Unionized members working for Coquitlam city hall will go to an online poll next week to vote for a new executive.
The election — for vice-president; recording secretary; executives at large (inside and outside); young worker; and trustee — comes a month before CUPE 386’s collective agreement is up.
In 2017, the local’s 900 unionized workers ratified the 2016-’20 contract that saw wages rise 9% over five years.
Also back at the bargaining table next year will be CUPE 498, which represents about 350 employees working for Port Coquitlam city hall. Like Coquitlam, its deal with the employer ends Dec. 31 (the contract remains in place until a new agreement is reached).
In Port Moody, however, CUPE local 825 hasn’t had a chance to meet because of the physical distancing measures with the pandemic; its contract ended Dec. 31, 2019.
“Unfortunately, the nature of COVID is such that we have spent much of the year focusing on addressing the needs of the community as well as ensuring members have a safe workplace given the circumstances,” vice-president and acting president Joshua Armstrong told the Tri-City News.
Still, the local that represents inside, outside and civilian police workers expects bargaining to begin when a new president is voted in.
Elections were due to be held in March but were delayed because of the pandemic. Recently, president Christine Gervan also stepped down from the role, Armstrong said.
