CUPE ‘anticipates’ more talks with City

Hundreds of CUPE workers rally outside Cornwall city hall on Pitt Street on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Around 550 full-time workers from five CUPE locals are on the picket line. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

CORNWALL – A meeting between the City of Cornwall and the Canadian Union of Public Employees doesn’t appear to have produced any results toward a new collective agreement.

Both sides met at 9 a.m. Thursday – a day after a massive CUPE demonstration outside city hall and the same day 150 full-time inside workers hit the picket line – joining outside workers and employees with the Cornwall Public Library and Cornwall-SDG Paramedic Services.

Following that Thursday meeting, about ten hours later (7 p.m.), the union issued a two-line statement to reporters.

“The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) held talks today with the City in Cornwall. We anticipate further talks will be held in the days to come. CUPE will make no further statements about today’s talks at this time. Four CUPE locals representing roughly 400 city workers are on strike.”

An email to the City of Cornwall Public Information Coordinator Emma Meldrum around 2:30 p.m. Thursday requesting comment on the status of talks was referred to CAO Maureen Adams. There has been no response as of Friday afternoon.

The five CUPE locals have been without a contract since 2016 and in some cases 2015.