NORTH VANCOUVER – CUPE 389 members at the North Shore Winter (NSWC) remain banned from working by management as the lockout at the club nears day 100. However, support continues to pour in from other CUPE members and locals, CUPE staff, other unions and the community.
Canadian Staff Union (CSU) members in Saskatchewan (CUPE Staff) recently made a generous $5,000 donation to the locked out members. Last week the BCGEU joined locked out CUPE members on the picket line for a day of support and CUPE 389 also recently received a letter of support from the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA).
In the letter Don Fehr, NHLPA’s Executive Director, told CUPE 389 members that “the NHLPA membership was recently subjected to an NHL owner’s lockout that resulted in half of the 2012-13 season being missed. On behalf of the NHLPA, I am writing to express our support while you face this lockout.”
Fehr went on to say that the NHLPA had “urged our Members in the Vancouver area to reflect on their own experience of being locked out by their employers and to choose not to go to the North Shore Winter Club until the lockout has been lifted.”
John Strohmaier, CUPE National Representative, says all the support locked out members have received has helped to keep their spirits up throughout this difficult and lengthy dispute.
“CUPE 389 employees at the NSWC are very grateful for the support that everyone has shown over the course of this dispute. Support has come in many different ways and the overwhelming response from locked out members is that it’s comforting to know they aren’t alone in this dispute,” said Strohmaier. “Hearing that the NHLPA stands behind us and will continue to supports us is encouraging, especially since NHL players themselves have just been through a lengthy lockout.”
The lockout at the NSWC affects 16 CUPE 389 members who are dedicated professionals that ensure the health and safety of the family recreation centre. They work as building service workers, maintenance workers, iceman and stationary equipment operators and are responsible for handling dangerous chemicals at the club including ammonia and chlorine.
Read full letter from NHLPA here…
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