Unionized workers at a Kelowna liquor store will begin a strike on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Employees at Armstrong Regional Cooperative (ARC) Liquor in Guisachan Village are taking action after negotiations ended with a final offer from ARC Liquor on Aug 29. Workers filed a 72-hour strike notice with the BC Labour Relations Board on Sept. 11.
含羞草研究社淲hile bargaining was originally going well, and employees felt hopeful, talks fell apart over monetary concerns,含羞草研究社 a media release from
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 2 states.
The workers unionized in May.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e looking for a wage increase because the cost of living in Kelowna is getting higher and higher as inflation rises,含羞草研究社 said four-year employee Julia Scott. 含羞草研究社淭he co-op is doing nothing to compensate us, and we need to be able to pay our rent,含羞草研究社
The SEIU release states that 含羞草研究社淎RC Liquor does not seem to agree that dignified pay that allows their employees to live in Kelowna is important to their community.含羞草研究社
Workers plan to start picketing at 9 a.m. on Saturday and ask the community to join them at 12 p.m. in a show of support.
SEIU Local 2 represents 20,000 workers across Canada including thousands in the alcohol and beverage industry such as Calona Vineyards, Mission Hill Winery, Okanagan Spring Brewery and others.