The City of Revelstoke
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/City of Revelstoke
January 25, 2020 - 12:00 PM
Two days after the mayor and council gave themselves whopping pay increases some staff working for the City of Revelstoke have voted to strike.
Around 100 CUPE 363 members voted for strike action over their requests for a "modest" pay increase just days after Revelstoke councillor Steven Cross made headlines when he resigned after council voted themselves steep pay increases. The mayor's salary went from $30,600 to $70,000 and councillors from $15,300 to $25,000 a year.
According to a CUPE 363 media release, members voted to strike as no "significant progress" had been made in bargaining for a new collective agreement. The last collective agreement expired Dec. 31, 2018.
"Considering the significant raises the Mayor and Council gave themselves and City management, the modest increases our members are asking for are clearly fair and reasonable," CUPE 363 president Jesse Adam said in the release. "I hope this strike vote sends a clear message that CUPE 363 members are determined to get a fair deal and that they strongly support their bargaining committee."
The roughly 100 members who voted work in a variety of roles from snow removal and road maintenance to parks and recreation as well as bylaw compliance, engineering, finance, and more, CUPE said.
The union said workers are facing an affordability crisis in Revelstoke which is threatening their ability to live and work in the community.
The vote gives union leaders the ability to authorize a strike in the future.
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