REVELSTOKE – CUPE 363 members working for the City of Revelstoke have voted to strike. With no significant progress being made in bargaining a fair collective agreement, members who voted gave an overwhelming majority in favour of taking job action.
CUPE 363 President Jesse Adam says workers in Revelstoke are facing an affordability crisis that is threatening their ability to work and live in their community. He says City management has a responsibility to address the issue fairly with modest wage increases.
“Our members have been more than patient with the Mayor and Council, and we have given them every opportunity to do the right thing,” says Adam. “CUPE 363 members are proud to serve Revelstoke, and to provide quality public services to our neighbours and community, but we are falling behind workers in other communities. We need, and deserve, to have an affordable life in the community we serve.”
The local’s last collective agreement expired over a year ago – December 31, 2018. Adam says CUPE 363 members have given management ample opportunity to come to the bargaining table prepared to reach an agreement.
“Considering the significant raises the Mayor and Council gave themselves and City management, the modest increases our members are asking for are clearly fair and reasonable,” adds Adam. “I hope this strike vote sends a clear message that CUPE 363 members are determined to get a fair deal, and that they strongly support their bargaining committee.”
CUPE 363 represents approximately 100 members who provide a wide variety of municipal services in Revelstoke including snow removal and road maintenance; parks and recreation; arena and aquatics centre; sewer and water; garbage collection; as well as administrative services like bylaws; building inspection; finance, engineering and planning departments; and services at the RCMP detachment.
