POWELL RIVER – Workers in the City of Powell River have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action if they are unable to negotiate a fair settlement in the current round of bargaining.
CUPE 798 President Danielle Craigen said that members received a bargaining update at a well-attended meeting on Wednesday, and then voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action if necessary.
Craigen said that there has been 25 days of bargaining since they began over a year ago. “Our employer tabled a very aggressive set of proposals and has been unwilling to take them off the table. They have also not addressed key issues for city workers, like job security for all employees and fair treatment of part-time employees.”
“Especially given the very strong support of CUPE workers in Powell River, we are hopeful that the City rethinks its approach and gets serious about reaching a fair settlement,” said Craigen.
CUPE 798 represents close to 150 members who work for the City of Powell River and provide a wide range of services to the city’s residents and businesses. The collective agreement expired in December 2012.
