CASTLEGAR - The City of Castlegar has finally ratified a new collective agreement with its civic workers – members of CUPE Local 2262.  CUPE members found out through local media that the mayor and council had voted to ratify the deal this morning, nine days after the union voted overwhelmingly to accept the collective agreement.

BURNABY—CUPE members working for Southern Railway have rejected the employer’s final offer with a 91-percent “no” vote that took place at two locations today.

Of the 126 members eligible to vote, 106 voted against the package.

CUPE 2262 members took to the street this morning to thanks strike supporters.CASTLEGAR – Striking Castlegar civic workers have ratified a new collective agreement. The 35 members of CUPE Local 2262 voted overwhelmingly last night to accept terms hammered out during two days of mediated talks with the City on Monday and Tuesday.

CASTLEGAR – CUPE Local 2262 civic workers and the City of Castlegar have reached a tentative new collective agreement.

The deal was reached this afternoon following two days of mediated talks.  It must still be ratified by both sides. CUPE 2262 is holding a ratification meeting this evening.  

NANAIMO -  CUPE Local 401 and the City of Nanaimo have reached a new three-year collective agreement.  The deal covers about 600 CUPE city workers and includes wage increases of 2% (effective Jan.1, 2014) , 2% (effective Jan.1, 2015) and 1+1%  (effective Jan.1 and July 1, 2016). CUPE 401 members voted to ratify the deal yesterday. The workers were without a contract since December 2013.  

CASTLEGAR – The City of Castlegar has agreed to return to the bargaining table with CUPE Local 2262.  The city and union are scheduled to meet for mediated talks on Monday, December 22.

 The move follows more than five weeks of picket lines in the first civic strike in Castlegar’s history.  No bargaining has taken place since talks failed to find a resolution in September.  The 34 CUPE Local 2262 civic workers have been without a contract since February 2013.

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BURNABY - A new report looking at office and clerical work in B.C.’s public school system offers key insight into how this important segment of CUPE’s membership has fared in the wake of a full decade of government-induced budget austerity and service cuts.

CASTLEGAR - The message was loud and clear at Friday’s support rally for striking Castlegar workers – you are NOT alone.

The 34 members of CUPE 2262 have been on the picket lines for more than a month and legally on strike since August. The city so far refuses to return to the bargaining table.

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.

Registration is open for the CUPE National Human Rights Conference, themed “Equality empowers us all,” to be held at the Convention Centre in Winnipeg from February 5-8, 2015.

We are at a critical moment for equality and the labour movement. Though we’ve made important human rights gains over time, growing inequality, globalization, privatization and the rise of precarious work threaten the progress we’ve made. CUPE must be a leader in advancing equality. Our efforts benefit everyone.