In a politically-driven Facebook forum called The Castlegar Podium, striking union member Darrel Bojechko was expressing upset over the amount city managment are being paid to handle essential services such as snowplowing in the union's absence, and added, "And I might add they have done thousands of dollars damage to the...

The City of Castlegar has initiated mediated talks with CUPE Local 2262 (striking city workers) to begin this coming Monday, according to Mayor Lawrence Chernoff. Chernoff said David Schuab, the Labour Relations Board mediator who wrote recommendations for settlement on Sept. 22 of this year, will be mediating the discussion....

The City wishes to advise Castlegar residents that City facilities remain open and City non-union staff will endeavor to provide prompt service to residents, businesses and visitors during the current labour strike. Your understanding and patience is appreciated. What’s Going On? The City has bargained in good faith for over...

City workers, members of CUPE Local 2262, are holding a noon hour rally today outside city hall.  The event is a show of support from other unions and the community for the workers who have been on the picket line for more than a month. CUPE Local 2262 president Leford Lafayette says it’s difficult to convey what the support...

A rally is scheduled tomorrow at City Hall for those who wish to show support for striking city workers of CUPE 2262. The rally, scheduled for 3 p.m., should see as many as 30 striking union members, as well as members of other union travelling to Castlegar from other communities to show their solidarity. Members of the public...

A newly-elected city council was sworn in at council’s regular meeting Dec. 1. Incumbent mayor Lawrence Chernoff and incumbent councillors Kevin Chernoff, Dan Rye, Florio Vassilakakis, Susan Heaton-Sherstobitoff, and Deb McIntosh, as well as newcomer Bruno Tassone, were sworn in during an official ceremony conducted by Judge...

Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, and Linda Worley, RDKB Area B Director, witnessed firsthand area residents’ dissatisfaction with CP’s response to their ongoing concerns with the recent addition of night trains on the local Castlegar to Trail run. In September, CP Rail implemented the decision to redeploy locomotives...

Grand Forks' new city council held their inaugral meeting in freshly renovated City Hall. Mayor Frank Konrad and councillors Neil Krog, Michael Wirishagin, Julia Butler, Chris Hammett, Colleen Ross and Christine Thompson all swore the Oath of Office before being seated in council chambers.  Diane Heinrich was the acting Chief...

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF CASTLEGAR, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL This is a call for calm. And a call for respect.  Your city workers are on a legal strike – for the first time in 60 years. That’s a long relationship and one that needs to be protected and respected. Much has been said during this dispute and while most of the...

I’d like to thank the residents of Castlegar for your patience and understanding during the labour strike by our unionized CUPE city employees. We are now in snow season and our management staff are working around the clock to keep the roads clear and safe. We appreciate that residents and businesses are helping to keep...