Cupe strike looms in Tecumseh
The Town of Tecumseh is facing a potential strike Monday by CUPE members over largely the same issue that sent Windsor workers to the picket lines for three months last summer.
“Unless there’s any call from town council we’ll be on active picket duty come Monday morning,” said Laura Moore, CUPE national representative.
“It is a strong possibility.”
The town’s 41 inside and outside workers are represented by CUPE Local 702.
The town has already contracted out garbage collection.
Services that would be affected include parks and recreation maintenance, permit issuing, public works and water quality testing.
The last contract, a four-year deal with three per cent increases annually, expired on Dec. 31.
Talks broke down Tuesday over the issue of post-retirement benefits, and an attempt by the town to move an employee out of the bargaining unit and into management.
The town is also seeking a wage freeze.
Moore said the union reluctantly agreed to eliminate post-retirement benefits for future hires but wanted the benefits grandfathered for existing employees for good, as happened in Windsor.
