Driver's licence office will be behind pickets
The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union local 378 (COPE 378) has announced another day of strike action.
About one-third of ICBC’s unionized workforce, which consists of more than 1,300 employees, will walk out on Wednesday, Oct. 3 — and the driver's licence office on Concordia Way will be involved.
Union members last walked out on Sept. 18 as the union and ICBC continue to fail in reaching a contract settlement.
“Our bargaining team has met with the employer and ICBC said they’re still not willing to budge on wages.” said COPE 378 president David Black.
“Their proposals put our members far behind the rising cost of living,”
Black said ICBC did acknowledge the workload problem at the Crown corporation, noting COPE 378 recently won a unpaid-overtime grievance.
However, Black added, the language tabled by ICBC was too vague and scheduled to take effect in the next collective agreement, not the agreement the two sides are now trying to cobble together.
“On one hand, this shows us that our job actions have forced them to focus on our issues,” Black said.
“On the other, it’s just not enough. It doesn’t solve the crushing workload our members face and it certainly doesn’t keep their wages from falling further and further behind.”
The Oct. 3 strike will affect areas primarily in the Lower Mainland, but also in Kamloops, at 937 Concordia Way., and in Victoria.
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