By Mark Squibb/August 12, 2022
City Hall is keeping an electronic eye on picketers as CUPE Local 2099 members continue to strike with no end in sight.
At this week’s public council meeting, the City was in receipt of two separate invoices from Provincial Investigative Services for video/security services, one for $24,880 and one for $19,029, for a total of $43,909.
“Notably there are two invoices from Provincial Investigative Services,” Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley pointed out to council during this week’s council meeting. “This is reflective of video surveillance costs from the current labor disruption. These services are instrumental in ensuring the safety of our workers crossing picket lines and performing the work of our city during this time.”
In other strike news, councillor Bill Antle noted that over 600 refunds have been issued because of the closure of facilities and cancellation of memberships and aquatics programs up to August 7 because of the strike, and that there are more to come.
“If you’ve registered or paid online, you should have received refunds automatically,” said Antle. “Anyone who registered or paid in person, would have been contacted regarding their refund. Please be patient as we’re working as fast as we can to get it all done.”
Additionally, the City continues to provide refunds weekly for cancelled facility bookings each week.
The strike, which was declared on Thursday, July 7, entered it’s fifth week on Thursday, August 12, with neither side budging from their respective positions.
