RDCK, CUPE Local 2262 reach tentative deal in NDCC labour dispute
By Bruce Fuhr
The picket lines are down at the Nelson and District Community Complex after the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and unionized workers of CUPE Local 2262 agreed to a tentative settlement Wednesday evening.
“It’s definitely a weight off of everybody’s shoulders, that’s for sure,” Steve Stringfellow, National Rep for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, told The Nelson Daily minutes before putting signatures on the tentative contract.
“We’re currently reviewing documents and we’ll be signing them in a few minutes,” Stringfellow added.
The deal is a four-year agreement, taking the parties to February 2014.
Unionized workers have been without a contract for 18 months after the last deal expired in February 2011.
The retroactive agreement has increases of one percent in 2011, 1.5 percent in 2012 and cost of living in 2013 and 2014. The cost of living increase will be calculated using a provincial formula.
“Both parties compromised (to get this done),” Stringfellow explained.
“We compromised in the first year regarding our cost of living (demands) and the employer provided cost of living in the final two years for a four-year agreement.”
Talks between the two sides broke down in mid-September when CUPE Local 2262 issued 72-hour strike notice Monday, September 11.
There was an agreed cooling off period before the union took action by shutting down parts of the NDCC with information picket lines starting Friday, September 21.
One day pool staff would walk the lines, closing the pool.
The next day fitness staff would shut the weight room and then the arena attendants.
“No union wants to be in a strike position that affect public services . . . it’s a last resort,” said Stringfellow when asked about the strategy employed by the union to get this deal done.
“And we’re definitely glad we were able to reach an agreement before we had to fully withdraw services.”
The two sides returned to the bargaining table Tuesday.
Stringfellow said he was in contact with RDCK Chief Administrative Officer Jim Gustafson throughout the dispute, keeping the communications lines open to see if there was any appetite on either side to get a deal.
The 55 members of CUPE Local 2262 will vote on the settlement Saturday (October 6).
Gustafson’s committee takes the deal to the RDCK board for ratification at the next board meeting, October 18.
Comments