Cariboo Regional District employee strike comes to an end

After nearly seven weeks, the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) strike has come to an end.

On Wednesday night, the CRD workers and employer ratified a tentative agreement, which will not form the workers’ collective agreement.

Around 50 CRD workers in Williams Lake decided to move from an overtime ban to a full strike in mid-May.

At that time, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) said they had been bargaining with the CRD since January and had rejected an “unfair” final offer from the regional district.

That expanded into a strike in other services and communities by May 21.

According to a news release issued on July 4, the agreement will be retroactive to Nov. 1, 2023 and will expire on Oct. 31, 2026.

The BCGEU says the agreement, which will still need to be voted on and finalized, includes a 12.5% wage increase, an increase to the maximum vacation entitlement, fairer call-bakc language and other improvements.

Paul Finch, President of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents the CRD workers, said the strike was not easy but finally got negotiations to a place that pleases unionized staff.

"Our members’ strike demonstrated just how indispensable they are to the functioning of the CRD and the overall health and wellness of their communities,” Finch said.

“From the libraries and waste management to local building permit departments and more, our members were missed by their communities, and their value was underscored every hour that they couldn’t clock in for a shift.”

There is no indication when the final vote on the agreement will be, however, Finch said this tentative agreement is expected to improve working conditions for all CRD staff.