A spokesperson with CUPE has taken exception to statements made last week by management at the Children's Aid Society.
See: Injunction granted against locked-out Children's Aid workers
Bev Patchell, who is the social services coordinator with CUPE, disputes statements made by Executive Director Gisele Hebert.
"It has come to our attention that, since March 23, the executive director of Nipissing and Parry Sound CAS has made claims in the media suggesting that the injunction granted last week was issued in response to evidence of serious incidents on the picket lines staffed by workers locked out of the society’s premises.
"In fact, Justice Rivard’s order was made based on a negotiated protocol agreed by both the society and the union and not based on any findings of fact. To imply otherwise is both irresponsible and potentially damaging to the reputation of workers who were locked out their jobs at Nipissing and Parry Sound CAS on December 23."
Patchell says the workers will continue to conduct themselves "appropriately and responsibly" on the picket line.
She also expresses concern that once the labour dispute is over workers will return to their jobs with "stains to their reputations as professionals and as caring providers of child protection services in northern communities".
But Hebert says the Injunction ordered on March 23rd was something that could have easily been avoided.
"The Employer requested from CUPE that a Strike Protocol be established, meeting the needs of both parties prior to Dec. 23rd and again some weeks after the labour disruption began due to ongoing concerns from some picketers regarding negative impacts on children and families accessing services from the Society. Requests were denied by CUPE to engage in the development of a Picket line Protocol on all occasions," Hebert told BayToday.
"Due to ongoing concerns regarding the impact on children and families, an already vulnerable population, the Society took the necessary step of filing for an Injunction, an extreme measure that we wanted and made several attempts to avoid. It is important to note that in order to request an Injunction, one must have extensive evidence to support it. To be clear, Judges issue Injunctions and Unions accept them where the judge feels the conduct is unlawful and unreasonable."
Hebert also says that management, in order to protect the staff, redacted the public order that was posted on the CAS website to maintain the confidentiality of the specific people named in the application.
But Debbie Hill, President, CUPE 2049 says the workers were "hurt and angry" by the statements.
"There certainly was a suggestion from our perspective that our employer was saying that this order had to be made because of unruly behaviour when that just isn't the case, particularly working in the field that we do where it's critical we establish trusting relationships with clients."
Some encouraging news to report however, Hill says yesterday CUPE got word from the mediator that talks will resume Thursday between the two sides.
Hill says the Union has asked that a senior mediator be assigned along with the current mediator see if that would help, and that will be the case.
