NEWS RELEASE – January 23, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay Offer to Resolve Lock Out Rejected by CUPE Local 2019
After lengthy discussions between the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and CUPE Local 2019, the Town had submitted another offer in an effort to find a resolution to the current labour disruption. The Town respectfully requested that the offer be brought back to the membership for their consideration. Union negotiators refused this request and firmly rejected the offer despite further accommodation by the Town.
Council had listened to the Union’s concerns regarding the six employees currently not in the Town pension plan and was willing to change the agreement to include all of them. Council still maintains that changes need to be made to the Town’s pension plan for long term sustainability. The offer included adjustments to the Defined Benefit Pension Plan and guaranteed the Defined Benefit Pension Plan for all current employees. All new hires would be placed into a Defined Contribution Plan. Council reiterated their earlier offer of a 20% increase in wages over 5 years, a $2,500 signing bonus and a shift differential premium.
“The Council is unanimous on fixing the Town Pension Plan and the lock out cannot end until all members of Local 2019 have a fair deal, the Municipal Government has a fair deal, and all private citizens shall also have a fair deal, as the Council is not prepared to raise municipal taxes to pay for an underfunded pension plan. We are hopeful that our employees will recognize this offer is a fair deal for all,” comments Mayor Snook.
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