NIAGARA FALLS, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2002--The labour dispute at Canadian Niagara Hotels (CNH) has heightened.
The Union announced a strategy of rotating strikes when the threatened lock-out by the employer failed to materialize. There will be little warning. We will decide the night before, said Paul Clifford, the Chief Negotiator for the Union. The parties entered a legal strike/lock-out position at 12:01 Monday morning December 2, 2002.
Our Union has bargained countless collective agreements in the hospitality industry across Canada and the United States this year. Nowhere have we seen concessions and attempts to gut the collective agreement such as CNH has demanded. Our 600 members have been committed throughout the process over the last several months to achieving their goals - fair and equitable wage increases, decent benefit improvements, retirement allowance for the first time, job security and improved working conditions, states Paul Clifford.
This employer has continuously underestimated the resolve of our members. Then, it seemed this past Sunday they had second thoughts - and backed off of their threat to lock-out. There is no question that a full-blown labour dispute would cause a serious economic hardship on this employer. There has never been a strike or lock-out in Niagara Falls tourism industry, to date - and there doesn't need to be. There is plenty for everyone - workers and employers alike.
The Union's rotating strike strategy is designed to put maximum pressure on the parties to get back to the bargaining table before a full-scale labour dispute begins. Clifford stated, we are prepared to negotiate anytime and anyplace in order to get a fair collective agreement. There have been no negotiations since November 8, when the employer tabled its final offer and walked away.
On November 20, Union members decisively voted to reject the employer's offer. No further negotiations are scheduled.
This is a crucial time of the year for Niagara's tourist industry. We have been patient, however the time is now for us, said Clifford, President of the 8,500 members Union of Southern Ontario hotel and restaurant workers.
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