District of Squamish workers reach tentative agreement after nearly 2-week lockout
CBC
There's a tentative deal on the table between the District of Squamish and its workers represented by CUPE 2269, but the picket lines won't go down yet.
Local 2269, which represents about 250 district workers, announced the deal Tuesday, but the details won't be released until the agreement is presented to members for ratification, according to a CUPE news release.
Celeste Bickford, president of CUPE 2269, said the lockout has been a "difficult chapter" for the district and its workers.
“Reaching a tentative agreement is the necessary first step towards rebuilding our workplace culture and improving staff morale, to ensure we can better deliver the vital services residents, business and visitors count on," Bickford said in the release.
In June, the union asked for a 4.5 per cent increase for 2025 and a four per cent increase in 2026.
The district presented an increased wage of $27.50 per hour for the lowest paid employees, and a general wage increase to all other positions of 3.26 per cent in 2025 and 2.99 per cent in 2026.
A report stated the 2024 living wage in Squamish is $26.76 an hour.
The District of Squamish said in a news release that the tentative agreement was reached early Tuesday afternoon.
“We appreciate the extensive dialogue that has taken place to understand each other’s position and find compromise, and believe this tentative agreement provides the opportunity to move forward together,” said Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford.
The collective agreement between the district and union expired Dec. 31, 2024, and negotiations stalled in early July, according to the district's webpage.
The union began job action on Oct. 2, including an overtime ban in public works. The district locked out workers at public works, city hall, and two auxiliary offices on Oct. 16.
Non-binding mediation through the Labour Relations Board of B.C. began Oct. 24.
Squamish residents have felt the effects of the lockout, with the closure of the rink and pool at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
Picket lines will remain in place until both parties ratify the agreement, according to the union.
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