Car rally supporting ROW paramedics, public sector workers held in Waterloo Region
A car rally was held on Monday to support contract negotiations for paramedics, social assistance and other public workers in Waterloo Region.
The rally was scheduled to start 12 p.m. outside the Region of Waterloo headquarters at 150 Frederick St. in Kitchener.
Public health staff involved in the region's vaccine rollout are also included in this group of workers.
"We also have public health, so not the nurses, but all the administrative support, which many, many of these people are working in the clinics," said Noelle Fletcher, president of CUPE Local 1883. "We are really concerned about that. We do not want clinics to be affected, but this is where we are at."
Nearly 1,200 unionized workers with CUPE Local 5191 and CUPE Local 1883 are looking for a new deal with region.
In a news release, the union says heavy workloads, work-life balance, job security and mental health are key concerns in contract talks.
In a news release Tuesday, regional officials said negotiations will continue this week. They added they understand the potential impacts of a labour disruption if an agreement isn't reached and said they won't prohibit staff from crossing the picket line to work.
According to the region, there are contingency plans in place to ensure essential services continue to operate.
If a strike does occur, they said child-care services run by the region would need to shut down.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.