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BCGEU/NUPGE thanks the community for its strong support of the workers during the lockout.
Vancouver (17 July 2012) - Members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) are back on the job at the Pine Acres care facility in Kelowna.
The employer, Westbank First Nation, ended a 10-day lockout on July 12. The lockout primarily affected staff members in laundry, housekeeping, kitchen, dietary, recreation and reception.
The two sides are scheduled to begin two days of bargaining starting July 18.
“We remain optimistic a collective agreement can be reached,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “We hope the employer comes to the table ready to have fruitful discussions.”
Walker also said there was a lot of solidarity among BCGEU/NUPGE members on the picket line. The union thanks the community for its strong support, which included delivering food and water to the locked out workers.
In earlier talks, the employer demanded sweeping concessions, including a two-tier wage structure for new employees, a $4/hour wage cut, as well as drastic cuts to vacation, sick leave, and benefits. Workers at Pine Acres are now entering their fourth year without a wage increase and deserve improved conditions. The union’s proposals have been reasonable and the union continues to be prepared to negotiate an agreement.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE