Strike headquarters established as CUPE 500 members threaten strike

CUPE Local 500, the union representing around 4,900 City of Winnipeg workers, has now established a strike headquarters, with the possibility of its members going on strike.

The city and the union began negotiations last spring after the contract expired in February of that year. In July, 93 per cent of its members voted in favour of a strike mandate.

The union and the city are scheduled to meet with a conciliator on Thursday.

Union President Gord Delbridge says he is cautiously optimistic.

“We’re willing to work with them, we’re willing to meet in the middle somewhere, we are willing to take a reduction in our standard of living, but we think it should be a shared responsibility.

“Our members would just like to get a wage increase that is fair, that they deserve. These are the members that got us through the pandemic when we were showing up for work every day. Many of our members were laid off and had to struggle through, so we want to be treated with respect and continue to deliver services to the citizens of Winnipeg.

“A lot of our members are leaving to work at Boston Pizza because they pay more, and they get tips.”

If CUPE 500 members go on strike, it would be the first for this group of workers since 1919.