The District of Sechelt and striking union workers say they want to talk, but neither side is moving toward the bargaining table as the strike rolls into week two.
"We are here, and we're waiting. I think it's fair to say that we welcome the opportunity to have further negotiations when the union's ready," said Sechelt Mayor John Henderson during the question and answer period of the June 19 regular council meeting. About 60 union members and supporters filled council chambers Wednesday night.
When told the union had indicated their desire to get back to the bargaining table, Henderson noted, "We have not had that communication."
B.C. Government Employees Union (BCGEU) president Darryl Walker was on the picket line with workers earlier that day and said the union was "ready to go back to the table tomorrow."
"We need to have some indication from the employer that there is movement on their side with regards to the wages and some room to talk about the flex time, and if those two things are in place we think there's enough there to go back and try to get that collective agreement," he said.
Last week Henderson told Coast Reporter the impasse at the bargaining table was centred on workers' desire for more days off each year; however, local union representative Judith Steele said that statement was untrue.
"What I'm kind of concerned about is that right now it looks like the District employees are looking for 16 additional days off over and above the 26. That is absolutely untrue," Steele said. "We're willing to reduce the 26 days now that we get as flex time and they're not taxpayer funded, they're funded by the employees. We work for that money, we earn that time. We're willing to reduce that by up to 67 per cent and we still couldn't get a deal."
The union is also looking for raises of 1.5, 1.75, 1.75 and two per cent each year. The District is offering a one per cent increase.
While wages and flex time seem to be sticking points, Steele said those weren't the ultimate reasons staff decided to strike.
"Sure, we had some collective bargaining issues, but is that really why we are here? No," Steele said while speaking to crowds gathered at noon on June 14 when the strike officially began. "We are really here because we can no longer stand our toxic workplace. We will be bullied no more. We want a respectful workplace, where honesty, integrity and consideration are essential."
When asked about the bullying at Wednesday night's council meeting, Henderson said he was unaware of it.
"I certainly, if there has been any bullying, would have expected us to hear about it through the processes that are in place. And to the best of my knowledge there have been no grievances, no filing, no complaints of that to us," Henderson said. "So the best I can offer you is that I'm unaware of it and if there was any I would certainly wish to be advised of it so we can address it."
He said the impact of the District's 45 unionized employees taking to the picket lines has been noticeable.
"There's no question there's an impact from this. Our management team are working long and hard to maintain essentials, you know, the critical services. The office staff are working long hours and Mr. Buchhorn and his other staff are working on picking up the garbage so we are collecting it as best we can," Henderson said.
Striking Sechelt employees work in public works, parks, engineering and development services, finance, bylaw enforcement and corporate services.
Workers have been without a contract since the end of December.
This is the first strike at the District in 22 years.
