SUDBURY – Staff at the Sudbury Counselling Centre, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2020, have ended 10 weeks on the picket line with the ratification of a new three-year collective agreement – just in time for the holidays.
“These 12 women can go back to work in January with their heads held high,” said Lynne Descary, USW Staff Representative. “They stood strong on the picket line for 10 weeks, thanks to the support of the community, their clients, the Ontario Federation of Labour and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas.”
The new three-year deal includes 2% annual wage increases. More importantly, the union-side bargaining team was able to beat back all of the employer’s proposed concessionary changes to the contract language that the members went on strike to fight against.
“The employer could see they were standing strong and not backing down,” said Descary. “They were having fun on the picket line – singing Christmas carols as the weather got colder.”
“Local 2020 sure knows how to brighten our world! Their incredible solidarity throughout this struggle has paid off with a strong collective agreement to be proud of. This is great news just in time for the holidays,” said Marty Warren, USW Ontario Director.
USW Local 2020 and the Sudbury Counselling Centre reached a tentative agreement on Dec. 20 after a marathon 13-hours of bargaining. Members of Local 2020 ratified the agreement by a majority vote on Dec. 21, ending the 10-week strike.
Staff at the Sudbury Counselling Centre will return to work in January, proud to be helping the people of Sudbury, as they have done since 1971, including providing programs for the francophone community that are not available anywhere else in the community.
Counselling staff offer counselling and psychotherapy, deliver Employee Assistance Programs, partner assault response for women and men, counselling for women experiencing sexual and domestic violence, assistance for male survivors of sexual violence, mental health counselling and more.
Lynne Descary, USW Staff Representative, 705-675-2461 x 224, ldescary@usw.ca
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-434-2221, bgallagher@usw.ca
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