FILE PHOTO

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

Nearly four years after the Kamloops bylaw department was overhauled, kicking off numerous legal challenges, the city and its union have come an agreement.

A City of Kamloops news release confirms the agreement brings the dispute over the rebranded Community Service Officers to an end after two rulings against the employer.

No details were released about what outstanding issues were resolved under the new agreement.

The city was found to have violated its collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 900 when management rebranded the department and overhauled officers' work duties.

The change started in 2020 under then Community Services Director Byron McCorkell — now the acting city manager — but spurred a years-long dispute with the union.

After a ruling from an outside arbitrator and a failed appeal to the BC Labour Board, CUPE and the city resolved their outstanding issues, according to the news release. None of the details of that agreement were made public due to "strict confidentiality."

The change was billed as a way to increase the bylaw department's role in dealing with social issues on the streets, while also expanding their role to assist RCMP. It included added training, a fitness test and a requirement to get RCMP security clearance.

Officers ranged in age from 25 to 71 when they were told in 2020 their jobs would be put "in motion." Most were over 40 and had some form of disability.

While the program was being overhauled, there was no public mention of an effort to have the Community Service Officers recognized as peace officers under the provincial government until 2023.

Now, the city touts the department as having "significant benefits" for the city, while staff and council will "continue to advocate for even more supports through designation of peace officer status."

Go here for more of our stories on the Kamloops bylaw department.

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