The Nipissing and Parry Sound Children’s Aid Society says in a news release, it welcomes a provincially-appointed conciliator’s proposal to coordinate negotiations with CUPE Local 2049 and the CAS regarding the current contract dispute.
“We are ready to get back to the table,” says Gisèle Hébert, Executive Director. “We have been consistently willing to resume negotiations with the union to resolve all outstanding issues, including our critical issue surrounding the sick leave benefit. We value our staff and are committed to reaching a negotiated agreement that is fair to them and recognizes the reality of limited funding.”
Hebert say the Society has "always been and continues to be ready to resume negotiations".
Read the position of the Nipissing and Parry Sound Children’s Aid Society here.
That's good news for Debbie Hill, the President of CUPE 2049.
"We're pleasantly surprised," she told BayToday from her post on the picket line.
"It certainly was a surprise to us to hear the employer say they've always been wanting to bargain and be at the table considering they locked us out on the 23rd, in fact locked us out hours before the actual deadline," said Hill. "But if they're prepared to be at the table and do some real negotiating we're happy to be there and looking forward to that.
"We've reached out to the Ministry of Labour to let them know that absolutely we are open to it so we're hoping to hear back with some dates."
