CUPE 458 members who work in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. are set to begin full scale job action this Monday, after issuing a 72‑hour strike notice earlier today.
“Following our members’ rejection of the last offer vote, we let the Village know that we are ready to resume negotiations whenever they are,” says CUPE 458 acting president Darlene Worthylake. “Unfortunately, the Village has refused to come back to the bargaining table and has left us no other choice but to begin strike action.”
The main outstanding issue left to be addressed is weekend scheduling.
“The Village wants to end the current practice of weekend scheduling and introduce a new, significantly different practice that would allow them to schedule employees any day of the week at any time,” says Worthylake. “We are prepared to look at how weekend scheduling works and find a fair solution, but we can’t do that unless both parties come back to the table ready to have meaningful discussions.”
Worthylake adds that the union has also suggested having a third-party mediator come in and assist with negotiations, but that the Village has also refused to take part in that process.
CUPE 458 represents 400 municipal members who work throughout the Fraser Valley. Seventeen members work in Harrison Hot Springs and provide a wide range of services including water and wastewater, beach and park maintenance, public works and administrative services at the Village Hall.