CASTLEGAR - City workers, members of CUPE Local 2262, are holding a noon hour rally today outside city hall.  The event is a show of support from other unions and the community for the workers who have been on the picket line for more than a month.

CUPE Local 2262 president Leford Lafayette says it’s difficult to convey what the support of fellow unions like the Steelworkers and community members means to those 34 civic workers on strike.

CASTLEGAR – With the ongoing labour dispute and the City’s refusal to bargain, CUPE city workers will be maintaining picket lines during Winterfest, including the planned tree lighting on December 5.

CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette said that members regret that they find themselves in a situation where they are unable to support an event that they and their families enjoy every year.

CASTLEGAR – CUPE 2262 members who work for the City of Castlegar were joined by friends and supporters as they began picketing on Saturday morning.

CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette said that solidarity on the line is strong and members are solidly behind the need to take full-scale strike action in order to pressure the City to get back to the bargaining table and find a fair deal.

CASTLEGAR – CUPE 2262 members who work for the City of Castlegar have issued 72-hour strike notice of a full withdrawal of service.

CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette said that following Monday night’s presentation to city council, it is clear that elected officials are not focused on getting back to the bargaining table and reaching a fair deal with city workers. 

CASTLEGAR – City council candidates heard loud and clear about the bargaining breakdown between the City of Castlegar and its CUPE workers at the Castlegar & District Chamber All-Candidates Forum.

With a number of questions coming to candidates, there was clear support for getting back to the bargaining table and having the mayor and council take some leadership in reaching a fair deal with city workers. 

KELOWNA - CUPE 338 members who work for the City of Kelowna have ratified a new five-year agreement.

The previous agreement expired in December 2013 and bargaining began April 1, 2014. Following a lengthy and difficult round of bargaining that included a strong strike vote and mediation, Kelowna city workers are pleased to have stability for five years.

CUPE 338 President Lee Mossman said that the union pushed back on concessions and worked hard to achieve a solid contract.

CASTLEGAR – Workers at the City of Castlegar are seeking further talks with the employer in order to reach a new collective agreement and avoid full strike action.

Following mediation in September, members of CUPE 2262 met last night to review the mediator’s recommendations. After thorough review and discussion of the mediator’s report, the recommendations were resoundingly rejected by city workers.

WHISTLER - Last night at the annual convention of the Union of BC Municipalities, CUPE BC hosted a reception for mayors and councillors from all over the province. Secretary-Treasurer Paul Faoro welcomed attendees and delivered the following remarks.

Thanks for the introduction, Trevor.

I’m not going to take very much of your time tonight. I don’t think anyone really wants to hear one more speech after several days of listening to nothing but.

So I’ll keep this very short.

PARKSVILLE – CUPE Local 401 and the City of Parksville have reached a new tentative collective agreement. The four-year contract includes wage increases totaling eight per cent over four years beginning Jan. 1, 2014 and running until Dec. 31, 2017.  The wages will be implemented by a 1-per-cent hike every January and July 1st.

The new agreement includes language improvements to the dental plan as well as an increased ‘dirty work’ bonus and improvements to the banked sick time language to include caring for a child as well as a spouse.

VICTORIA - CUPE civic workers in Greater Victoria have ratified new three-year deals.  The contracts run until Dec. 31, 2016 an includes wage increases of  1.75 per cent for the first year, one per cent in January 2015 and one per cent in July 2015, and two per cent in 2016. The final ratification votes were completed this week.