Negotiations Alert: Meetings with CPC President Chopra and Labour Minister Raitt

Meetings with CPC President Chopra and Labour Minister Raitt

Today we had meetings with CPC President Chopra and Labour Minister Raitt. In the first meeting with CPC President Deepak Chopra and CPC Chief Negotiator Mark MacDonell, both parties reviewed their positions. CPC President Chopra discussed the financial situation of the Corporation much in line with a media statement CPC released immediately prior to the meeting.

We informed Mr. Chopra that the union remained strongly opposed to the short-term disability plan and to lower wages and benefits for new hires as proposed by management. We told CPC President Deepak Chopra that we had several very important demands concerning staffing and the work process of both internal and external workers.

 

Meeting With Raitt

We then met with Labour Minister Lisa Raitt. At this meeting we were joined by mediator Jacques Lessard and another government official. CPC President Deepak Chopra and CPC Chief Negotiator Mark MacDonell also both attended. At this meeting Ms. Raitt encouraged both parties to resume negotiations.

We reminded Ms Raitt that it is the responsibility of the Minister of Labour to honour and promote the legal rights of workers and unions, including the right to negotiate and to strike over unresolved issues if necessary. Ms. Raitt acknowledged the union’s rights and requested that the parties meet with her again in the near future to update her as to the progress of negotiations.

 

No Meetings Yet

As of 5:00 p.m. EDT, there are no meetings scheduled between the parties. To date CPC has not responded to any of the new positions advanced by the union in our final offer except to say no.