City’s ‘final offer’ soundly rejected by frustrated employees

PRINCE GEORGE—Prince George’s two CUPE Locals have delivered a strong strike mandate—93 percent—putting the onus back on City management to return to the negotiating table.

The strike vote, taken Thursday - Friday last week, follows the rejection by CUPE members of the City’s so-called “final offer,” tabled on August 30.

VANCOUVER—Provincial-level bargaining for CUPE education members made progress this week. Presidents’ Council and the employer will continue to meet over the weekend in order to avert a strike. At this time members remain on strike alert.

“There has been give and take for the first time at the table,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council.

BURNABY—CUPE’s education workers will launch a radio and television advertising campaign on Monday focused on building support for the union members’ work to keep BC’s schools clean, safe, and inclusive.

“We’ve made every effort to bargain a fair and reasonable settlement with the employers, but their lack of preparation is threatening to disrupt classes this fall,” said Mark Hancock, CUPE-BC President.

NORTH VANCOUVER – This Saturday (August 17) CUPE members and community members are invited to join locked out CUPE employees at the North Shore Winter Club (NSWC) for a street party from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This will be a fun event for all ages and will feature a free BBQ and refreshments, music, and the CUPE community events trailer. 

CUPE 389 is encouraging everyone to come out and enjoy a fun Saturday while supporting our locked out CUPE brothers and sisters at the NSWC.

BURNABY—Despite assurances that the provincial government was prepared to bargain with CUPE education workers in August, negotiations have broken off indefinitely.

“They called us back to the table. We were ready, they were not. As a result, there is a danger that classes will be disrupted this fall,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council. “Our committee set aside nearly two weeks to bargain, and we came to the table with ideas for cost savings. The only thing missing was a committed bargaining agent on the employer’s side.”

NORTH VANCOUVER – CUPE 389 members at the North Shore Winter (NSWC) remain banned from working by management as the lockout at the club nears day 100. However, support continues to pour in from other CUPE members and locals, CUPE staff, other unions and the community.

Canadian Staff Union (CSU) members in Saskatchewan (CUPE Staff) recently made a generous $5,000 donation to the locked out members.

VANCOUVER—CUPE is eager to get back to the bargaining table to reach a fair and reasonable settlement. Tentative dates have been scheduled for the second week in August and CUPE representatives emphasize that a fully-funded wage increase is the solution to ending the bargaining impasse.

“CUPE education workers keep BC schools clean, safe, and inclusive,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council. “The government needs to get back to the bargaining table with funded offers in order to avert more job action in the fall.”

NORTH VANCOUVER – Day 75 of the North Shore Winter Club (NSWC) lockout took an unexpected turn when a CUPE member was hit by a car crossing the picket line at the club.

Witnesses say that the man was attempting to move out of the way for the car when he was struck. Shortly after the incident a manager at the club came out, and allegedly physically assaulted the CUPE member, then took his cell phone from him. According to other picketers the manager was upset that he was trying to take her picture.

NORTH VANCOUVER—CUPE National President Paul Moist and CUPE BC President Mark Hancock joined locked out CUPE 389 members on the picket line at the North Shore Winter Club (NSWC) Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday marked day 75 of the lockout, but both Moist and Hancock assured CUPE 389 members that CUPE National and CUPE BC would be there to support locked out members until the dispute is resolved and a fair and reasonable collective agreement is in place.

BURNABY—After the first week of summer vacation for students, education workers across the province are resolved to make sure BC schools are clean, safe, and inclusive.  The 27,000 CUPE education workers have voted to strike in almost all of the 57 K-12 Locals, in 53 school districts.

Going without a wage increase since 2009, CUPE education workers remain hopeful for funded settlements that would see similar agreements as were achieved for other public sector employees.