VICTORIA Capital Regional District workers voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike last night, while the CRD bargaining agent continued to stall on a response to CUPEs monetary demands.
How can we ever conclude negotiations when the employer refuses to table its wage package? asked Mark Robinson, president of CUPE Local 1978.
The union tabled its monetary proposal on May 11 and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA), which represents the CRD, has refused to table a counter-proposal or provide a date when it plans to do so.
This is an unprecedented move by the CRD, Robinson added. The 850 CRD employees deserve better treatment than this.
CRD employees ensure the delivery and safety of the region’s drinking water, maintain sewer systems, do regional planning, building inspection and bylaw enforcement.
They also work at the Juan de Fuca, Sooke and Saltspring Parks and Recreation Centres and the Panorama Recreation Centre. They provide finance, engineering, information technology and other services.
They work in recycling administration and operation of the Hartland landfill, animal control, regional parks development and maintenance and naturalist programs. They also administer and maintain 41 rental housing projects with 1190 suites.
The strike mandate sends a strong message that our members are very unhappy about the way in which they are being treated in these negotiations by their employer, said Robinson.
Their collective agreement expired Dec. 31, 2000. No bargaining meetings are scheduled.
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Contact: Jim Lamb, CUPE National Representative, (250) 384-8048.
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G/Comm/PR/2001 pr rwv Capital Regional District workers vote 92% to strike