CAS lifts lockout with conditions

The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound (CAS) has announced that it is lifting the lock-out of CUPE Local 2049 members, effective Monday morning.

A release says employees who consent to the terms and conditions outlined on the CAS website will be welcomed back to work.

Board Chair, John Stopper, believes that “the terms and conditions for the return to work are fair and balanced”. The Society’s Executive Director, Gisèle Hébert, concurs: “we value our staff and we want to see them back at work doing what they do well”. 

Both the Chair and Executive Director hope that notwithstanding the return to work, bargaining towards a collective agreement can resume.

Meantime,  the union says the Ministry needs to take charge of the CAS immediately.

They say the employer’s negotiators have reneged on their pledge to take outstanding contract issues to binding arbitration and are dodging negotiations.

“Three weeks ago we called on the Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Right Hon. Michael Coteau, to take over the administration of Nipissing and Parry Sound CAS,” said Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario.

“With this latest ruse by the society’s directors, I have to ask: What is Minister Coteau waiting for?” he asks.

The lockout began December 23rd.