Burnaby – Frustrated at the lack of progress made at the bargaining table with ICBC, the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, local 378 (MoveUP), is announcing another day of strike action. Approximately one third of ICBC’s unionized workforce, just over 1,300 people, will walk out on Wednesday, October 3, 2012.

 

"Our bargaining team has met with the employer and ICBC said they’re still not willing to budge on wages. Their proposals put our members far behind the rising cost of living,” explained MoveUP President David Black. "It’s ridiculous; ICBC has the money. They’ve increased payments to executives and business partners and, on top of that, they’re giving $1.2 billion dollars to government."

 

The employer did, at long last, acknowledge the workload problem at ICBC. MoveUP recently won a substantial unpaid overtime grievance. But the language tabled by ICBC was too vague and scheduled to take effect so far into the future that their meager solution would apply not to this collective agreement, but the next.

 

“On one hand this shows us that our job actions have forced them to focus on our issues,” said Black. “On the other, it’s just not enough. It doesn’t solve the crushing workload our members face and it certainly doesn’t keep their wages from falling further and further behind.” 

 

The October 3 strike will affect areas primarily in the lower mainland, but also one location in Kamloops and another in Victoria. This group of ICBC employees have not yet been out on strike during this round of negotiations. Some Drivers Services Centres and Drivers Licence Centres will be affected by the strike. A full list of the affected locations is below.

 

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Media contact: Sage Aaron, 604-317-6153, saaron@moveuptogether.ca

 

MoveUP represents about 4,600 members at ICBC.

The collective agreement expired in June 2010, leaving employees without a contract for over two years.

MoveUP’s ICBC members voted 87 percent in favour of strike in April 2012. ICBC immediately applied for essential service designation. Both parties are working under a without-prejudice Interim Essential Service Order until the matter is decided at the Labour Board.

Previous to these actions, MoveUP members at ICBC hadn’t been on strike in over 30 years.

 

 

* MoveUP ICBC members at the asterisked locations will be on strike, but due to logistical concerns they will join picket lines at a nearby worksite.