If you’re a resident of Whitby, Ont., you might see a reduction in town services this week, like garbage collection. This is due to over 300 full-time workers striking for the first time in decades.
This action followed months of negotiations involving CUPE Local 53 members. Workers on the picket line express serious concerns about a concession being proposed that they fear will affect their work-life balance.
“We’re content, we’re grateful, we’re not worried about the money,” says Neilia Smith, an enforcement services worker.
Smith has been employed by the town for seven years and loves her job. However, she and others feel that the latest concession in the proposed agreement could alter everything for new hires or those looking to change roles.
“We’re not seeing it as predictable or structured,” she explains. “We’re seeing it as not being able to provide a work-life balance.”
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Members report receiving little information regarding the concession. From what they understand, it allows the town to modify schedules four weeks in advance. Kelly Vipond, an outside steward with CUPE Local 53, emphasizes that this poses a significant problem for employees who plan family schedules months ahead.
![Click to play video: 'No garbage collection in Whitby as hundreds of CUPE workers remain on the picket lines']()
2:19 No garbage collection in Whitby as hundreds of CUPE workers remain on the picket lines
“We’re hearing from people who have single-parent families,” Vipond states. “We have appointments for doctors or dental. And it takes months to get these appointments.”
Everything is on the table with this,” he notes. Story continues below The Town of Whitby has issued a statement countering these claims. “The Town has put forward a fair and balanced proposal that includes a 9.5 per cent wage increase over three years, significant benefit improvements, and has minimal impact on current employees and their work life balance,” CAO Matt Gaskell stated. “The Town has committed to terms and conditions that ensure continued work life balance for staff, including prior consultation, four weeks notice of any scheduling changes, no split shifts, and the ability for employees to swap shifts with others,” he explained. The staff argues that scheduling remains at the core issue while town officials insist they’ve adjusted agreements so current employees can keep their existing arrangements. More on Canada More videos Read more: Victim seriously injured in overnight Whitby stabbing; man facing charges “Staff can retain their veto power over schedules and hours of work as long as they remain in their current position,” Gaskell added. Additionally, under this new agreement changes would affect new hires or when individuals switch roles – something concerning for French. “Should they take a promotion or transfer, they may be subject to these short-term shift changes and hour changes that are completely outside the individual employee’s control,” French expressed. Story continues below p Several services are affected by this strike including recreational services, bylaw enforcement, animal control, sanitation, and operations. Town officials mention they’re focusing on essential services during this strike period while all facilities have closed along with face-to-face customer service except for central locations at Rossland Library. Two temporary waste drop-off sites will open soon at Iroquois Park Sports Centre and Mc Kinney Centre starting tomorrow morning.
However residents have been leaving trash in parking lots which town officials request should stop. Recycling will still be picked up by Durham Region staff. Read more : Cleanup , revitalization coming to Whitby , Ont. waterfront Officials state that scheduling concessions aim at providing greater flexibility in staffing based on community needs while reiterating willingness to continue negotiations with union representatives. For workers however , these terms mark where discussions stand still indicating both sides remain quite far apart. © ; 2023 , division Corus Entertainment Inc.
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2:19 No garbage collection in Whitby as hundreds of CUPE workers remain on the picket lines
“We’re hearing from people who have single-parent families,” Vipond states. “We have appointments for doctors or dental. And it takes months to get these appointments.”
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Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you’ll never miss the day’s top stories. “And they want to uproot this any time they’d like.” Greg French, chief steward with CUPE Local 53 and a long-time employee of Whitby, shares that staff are also concerned about how vague scheduling terms are. “This could revolve around hours or work, which means eight-hour shifts, 10-hour shifts, split shifts.Everything is on the table with this,” he notes. Story continues below The Town of Whitby has issued a statement countering these claims. “The Town has put forward a fair and balanced proposal that includes a 9.5 per cent wage increase over three years, significant benefit improvements, and has minimal impact on current employees and their work life balance,” CAO Matt Gaskell stated. “The Town has committed to terms and conditions that ensure continued work life balance for staff, including prior consultation, four weeks notice of any scheduling changes, no split shifts, and the ability for employees to swap shifts with others,” he explained. The staff argues that scheduling remains at the core issue while town officials insist they’ve adjusted agreements so current employees can keep their existing arrangements. More on Canada More videos Read more: Victim seriously injured in overnight Whitby stabbing; man facing charges “Staff can retain their veto power over schedules and hours of work as long as they remain in their current position,” Gaskell added. Additionally, under this new agreement changes would affect new hires or when individuals switch roles – something concerning for French. “Should they take a promotion or transfer, they may be subject to these short-term shift changes and hour changes that are completely outside the individual employee’s control,” French expressed. Story continues below p Several services are affected by this strike including recreational services, bylaw enforcement, animal control, sanitation, and operations. Town officials mention they’re focusing on essential services during this strike period while all facilities have closed along with face-to-face customer service except for central locations at Rossland Library. Two temporary waste drop-off sites will open soon at Iroquois Park Sports Centre and Mc Kinney Centre starting tomorrow morning.
However residents have been leaving trash in parking lots which town officials request should stop. Recycling will still be picked up by Durham Region staff. Read more : Cleanup , revitalization coming to Whitby , Ont. waterfront Officials state that scheduling concessions aim at providing greater flexibility in staffing based on community needs while reiterating willingness to continue negotiations with union representatives. For workers however , these terms mark where discussions stand still indicating both sides remain quite far apart. © ; 2023 , division Corus Entertainment Inc.
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