Just hours after CUPE Local 101 accused the city of prolonging the inside workers' strike, London Mayor Matt Brown fought back, expressing his disappointment.
In a statement Brown said, “I am disappointed. Council is disappointed. Londoners are disappointed. And I am sure our employees on the picket line are disappointed...Let me be very clear: the city wants its employees back to work and I believe we have moved significantly on our most recent offer to the union."
The city negotiating team was reportedly surprised by CUPE's claim that talks had collapsed Monday afternoon, and say "contract and benefit enhancements" were part of the latest offer.
Among the items in the city's most recent contract offer:
- permanent wage increased of one per cent each year for three years and 1.1 per cent in the fourth year
- addition of laser surgery, improved bereavement leave, increased insurance
- 'grandfathering' employees in positions when qualifications have changed
- reducing weekend working hours and increasing part-time and temporary unionized workers to cover Sundays
- changes to the job evaluation and arbitration process to make them less costly
- updated guidelines for job promotions
- early retiree benefits for current employees but not for future employees
Art Zuidema added, “The average Local 101 employee earns more than $58,000 a year...We believe our wage increase is fair and responsible.”
Earlier Monday, union officials accused the city of adding new amendment to the contract that "seems designed to make things go from bad to worse," union president Shelley Navarroli said in a statement.
London's 750 inside workers have been on the picket line since May 25 and without a contract since December.
