News Release

HRM, CUPE Local 108 Agree to Cooling-Off Period

(Friday, July 15/05)-- Halifax Regional Municipality and Local 108 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have agreed to a two-month cooling-off period in their current labour dispute, the parties jointly announced today.

As a result, the parties have committed to no strike or lock-out up until September 15, 2005.
There will also be a media black-out during the cooling off period.

Beginning next week, both parties will try to meet weekly in an effort to establish a basis for a settlement. Discussion around the municipality’s snow and ice control program will include the issues of wages, employee classifications and benefits. HRM’s 500 outside workers are represented by CUPE Local 108.

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Matt McPherson
HRM Chief Negotiator
479-1488

John McCracken
Canadian Union of Public Employees
222-8457