Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016.  Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin. Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016. Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin.
Sarnia

Workers Rally For New Contracts

Members of the Canadian Immigration Union and Public Service Alliance Canada are pushing for the government and Federal Bridge Corporation to come back to the bargaining table.

The groups staged a rally in front of the Blue Water Bridge Corporate Centre Wednesday.

National Youth Representative for the Customs and Immigration Union, Lauren Baert says members are seeking fair wages and benefits, including sick leave, labour peace, and the restoration of collective bargaining rights.

"The main thing that we are looking for, is for the Liberals to come back to the table with the same agenda they campaigned for during the election," says Baert.

"The Liberals came back to the table after the election with the same Conservative agenda, as far as the the .5% wage raise, as well as scrapping our sick leave program and instituting a short term disability program that would exist outside of the contract."

Baert says as of June 11, about 200 members of the Customs and Immigration Union will have had an expired contract for two years.

PSAC local 501 represents 65 members who provide maintenance, janitorial, toll collection and currency exchange services for the corporation.

If not ratified by November, their contract will be two years expired as well.

Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016.  Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin. Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016. Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin.

Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016.  Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin. Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016. Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin.

Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016.  Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin. Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016. Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin.

Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016.  Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin. Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016. Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin.

Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016.  Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin. Rally at Blue Water Bridge June 8, 2016. Blackburn News.com photo by Melanie Irwin.

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