crazyheart
Strike at Naramata
Posted on: 05/19/2014 14:41
Naramata community centre still open despite strike
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by Joe Fries - Penticton Western News
posted May 15, 2014 at 4:00 PM
Picket lines went up Thursday at a community centre in Naramata as workers protested an attempt to contract out some of their jobs.
Thirty members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees went on strike after rejecting an offer late Wednesday from management of the Centre at Naramata, which is aligned with the United Church of Canada.
“We’re without a contract because the employer has chosen to address its budget deficiencies … by getting rid of some its employees and bringing in a contractor,” said CUPE national representative Tom O’Leary.
He said the last offer to employees was a two-year deal that “basically would have had the members agreeing to get rid of some of their jobs now and the rest in two years.”
Jim Simpson, the Centre’s director of development and strategic partnerships, confirmed management is looking to contract out six positions in food service and grounds maintenance to help shore up the society’s finances.
“The restructuring steps we’re trying to take are key to ensuring the Centre survives,” he said.
“We were almost having to close it at the end of November.”
A consultant hired last year to help put the Centre on track proposed contracting out the positions as one of four options for staunching the flow of red ink. Others options include closing the facility temporarily.
Simpson said there are no talks scheduled with CUPE and the site remains open with management working in place of unionized employees.
“Currently it’s business as usual and events are going ahead as planned,” he said, adding a group of 75 guests was at the facility Thursday with another large group expected for the weekend.
O’Leary said “quite a few” people who were on their way into the Centre on Thursday turned around after seeing the picket line.
“We’re not allowed to prevent people from entering, but we’re educating and informing them that this is a struck business,” he said.
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Comments
crazyheart
Posted on: 05/19/2014 14:43
DKS posted this on United Church Group. Haven't seen anything on WC. How many things are we missing because folk are not posting here? What do you think about this learning centre having a union and striking. Do you know more?
crazyheart
Posted on: 05/19/2014 16:41
bump
Pinga
Posted on: 05/19/2014 17:29
Interestig challenge for Naramata.
I hadn't heard about this one, thanks CrazyHeart
Tabitha
Posted on: 05/19/2014 20:26
I know much more. Naramata non-management staff have been unionized for years. At issue is contracting out food services and groundskeeping. The Board is doing this as a cost saving measure.
The Centre almost shut-a loan from Conference bailed them out but they have 2 years to show a profit. Summer programs have been greatly cut this year.
I don't know if this is the right way to go-I know all the staff by name-but I also know that if things don't change Naramata Centre may go the way of Calling Lake. It may shut.
Tabitha
Posted on: 05/19/2014 20:33
Dear Friends,
We wanted to update all our friends and supporters on the recent events in the life of the Centre.
The CUPE Local 608 bargaining unit at the Centre at Naramata voted on May 14th 2014 to reject the Centre's proposal for a new collective agreement. The Centre had proposed extending, for two years, all the provisions of the previous agreement - including wages and benefits - plus agreeing to limit further contracting out beyond its Food Services and Grounds Maintenance areas.
As you know, we have been addressing pressing financial issues for some time and had been considering four options for our future. Two options include contracting out some or all of the operations, and two include closure; one permanently and one for an extended time.
The Centre had chosen to pursue one of the options which involved limited contracting out - an option which presented the least disruption to the people who use the Centre, the people who work there, and the local economy.
The contracting out of Food Services and Grounds Maintenance affects primarily 6 of the 30 unionized employees. This contracting out plan commenced last December under the terms of the previous collective agreement with a plan to implement it this Spring. (The Union had grieved this contracting out plan and then later withdrew the grievance.)
The Union is taking job action intended to prevent the Centre from pursuing the contracting out options. While full scale removal of services began on Thursday May 15, the management team continues to provide services to the groups currently using the Centre and our doors remain open for all upcoming scheduled events.
The Centre will now consider what other options remain available.
(From Jim Simpson)
Tabitha
Posted on: 05/19/2014 20:34
OK it DID WORK. The background info link form Jim's letter will give you more info.
Tabitha
Posted on: 05/19/2014 20:34
OK it DID WORK. The background info link form Jim's letter will give you more info.
crazyheart
Posted on: 05/19/2014 22:06
Thanks Tab. Another sign of church decline.
Jim Kenney
Posted on: 05/19/2014 22:09
I am disappointed the union did not provide a counter offer which would have yielded the same costs to the Centre. I fear Naramata is being used by CUPE in a battle against contracting out elsewhere, and I fear the potential outcome for both sides.