Civic employees at the Port Coquitlam works yard and all recreation facilities walked off the job March 30 in support of laid-off fellow workers and in protest of the employer’s refusal to follow bumping provisions in the collective agreement.
According to Mark Hancock, president of CUPE 498, at least two laid-off senior employees have been turned down for their choices of new positions despite contract language favouring their requests.
After warning City council in writing of impending legal action, members of the local walked off the job on Tuesday.
Says Hancock, “As usual, this administrator chooses litigation rather than administration. This is a prime example of what the union faces on a regular basis. To even suggest that this administrator is practicing labour relations is a travesty.”