With the ongoing labour dispute and the City’s refusal to bargain, CUPE city workers will be maintaining picket lines during Winterfest, including the planned tree lighting on December 5.
CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette said that members regret that they find themselves in a situation where they are unable to support an event that they and their families enjoy every year.
“We know that each year families gather at City Hall and downtown Castlegar with friends and neighbours, to enjoy an evening of holiday spirit and the tree lighting event. But our attempts to solve this labour dispute have been rebuffed. Given this, we feel we have no choice but to hold the lines,” said Lafayette.
Castlegar City workers are asking the public to respect legal picket lines and to let the new council know that residents support a return to the bargaining table and a fair end to the strike.
CUPE 2262 represents 34 members who work for the City of Castlegar. The current agreement expired in February 2013. The union began a full strike on November 8, 2014. Picket lines are in place at the following CUPE 2262 worksites: City Hall, the Public Works Yard on Minto Road, and the outdoor ice rinks at Kinnaird Park.