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CUPE asking for mediator in PA inside workers strike

CUPE 882 workers in Prince Albert off the job since Monday.
Prince Albert City Council
It is day three of a strike impacting Prince Albert city inside workers

PRINCE ALBERT - The Canadian Union of Public Employees are calling for a mediator to intervene in the strike of inside workers at the City of Prince Albert.

In a news release Wednesday it was confirmed that CUPE 882, who represents the inside workers at the City of Prince Albert, have sent a letter to the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Don McMorris asking for him to appoint a special mediator to resolve the labour dispute between the union and the City.

“The union is of the belief that an impartial third party experienced in labour relations, negotiations, and mediation will be able to bring the parties to a resolve,” said Mira Lewis, CUPE National Representative, in a statement. “Keeping workers on the picket line and the community without the resources and programming that City of Prince Albert inside workers provide is unreasonable given that the parties to the dispute are not very far apart.”

At this point, the stumbling block seems to be pay, with the City offering an 11 per cent increase while the union has asked for 12. The union says the City rejected a new offer to settle and “they continue to maintain their refusal to return to the bargaining table unless the union accepts the offer which has twice been rejected.”

In their latest strike update on Monday, the City of Prince Albert says there remains no impact to service levels to-date. In a statement, the City says it continues to assess its operations and will provide ongoing updates on interruptions.

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