CUPE's Response to CITY - August 31

City of Vancouver couriers package to CUPE 15: union responds

[August 31, 2007 06:00 PM]

VANCOUVER - CUPE 15 was hopeful that the City of Vancouver would be prepared to resume negotiations either independently or with a third party to end the civic strike before Labour Day and was disappointed today to receive a couriered package that was leaked to the media. The package included a letter from Vancouver City Manager Judy Rogers where she called for a meeting of “key members of our bargaining teams”. CUPE 15 has followed up on that call.

CUPE 15 President Paul Faoro attempted to contact Rogers today to set up a meeting for the two parties to meet. Unfortunately, Rogers was unavailable and the union spoke with Deputy City Manager James Ridge and General Manager of Human Resources Mike Zora.

Zora stated that he didn’t know when the City would be available to meet this weekend, but that he would get back to CUPE 15 with a response either later today or sometime tomorrow morning. He also explained that Judy Rogers would not be present at any such meeting.

Faoro told the City that representatives of CUPE 15’s bargaining committee would be available to meet tomorrow morning and throughout the weekend and reiterated the union’s willingness to engage the assistance of a mediator or facilitator to help reach a negotiated contract and end the strike.

CUPE 15 stands by their existing counter-offer as it is representative of contracts negotiated throughout the region.

Please find enclosed regional settlement pattern document.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Faoro, CUPE 15 President, c: 604-202-1829
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, c: 778-229-0258