Town of Paradise workers vote in favour of strike
Workers with the Town of Paradise have given their union a strike mandate in a vote Sunday evening.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) represents 126 town employees, whose jobs include garbage collection, snow removal, recreation services and clerical duties.
The union said those workers are now in a legal strike position.
"Bargaining was referred to conciliation services in an effort to facilitate discussions last month. Unfortunately, conciliation efforts failed," said NAPE president Jerry Earle in a news release issued Monday morning.
"While workers have voted in favour of a strike mandate, we will be asking the employer to meet with a conciliator in an attempt to avoid any work stoppage."
Town says it made 'fair and equitable offer'
Town officials are "hopeful a negotiated settlement can be reached," according to a statement Monday morning.
"The Town has conducted good faith negotiations and made what it believes is a fair and equitable offer," the news release said.
Conciliation has been agreed to, the town said, and all municipal operations and programs will continue.
Both sides said no further comment will be made at this time out of respect for the collective bargaining process.
