City of Quesnel & CUPE 1050 Labour Contract Dispute

Earlier this year, the City of Quesnel & CUPE Local 1050, which represents Quesnel municipal workers commenced negotiations for a new collective agreement as the existing collective agreement expired in June of this year

Both sides agreed that, during negotiations, no comment would be provided to the media

During May, the City & CUPE Local 1050 met for 5 days to commence negotiations. At the end of the day, the City presented CUPE Local 1050 with its' final offer, which primarily consisted of a wage package of 0% in year one, 1% in year two and 2% in year three with also a benefit increase of 0.5% during the first year

On June 2nd, CUPE 1050 held a meeting with Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom and 1 Quesnel City Councillor to get talks back on track. As well, the CUPE 1050 membership held a vote on the City's final offer which was rejected by 76 of the 91 people who came out to vote

At this point, the City of Quesnel has successfully applied to the LRB (Labour Relations Board) for an Essential Services Order (you can read the LRB Order here) while CUPE Local 1050 has applied for mediation. No word yet if CUPE Local 1050 got its' request approved. There is a meeting of CUPE Local 1050's membership tomorrow (Sunday, August 22nd) at the Quesnel Sandman Inn, starting at 3pm to presumably discuss next steps

However - it seems to me that the City is trying its' very best to negotiate a collective agreement while taking into consideration the principle of "ability to pay". I would note that the BCGEU (BC Gov't Employees Union) recently settled a 2 year agreement with the BC Public Service consisting of no wage hikes through June 30th, 2012. As well, CUPE 1050 would do well to remember that with the permanent closure of Northstar Lumber, the City of Quesnel lost $1.2 million of assessment and the possibility of more sawmill closures or temporary shutdowns is possible

I would encourage CUPE Local 1050 to back off the rhetoric of "hidden agendas & worse municipal deal in BC" & the advertising of direct contact info for Quesnel Mayor & Council and to roll up its' sleeves and get back to the bargaining table with the City of Quesnel to hammer out an collective agreement & to keep in mind the state of the local economy while negotiating a new collective agreement with the City of Quesnel

Info on Quesnel Muncipal Workers Dispute:

CUPE 1050 - http://www.cupe1050.com/
City of Quesnel - http://www.city.quesnel.bc.ca/negotiations.asp