CBRM outside workers vote yes to strike

Cape Breton Regional Municipality's city hall is pictured in Sydney, N.S.

Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) outside workers have voted yes to strike action following months of negotiations.

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 759 held a strike vote last week, which resulted in 96 per cent of union workers voting in favour of possible job action.

“As we have shown our employer in the past, our members are ready to fight for what we know we deserve,” said, CUPE 759 president Dave Kelloway.

CUPE 759 has been without a contract since last November.

Issues that remain on the table are improvements to leave benefits, competitive wage increases to combat staffing shortages and improved protections to prevent employers undermining seniority.

CUPE 759 represents more than 300 workers employed by CBRM. Outside workers include:

• carpenters
• cleaners
• heavy equipment operators
• plumbers
• electricians
• mechanics
• horticulturalists
• transit operators
• solid waste collection and processing, parks and grounds workers
• water and wastewater treatment operators

“We maintain all CBRM infrastructure, buildings and public assets. From roads to parks to ice surfaces—and everything in between,” Kelloway said. “As public workers, we feel privileged to serve communities that we both live and work in. We are proud of the work we do, and we are proud of the island we call home.”

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page