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Vancouvers 1,100 inside civic employees are fighting to protect a 20 year plan which provides them with a flexible work week.

The employees, members of CUPE Local 15, held a one day walk-out on Thursday, July 9, to protest a city council decision to end the 20 year policy which allows employees to work four-day weeks.

The work schedules, which compresses weekly working hours into four days instead of five, benefits the city by having employees work longer than usual hours without having overtime pay, reduces stress and time taken off for appointments, and helps with environmental problems.

“The walkout was an act of frustration and anger,” said Rick Gates, president Local 15. “It was to let council and senior management know that people really have had it.”

Gates added that the union will develop a longer-term strategy to fight the return of a five-day week.

The new five-day work week is scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 1999.