FONTHILL –The Ontario Public Service Employees Union and Aramark Canada Ltd. restart contract talks Tuesday in an effort to settle the strike by cafeteria workers at Niagara College.
“We’re hopeful and optimistic that a deal can be reached,” said OPSEU staff representative Gary Adams.
Niagara College contracts with Aramark to provide food services at their Niagara-on-the Lake and Welland campuses.
The 27 full- and part-time employees, members of OPSEU Local 214, have been on strike since March 27.
“The support of the students and staff at the college has been phenomenal and we thank them for it,” said Adams. “It shows that the college community recognizes our members do good work and should be paid a fair wage for it.”
The average wage of the cafeteria workers is $8.34 an hour. They want $10 an hour to bring their wages more in line with food services staff at other colleges and universities who earn between $10 and $13 an hour.
The OPSEU members rejected an earlier offer by Aramark that would have paid them $9.17 an hour in the third year of a three-year contract.
The two sides will be negotiating Tuesday with the assistance of a mediator from the Ministry of Labour.
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For further information: Gary Adams (905) 379-3802
