Thousands of City of Hamilton workers get ready to walk off the job 

The city of Hamilton is facing a major strike as thousands of workers are threatening to walk off the job to back up their demands for pay increases that keep up with inflation.

“August 21 would be our strike deadline.” The President of the city’s CUPE Local says.

CUPE President says its members are angry. “We feel undervalued. Our workers just brought the community through Covid and to give management up to a 15 per cent increase and have us down under the municipal average is pretty disheartening. Our members are disappointed and they’re angry.”

There is no indication of what has been offered, but the city of Hamilton sent a statement on Sunday saying it, “remains committed to working together” with CUPE “to reach a negotiated collective agreement and to avoid a labour disruption.”

CUPE says it’s planning a rally at Hamilton City Hall on August 16th with the support of other unions and labour groups. They say it could be one of the biggest union rallies in the city’s history.