VANDERHOOF — CUPE 1632 members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action following months of uncertainty after Mayor and Council declined to ratify an agreement that had been reached at the bargaining table.
“Workers believed a fair agreement had been reached through negotiations,” said Dan Middleton, President of CUPE Local 1632. “After months of delays, our members are asking the employer to honour that agreement and provide some certainty for workers and their families.”
Negotiations started in November 2024, and a tentative agreement was reached in January of this year with the assistance of a mediator from the BC Labour Relations Board.
“Our members care deeply about this community and the services they provide every day,” said Middleton. “Strike action is always a last resort, but our members and this community deserve stability and an employer that follows through on the commitments made at the bargaining table.”
The union says the strike vote gives workers a mandate to take the next steps in the bargaining process if needed, including issuing 72-hour strike notice.
CUPE Local 1632 represents 22 workers employed by the District of Vanderhoof who provide the community services residents rely on every day. Members maintain roads and sidewalks, water and wastewater systems, parks and recreation facilities, snow clearing, public works operations, municipal administration, and other services that keep Vanderhoof running safely and reliably.
