Chalk River Professional Employees Group (CRPEG)
A group of The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
CRPEG is holding an information picket on Tuesday morning March 1, 2022, at the outer gate on the Plant Road starting at 6 AM. Please be advised of possible traffic delays. A pamphlet (see below) will be distributed to employees.
CRPEG will be in a legal strike position on March 14 at 12.01 AM. Your CRPEG negotiations team has communicated its willingness to return to bargaining with the company and the help of the mediator. The Company has not reached out to resume negotiations.
On February 7, 2022, we entered into three days of conciliation with CNL.
We would like to thank the appointed conciliation officer for his help. We came to the table ready to negotiate with a strong mandate for job action, in hopes of pressuring the company to finally make a fair offer.
We did not reach a deal.
The company made a marginal increase to their offer, but nowhere near what our professional members deserve. We have communicated to the company that their offer is not acceptable. The conciliation period ends on February 20, and the bargaining team stands ready to discuss a fair and reasonable offer with the company when they provide one.
We recognize the uncertainty and frustration that negotiations bring. Now more than ever, we need to stand united and continue to fight for fair pay for our professional work.
Our team will be meeting in the coming days to discuss our next steps given our mandate for job action, and how we’ll continue to build pressure to get the deal that you deserve.
We’ll be in touch as soon as possible with an update and how you can get involved.
In solidarity,
Jonathan Fitzpatrick
On behalf of your CRPEG bargaining team
OVERWHELMING STRIKE SUPPORT
On January 26 & 27 CRPEG held special Zoom meetings to discuss negotiations of our collective agreement. All terms of CRPEG’s issues and CNL’s meager offer were shared with the members. The CRPEG negotiations team is now at a standstill with CNL and heading to conciliation on February 7, 8 and 9, 2022.
A strike vote was held by electronic ballot, and the vote was open from February 1 to February 3. Our members have cast the strongest ever majority vote in favour of taking workplace action, up to and including strike action, if a tentative agreement cannot be reached.
The last strike vote taken by the CRPEG membership was in December 2018. That positive strike vote and hard work done by your bargaining team with the support of the members resulted in achieving the last contract. With strong member support, a strong strike vote and the bargaining team’s strong resolve to succeed, there is a possibility of reaching a fair and competitive contract that recognizes the membership’s professional work.