPE and the Region of Waterloo have not resumed, despite the Region’s claim in a release issued last week.

“We have been very clear that we will not return to the table until the employer is ready to bring back the offer that they made to us,” said Dominas. “Bringing back their original offer could get negotiations started again, end this strike, and ensure that the services Region of Waterloo residents rely and depend on can resume without disruptions.”

As a result of the strike, residents will continue to face delays at the Region of Waterloo Airport and the landfill will remain closed, at an estimated cost to local taxpayers of $60,000 per day.

“Every day this strike goes on is a day that Chair Redman and Regional Council are wasting taxpayer dollars to keep our members out on strike and keep services in the region closed,” said Dominas. “It’s time for Chair Redman and Council to come back to the table and honour the commitments they made to our members during negotiations.”

CUPE 1656 members will be out in the community this week to make residents aware of the impacts of the ongoing strike. They will be at Kitchener’s “Downtown Showdown” in Carl Zehr square on Tuesday, March 11.

Residents of the Region are encouraged to visit cupe.on.ca/waterloo and contact Regional Council Chair Karen Redman and Waterloo Regional Council and tell them to honour their commitment to CUPE 1656 members and end the strike.

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For more information, please contact:

Eric Bell, CUPE Communications
(306) 580-0893
ebell@cupe.ca