Cheers and honks were aplenty as a roadside rally was held on Columbia Street on Monday afternoon.
About 20 supporters of the public service laundry workers stood outside the Kamloops Courthouse with signs and banners as people drove by giving the occasional honk in support.
Members of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) are awaiting a decision to be made by the Interior Health Authority (IHA) that would privatize hospital laundry services in 11 communities throughout the region.
There about 19 full-time hospital laundry service employees in Kamloops.
“These are good sustainable jobs, primarily women, that provide to the economy in Kamloops and so we don’t want them to contract it out,” said Donisa Bernardo of HEU.
If contracted out, the jobs could be privately contracted out to the lower mainland or Alberta. It could affect up to 175 jobs in the region.
The IHA is expected to make a decision on Tuesday at a board of director’s meeting.
The decision has been delayed over 16 months as more and more support for HEU has come forward.
Bernardo says the rally is more a sign of appreciation to the community than anything else.
“I think that people are appreciative of the support the community has given them. It helps that the people who make the decision on the IHA know that the community is behind this service,” said Bernardo.
Five other roadside rallies were held across the region including Kelowna, Nelson, Penticton, Vernon and 100 Mile House.
