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.
The incident happened around 10 am this morning, as Chysyk and several fellow workers picketed the entrance to the club after being locked out by Quilchena management yesterday.
CUPE National Servicing Representative Sung Wong saw the whole thing. “The car stopped at the gate and I tried to talk to the general manager through the window,” says Wong. “Mike was in front of the gate and the driver waved at him to get out of the way. Mike was trying to get clear when the car drove into his leg, ran over his foot and kept going.”
Chysyk says he was going to wear running shoes, but changed his mind at the last minute because of the weather. He was the only one on the picket line with safety boots, but his co-workers say that may well change after what happened today.
Richmond RCMP were called to the scene and Chysyk was taken for a medical checkup.
The lockout affects 19 CUPE Local 4964 members who look after the grounds at the club. Chysyk is a seasonal worker who has worked at the club for the past six years. Wong says the lockout came as a total surprise to the workers, some of whom have been with the club for more than 20 years. “We were in mediated talks and we fully expected to reach a reasonable and fair collective agreement,” says Wong, “but management is obviously trying to run roughshod over us – in more ways than one.”
For more information, please contact:
Sung Wong
CUPE National Representative
604.318.3818
Murray Bush
CUPE National Communications Representative
778.554.2234