Brief Strike By Cemetery Workers Ends With New Deal
Posted July 28, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was the first such strike in 182 years. And now, less than a week after it began, it’s over. A walkout by workers at the giant Mount Pleasant group of cemeteries that began on Thursday ended Sunday night, after the union accepted a new deal.
Under the agreement, about 230 members of the Canadian Service Workers Union will receive raises of 2.6, 2.8 and 3 per cent over a three year deal.
The strike raised concerns about the burials of loved ones and what might happen to grieving relatives as they left and entered the various grounds, only to encounter pickets. The union was careful not to upset anyone and kept a respectful distance while letting their presence be felt. And management filled in on some of the more unpleasant jobs.
But no one wanted this one to go on for long and it didn’t.
This work stoppage wasn’t just about money. It also centered on the use of pesticides, which the workers worry is hurting their health. What happened to that concern? All the union is saying is that the agreement includes measure to deal with the contentious issue.
