Potential detente between city and union
By Kyra Hoggan
We’re seeing forward motion in negotiations between the City of Castlegar and its CUPE workers, after a stalemate last month led to limited strike action on the union’s part Aug. 15, with city staff refusing all over time work.
Mayor Lawrence Chernoff says city staff continue to assess a settlement offer sent by the union at the end of last week, and are waiting to hear back from the mediator as his availability to resume talks.
“We will definitely have a written response for the union, hopefully as early as today,” Chernoff said.
This, after a press release issued by CUPE 2262 (representing 34 city staffers) on Aug. 22 stating, “CUPE Local 2262 has sent the City of Castlegar a settlement offer and an invitation to return to the negotiating table for further contract talks. The 34 CUPE 2262 members have been without a contract since February 2013. Mediated talks broke off in July. The union plans to wait for a reply from city negotiators before issuing further statements on the negotiations.”
(For a previous story on the conflict, click here).
