BRAMPTON, ON. (June 25, 2012) – The Region of Peel advises that negotiations for a new collective agreement will continue on Tuesday, June 26 for more than 500 Human Services employees, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 966.

“We would like to see our employees back to work soon,” said Steve Davis, Acting Director, Human Resources, Region of Peel. “We resumed bargaining today in hopes of achieving a fair and equitable agreement for our Human Services staff. Our mandate is to bargain for a contract that offsets the value of wage increases with amendments to the collective agreement that reduces costs and/or introduces efficiencies in the administration of the agreement. We remain optimistic that we will come to a tentative agreement.”

Human Services employees have been on strike since May 3. On May 16, the Region and CUPE Local 966 came to a tentative agreement, which was not ratified by the Human Services membership.

Providing public service to all residents, especially those in need of social assistance and supports, remains a priority for the Region. Currently, there are no interruptions to Ontario Works payments or to child care and housing subsidies. For information and questions about the availability of services, please visit peelregion.ca or call 905-791-7800.

The Regional Municipality of Peel was incorporated in 1974 on the principle that certain community and infrastructure services are most cost-effectively administered over a larger geographic area. The Region of Peel serves more than 1.3 million people and approximately 88,000 businesses in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the town of Caledon. For more information on the Region of Peel, call 905-791-7800 or visit peelregion.ca.