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Edmonton’s Civic Service Union 52 served strike notice Monday morning after weekend negotiations with the City of Edmonton stalled, affecting everything from 911 operations and IT, to 311 services.
Picket lines will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, after the 72-hour notice period,
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“Where is the leadership in this city? It’s regrettable that it has come to this, but our members have been more than patient and fair, asking for what is reasonable after five years of stagnant wages,” said Lanny Chudyk, president of CSU 52.
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Last week, a strong majority (88 per cent) of the members voted to reject the City of Edmonton’s “best and final offer” after the city took the question straight to the members, in a legal effort to bypass union negotiations.
“This isn’t just about our members; it’s about the entire city. A strike will have ripple effects across Edmonton, impacting services that residents rely on daily, jeopardizing the safety of our citizens, and paralyzing industries. We do not take issuing this notice lightly,” Chudyk said.
Some 6,000 city workers haven’t seen a raise for six years.
On the city side, there’s a burgeoning budget and tax burden some have blamed on union wages.
More than 1,000 CSU 52 members work as 911 operators, 911 call evaluators, and police dispatchers. They’re not deemed essential by the labour board.
According to the union, wages for 911 operators in Edmonton are running 38 per cent less than comparable positions in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa.
Operators at the city’s call centre, 311, would be on strike, as would the city’s IT department, the community services department, financial and corporate services, business permitting, along with staff assigned to councillors’ offices and the mayor’s office.
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