Striking Reliance workers seek "fair agreement"

TORONTO, May 7, 2012 /CNW/ - The union representing about 300 striking workers at Reliance Home Comfort Limited says the union would like to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair agreement.

"The employees have helped to build this company up to highly-regarded, profitable enterprise it is today. They are seeking an agreement that compensates them fairly, and does not discriminate against new hires and installers," says Dave Moffat, Ontario Administrative Vice-President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

"The workers want to get back to serving their customers, but the company's insistence on pension, benefits and overtime clawbacks is prolonging the strike," says Moffat. "We simply want a fair collective agreement and are prepared to go back to the table at any time."

The 295 clerical and operational employees, members of CEP Local 1999, install and repair heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment for homeowners throughout Ontario. They work out of offices in Windsor, Sarnia, London, Brantford, Cambridge Burlington, Kingston and Thunder Bay, Ontario.

CEP is the largest union in several key sectors of the Canadian economy, including the energy, oil and gas, telecommunications, forestry and media sectors.

Dave Moffat [phone]