KELOWNA – CUPE local 338 members who work at the Kelowna RCMP Detachment have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action at a vote held last week after little progress was made during initial bargaining sessions. 

Thirteen of the 17 jail guards were in attendance and 100 percent voted in favour of authorizing the union to take strike action if no agreement can be reached with the Commissionaires. This round of negotiations is the first after jail guards voted to join CUPE local 338 this past February.

“The work our members do is vital to our community’s safety, and is stressful and at times dangerous work,” says CUPE 338 President Lee Mossman. “Our goal for this round is to negotiate fair benefits so members can continually provide high quality service and keep our community safe and also to ensure that they are paid a comparable wage rate to other workers providing the same service in similar communities.

Mossman says at this time there isn’t a plan for immediate job action and that he is hopeful that mediation scheduled for early June will help to conclude negotiations.

CUPE local 338 represents 1,000 members who provide vital community services to Kelowna residents and businesses.  

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