(photo courtesy of CUPE)
The union representing workers locked out by the Town of Qualicum Beach says they want to get back to the bargaining table.
75 employees have been locked out since 3pm on Friday in a dispute centering mainly around wages.
Laurence Amy, Vice President of CUPE Local 401, says they’re asking for 2% a year. “Our priority is a fair deal and that any impact on the citizens of Qualicum Beach be kept to a minimum,” he says, pointing out that places like Parksville and the RDN, and the City of Nanaimo have made similar deals with their workers already.
Amy also says even though the union gave strike notice they were planning to limit job action to things like refusing overtime, and continue talks.
After a rally outside the town hall last week, CUPE National President Paul Moist, said “this lockout is not about affordability of a wage increase, it is about an employer flexing their muscles to have their way.”
The Town is offering 8% over five years, which mayor Tuenis Westbroek is calling a fair settlement for the union that also looks after the interests of Qualicum Beach taxpayers. The Town also says they can’t afford any increase over the rate of inflation.
