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.

VICTORIA—The Western Municipal and Skilled Trades conference was held this past week in Victoria, kicked off by an opening night keynote address from noted author Gord Hume and a reception hosted by CUPE BC.

CUPE BC President Mark Hancock opened the conference with a welcome to the 300 delegates, many of whom traveled from other provinces to attend. Hancock said that while the conference is specific to municipal and skilled trades workers, all union members need to pay attention to the growing attacks on the labour movement.

PORT MOODY–Local youth gathered in Port Moody last Friday (May 24) to celebrate Public Works Day, a day dedicated to showcasing how public services help to enhance communities and make them successful. 

CUPE 825 members (Port Moody Civic Workers) were on hand to talk about the services they provide which include solid waste and recycling, water and sewer services, roads services as well as horticultural and parks and were even able to demonstrate how they perform some of these services.

VANCOUVER—The offices of CUPE 1004, which represents 3,500 City of Vancouver workers, was gutted this afternoon by fire. The staff at the Maritime Labour Centre office were not injured.  Vancouver Police say they have an unidentified man (not affiliated to CUPE 1004) in custody who was arrested at the scene.  

CUPE 3966 president Barbara Wilson and locked out 4964 vice-president Mike Pavlicevic at the gates to the Quilchena Golf Course

RICHMOND – CUPE 4964 workers at the Quilchena Golf Course marked their 50th day of being locked out with a visit from Barbara Wilson, president of CUPE 3966.  Wilson was on hand first thing this morning to present the local with a donation cheque of $500.

RICHMOND—CUPE Local 718 and the City of Richmond have reached a new tentative agreement.

“We are pleased to have concluded negotiations and to have reached a fair and reasonable deal for our members,” said CUPE 718 president Robert Gilchrist. “However, this was a particularly difficult round of negotiations, one which has unfortunately strained the relationship between the two parties. This contract is the best we could achieve at this time and moving forward it will provide some security and protections for our members.”

RICHMOND—CUPE National President, Paul Moist, and CUPE BC Secretary-Treasurer, Mark Hancock joined locked-out members on the picket line at Quilchena Golf & Country Club yesterday (Feb.28).

The 19 CUPE Local 4964 members have been locked-out for more than three weeks now and despite numerous invitations by the union to return to the bargaining table management refuses to end the lockout.

Locked out CUPE worker hit by manager’s car

RICHMOND – Locked out CUPE 4964 greenskeeper Mike Chysyk decided at the last minute to change into his steel-toed safety boots to join his co-workers on the picket line today. It’s a good thing he did. Witnesses at the front gate of the Quilchena Golf and Country Club in Richmond say Chysyk’s foot was run over as he tried to get out of the way of the club general manager’s car.  

PORT HARDY— CUPE 2045 members voted overwhelmingly in favour of merging with CUPE 401 last week.

The merger would see more than 250 CUPE 2045 members become three units of CUPE 401. CUPE 401 is a multi-sector local which currently represents almost 1,800 members across Vancouver Island.

VANCOUVER—CUPE 1004 members have ratified a new collective agreement in Vancouver.

Vancouver outside workers and the City of Vancouver have a new four-year deal which is retroactive to January 1, 2012 and expires December 31, 2015.

The new agreement includes modest wage increases of 1.25 percent, 1.75 percent, 1.75 percent and 2 percent in each year of the agreement. The agreement also includes significant improvements to job promotions and job security as well as new processes for service improvements.