Region accused of ‘union busting’

Email to staff from chief administrator discusses crossing picket line in event of strike

WATERLOO REGION — Just days before a potential strike, the Region of Waterloo’s top bureaucrat is encouraging workers to cross the picket line, a move the union says amounts to “union busting.” Bruce Lauckner, chief administrator for the region, sent an email to employees Tuesday saying they could cross the picket line, should the 1,200 unionized employees strike.

“We understand the potential impacts of a labour disruption on you and your family. Should an agreement not be reached with CUPE Local 1883, the Region of Waterloo will not prohibit staff from crossing the picket line to work,” the email says. “Staff will receive information on how to inform your supervisor of your intent to come to work, during a strike, later today or in the coming days.”

Local 1883 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents more than 900 full-time office, clerical and

technical employees at the region, working in areas such as social services, libraries and bylaw enforcement. About 300 full- and part-time paramedics and support staff for ambulance services, represented by CUPE Local 5191, are also set to strike.

“This is union busting at its finest and puts our members in a very difficult situation,” said Noelle Fletcher, president of Local 1883, of Lauckner’s statement.

“Employees are very upset,” she said, adding it can cause a lot of animosity between members who strike and members who cross the picket line. “It causes a very toxic work environment.”

The region did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. The invitation to cross picket lines was also in a news release issued Tuesday morning, in which the region said “all staff at the Region of Waterloo provide critical work to the 630,000 residents of the region on a daily basis. This work is valued and appreciated.”

Fletcher said it’s ironic that region is encouraging workthe ers to cross picket lines, a move she says will cause “enormous stress and mental duress on their ‘valued’ employees,” just as the unionized workers are demanding more mental health benefits and initiatives.

Both unions are in a legal strike position on Saturday. Being in a legal strike position doesn’t mean a strike is inevitable — both sides can continue trying to reach a deal, before and after the legal strike date. Neither local has ever been on strike, their presidents say.

Fletcher said that members of her local are concerned about job security, lack of investment in mental health and layoffs as the region continues to cut services. Eighty child care workers are losing their jobs in August and September when the region closes the five child-care centres it directly operates.

The paramedics’ union has said 20 paramedics have left, and workers’ compensation claims are up, as paramedics face increased stress and higher workloads from the pandemic and the opioid crisis.

Talks are ongoing, with negotiations planned on Friday with Local 1883, as well as two sessions this week with the paramedics’ union.

The region says it “remains committed to reaching an agreement with both unions.” CUPE says its members “want to avoid labour disruption but they have a strong strike mandate if the Region of Waterloo continues to neglect the wellbeing of its workforce, and by extension, the services relied upon by the residents.”

As the strike deadline looms, the region says it has contingency plans to ensure essential services continue.

Provincial law requires ambulance services to have an agreement, called an Essential Ambulance Services Agreement (EASA), in place before any strike, spelling out which services would be maintained and the number of ambulance workers that would need to keep working during a strike.

“The current EASA would provide limited emergency coverage in the event of a strike/ lockout,” said CUPE spokesperson Zaid Noorsumar. “The current EASA agreement between the region and CUPE Local 5191 essentially reduces services to approximately 50 per cent.”

The region said Tuesday that “all regional services that can safely operate to serve local residents will continue in the event of a labour disruption and regional buildings will remain open to the public.”

If a strike does happen, the five regional child-care centres would have to close for the duration of the work stoppage, the region said. “We understand how challenging this potential labour disruption could be for families,” the region said in a release. “Centre closures would only occur in the event we are not able to negotiate a new collective agreement.”