MEDIA RELEASE- CUPE 500 SET TO OPEN STRIKE HEADQUARTERS ON SEPTEMBER 12
September 12, 2022 at 10:58 AM
Winnipeg: The union representing municipal workers at the City of Winnipeg is set to open its strike headquarters on Monday, September 12, at 12:00 noon.
The headquarters is located at 1500 Portage Avenue across from the Clarion Hotel.
CUPE Local 500 President Gord Delbridge says the union will continue to work towards a settlement during conciliation talks, but wants to be fully prepared in case job action cannot be avoided.
“We’re hopeful that with the assistance of a neutral third party, we can find a way to reach a deal that will value Winnipeg’s front line workers,” said CUPE 500 President Gord Delbridge. “If we can’t, however, we must be prepared for the possibility of job action in the near future.”
If CUPE 500 members at the City of Winnipeg go on strike, it will be the first strike for this group of workers since 1919. Delbridge says it can all be easily avoided.
“The main sticking point in reaching a deal with the City is wages,” said Delbridge. “Winnipeg’s front line workers carried our community through the pandemic but are themselves, falling further and further behind. Winnipeggers expect City Hall to support its own workforce, but we are seeing continued push back against fairness for workers.”
CUPE 500 and the City are scheduled to meet with the conciliator again on September 15
CUPE Local 500 represents about 4,900 workers at the City of Winnipeg.
On July 12, CUPE 500 members working at the City of Winnipeg voted 93% in favour of a strike mandate. The City and CUPE have been in negotiations since March 10, 2021. The previous contract expired on February 28, 2021.
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For more information:
Gord Delbridge, President of CUPE Local 500: (cell) 204 942-1001 or email: gdelbridge@cupe500.mb.ca
Alex McClurg, CUPE National Servicing Representative: (cell) 204 781-3842 or email: amcclurg@cupe.ca
Rebecca Scott, CUPE Local 500 Communications: (cell) 204 898-5463 or email: rscott@cupe500.mb.ca
