An overwhelming majority of workers at the Town of The Pas voted 96% in favour of a 
strike mandate in a vote conducted on September 13th. The workers belong to Local 745 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and have been negotiating since March 2011.
On August 14th and 15th, the Parties met with a Conciliation Officer to work towards a fair deal. No agreement or tentative agreement was reached. The workers are opposed to concessions on sick leave, and seek fair wage increases as well as bringing some employee’s salaries up to market standards. Also in the proposal is a request for a “Remoteness Allowance” similar to that offered to employees in the area Health Authority, R.M. of Kelsey, the local college, and Manitoba Hydro.
“Municipal employees in The Pas are invested in the community” states Al Babey, President of CUPE Local 745, “we are looking for our employer to invest in us, and not demand concessions on our hard-earned sick leave”.
Members of CUPE Local 745 took the vote to show the employer they are serious about protecting their jobs, and urge the community to support them in providing a quality public service to the Town of The Pas.
A meeting with the Conciliation Officer is scheduled for October 9th.