(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

The City of Kamloops' next move after another loss in a labour dispute over its bylaw department isn't clear, but the mayor suggests it's time to re-examine the overhaul started almost four years ago.

"We've got to probably go back and re-think our thinking," Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson said when asked what's next in the now years-long arbitration.

The city and its union were told to go back and negotiate after a labour arbitrator found its sweeping changes to the bylaw department in 2020, part of the rebranded Community Service Officer program, violated the collective agreement.

READ MORE: Kamloops loses labour relations board appeal over bylaw department overhaul

That decision came in August 2023, three years after the change that required additional training, an RCMP security clearance for each officer and a fitness test. Only a few of the officers stuck through the department overhaul after city staff told them their jobs were "in motion."

The city appealed that August decision, but the BC Labour Relations Board dismissed it. It's next move isn't clear.

City Human Resources director Colleen Quigley said they are consulting with their lawyers before deciding what to do next, and Canadian Union of Public Employees local 900 representatives have not returned phone calls from iNFOnews.ca.

The mayor has been concerned about the department changes and its lengthy arbitration since the beginning of his term more than a year ago.

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"Whoever made the decision needs to be held accountable," Hamer-Jackson said. "This decision was made without council approval because someone felt it wasn't going to cost more than administration was allowed to spend."

He went on to voice frustrations that as of Feb. 1, he was not briefed on the appeal and its failure.

"Here I am, the mayor of Kamloops, and no one is talking to me about it," he said.

Hamer-Jackson has been barred from contacting certain city employees directly unless first approved by the deputy mayor, a position that rotates monthly among the eight councillors. Among the employees he can't communicate with directly without supervision is top employee CAO David Trawin.

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Hamer-Jackson said that restriction was extended by six months in August, but he was never told why.

Councillor Nancy Bepple is deputy mayor for the month of February and pointed to privacy legislation when she said she couldn't comment on the arbitration and how it will affect city employees. She also said the next step in the labour dispute hasn't been discussed among council.

The city could return to negotiations with the union as the August decision ordered, but it could also take the appeal up with BC Supreme Court. Which direction the city will take isn't clear.

"What's important is the community service officer program will continue," Bepple said, describing it as "extremely successful."

She praised the department for its expanded role dealing with homelessness in the city and with other community groups working on social issues.

Bepple said council as a whole has "repeatedly endorsed" the community service officer program, despite the individual opinion and concerns raised by the mayor.

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