A union representing District of Saanich workers has voted in favour of holding a strike after failing to reach an agreement in negotiations.
A majority (94%) of the 1,200 District of Saanich workers represented by CUPE Local 2011 voted in favour of strike action.
The decision comes after the union rejected what its president Ryan Graham called a “rollover agreement” that does not address the needs of workers struggling with cost-of-living.
In a statement, the District of Saanich said that essential services would continue even if a strike is held.
“CUPE is not in a legal position to serve 72-hour strike notice until the essential service levels are finalized and approved by the provincial Minister of Labour,” Saanich’s acting chief administrative officer Suzanne Samborski said in a statement.
Public services provided by CUPE Local 2011 members includes water, wastewater, sanitation, roads, parks, planning, recreation centres, and support police and fire services.
“We remain open to resuming bargaining when the union’s bargaining committee wishes to do so,” said Samborski.
Negotiations for a new collective agreement have been ongoing since December.
