Union fires back in labour dispute at NDCC
By Nelson Daily Staff
Unionized staff has launched the latest salvo in what is turning into a public relations dispute between the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and CUPE Local 2262 workers at the Nelson and District Community Complex.
Tuesday, Jim Gustafson, Chief Administration Officer for the RDCK released an open letter through the media explaining to the public the latest offer to CUPE Local 2262 workers.
The latest offer tabled by the RDCK Friday (September 21) was a two-year agreement with retroactive increases of one percent for 2011 and 2012 or a three-year agreement with retroactive increases of one percent for 2011 and 2012 and a one per cent increase for 2013.
Gustafson also said RDCK has been able to broker agreements with similar offers at both the Creston and Castlegar District Community Complex, landfill unionized employees as well as RDCK Staff Association and other non-union workers.
Thursday the union fired back with its own factual take on the labour dispute that is set to enter its second week Friday.
In the release CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette points out that RDCK is in a sound financial position and that each year a one percent increase would cost the RDCK only $10,000.
“At the expiry of our collective agreement in February 2011 the employer conveyed to all staff that they had seen record high revenues at the Nelson Complex,” said Lafayette.
“The RDCK recently disclosed their financial statements for 2011 in which they reported a $3.6 million surplus in 2010 and a $14.7 million surplus in 2011.”
Lafayette also questions why other surrounding districts can pay its workers while the RDCK continues to stick to its one percent increase.
“To the North the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District unionized staff saw an average increase of 1.88 percent in each year of their agreement from 2011-2014, the East Kootenay District a 2 percent average from 2010-2012, to the South at the Kootenay Boundary Regional District a 1.8 percent average from 2011-2013, and to the West at the Sicamous & District Recreation Center an average increase of 2.88 percent each year from 2011-2014.”
Lafayette said rotating information strike action would continue until further notice.
Thursday fitness technicians, children workers will man the information lines.
Friday the pool staff would slip on the picket signs closing the pool.
Saturday, there’s a reprieve as the union looks to toss out an olive branch to RDCK negotiators by not closing any of the facility.
Lafayette hopes one-day cooling off period woud allow the RDCK to return to the negotiating table.
However, Sunday if no agreement is reached the union would return to the picket lines with arena staff, custodians and fitness staff on the lines.
The union-sub local represents 55 members at NDCC and have been without a contract for 18 months.
Read full release from CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette: http://thenelsondaily.com/news/cupe-2262-members-nelson-still-without-contract-21137#.UGRsBBiaGHk
See RDCK Jim Gustafson’s open letter: http://thenelsondaily.com/news/rdck-cao-addresses-ndcc-labour-dispute-21113#.UGRqbxiaGHk
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