Dozens of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) 2049 members gathered outside the Harris Learning Library on the Nipissing University and Canadore College main campus Wednesday afternoon to deliver an important message to Premier Kathleen Wynne: they want to get back to work.
Some 140 Children's Aid Society (CAS) workers have been locked out for five weeks, and union president Debbie Hill felt that Wynne's impromptu university tour provided the perfect opportunity to get the union's message across to the Ontario government.
After touring the campus, Wynne and her entourage made their way to the library. Before entering the building to take part in a scheduled discussion with students, the Premier stopped along the barricade erected by ever-present security to accept the letter prepared by the locked-out workers.
Wynne took the letter from Hill and spent a few moments in conversation, with the Premier expressing that she hopes the two sides will get back to the bargaining table, as that is where a deal will be reached. Wynne also said she will pass on the message to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Michael Coteau.
Hill stressed that the assembled union members were not there in protest (although there were a few protesters unaffiliated with CUPE in attendance).
Hill said that the letter presented to Wynne highlights the issues faced during the lockout, and encourages the Premier to intervene with Minister Coteau on their behalf.
"There are so many issues on the table. We need to sit down with the employer and negotiate and work through as much as we can ourselves. That's the next step," said Hill.
Hill says that the public plea for intervention is not only for the locked out workers but also for the "clients and communities. We know the impact. We hear it every day from clients, foster parents and other community service providers that there are gaps in this contingency plan.
"It's in everyone's interest to get us back to doing what we do," but there continue to be points of friction, said Hill, including workload language, sick leave concessions, and layoff procedures.
