City workers protest in front on London's City Hall. May 25, 2015. Photo by Ashton Patis. City workers protest in front on London's City Hall. May 25, 2015. Photo by Ashton Patis.
London

Last Minute Talks Fail; Inside Workers on Strike

The City of London and CUPE Local 101 returned to the bargaining table late Sunday but soon found themselves in familiar territory.

The union says the city has no intention of settling as it continues to push for concession demands.  The city claims the union's concessions-free bargaining position prevents the city's main issues from being addressed.

Mayor Matt Brown says he is extremely disappointed. “I have said it before, successful negotiations take time and patience and they take a willingness to reach an agreement. We were all hoping to see our 750 valued employees at work Monday morning. Instead, our community is faced with a strike. Our team remains committed to getting back to the table as soon as the union negotiators are ready to address the significant issues in a meaningful way.”

Shelley Navarroli, CUPE 101 President, calls the strike unfortunate. “It was clear from the very beginning that management was not interested in bargaining, instead pushing us out on strike over these concession demands that they agreed not to touch with the outside workers of the city. We’ve reviewed all possibilities to avoid a strike in our attempt to reach a deal but they clearly want a labour disruption.”

Managing Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Coxhead, says the city has been preparing strike contingency plans for the past few weeks. “Many managers will be redeployed from their normal duties to service areas that need them. There will be delays in some areas, but we are committed to keeping things running as smoothly as possible.”

Services that will operate at reduced service levels include Ontario Works employment services, planning and building applications, children’s services and office hours at some locations.

The City of London website has dedicated a page to specific services and its expectations for regular or diminished service HERE. Londoners can also call City Hall at 519 661-4500 for more information.

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