‘I feel as though I'm abandoning her’: Frustrated families speak out about cemetery strike
CTV
Frustration is mounting among families who cannot visit their loved ones' graves at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery due to a strike, which has reached the three-month mark.
Frustration is mounting among families who cannot visit their loved ones' graves at Montreal's Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery due to a strike, which has reached the three-month mark.
Among those hurting are two mothers who still have decorations from Christmas on their children's graves.
"We haven't been able to come, and I feel as though I'm abandoning her," Antoinette Romano said from outside the cemetery on Saturday.
Nancy Babalis says ever since the strike began, she drives by the cemetery instead.
"We'll scream out 'hi Peter' just so we can feel like we came and say this is the closest we can get to you," she said.
The cemetery's office workers union (SEECNDDN-CSN) has been on strike since Sept. 20.
In November, more unionized cemetery workers (STTCNDDN–CSN) voted in favour of a general unlimited strike, citing degenerating working conditions.