E-Comm confirms that the essential emergency communication services British Columbians rely on will remain uninterrupted following CUPE 8911’s issuance of 72-hour strike notice.
While the strike notice has been issued, the parties are continuing negotiations over the weekend in an effort to reach an agreement. E-Comm fully supports the requested appointment of a Special Mediator to assist in reaching an agreement.
An essential services order issued by BC’s Labour Relations Board is in place to ensure that public safety is protected at all times. Under the order, 9-1-1 operators, police/fire call takers and dispatchers are deemed essential should job action occur.
We have continued to engage in the bargaining process in good faith with a competitive offer on the table. The offer E-Comm put forward aligns or exceeds many of the recently settled agreements within the public sector.
This offer would build on the significant improvements to wages and benefits negotiated during the last agreement which included an extra $5-$8 per hour for night/weekend shifts, and up to $4,000 in mental health benefits per year.
“We’ve made meaningful efforts to move negotiations forward and have put forth an offer that prioritizes both the employees who deliver these critical services and the public who depend on them,” says Greg Conner, vice-president of People & Culture for E-Comm. “Our priority is ensuring uninterrupted service for the public while supporting our employees with a fair and sustainable collective agreement.”