Union locks out its office staff

Union locks out its office staff
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published June 11, 2003

The B.C. Nurses Union office in Burnaby was behind picket lines last week when about 30 members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, local 15, were locked out by the employer.

"We're not seeing this as a serious impasse," said Elaine Jackson, president of the local that represents office staff inside the union office. "It's a momentary stall in bargaining."

The OPEIU members had apparently voted in favour of strike action and had served strike notice on the Nurses union.

However, they were locked out before a strike could begin.

"We're confident we'll be back on track fairly quickly," Jackson said.

The biggest stumbling block to signing a new collective agreement pertains to the language over the hours of work for the office staff, she said.

Attempts to contact the BCNU before Burnaby NOW deadlines were unsuccessful.