QUALICUM BEACH – After a long and drawn out process, the Town of Qualicum Beach has settled its ongoing labor dispute with its unionized workers. The striking staff returned to their duties today (Friday, September 4). In a statement from the Town Hall, it was announced that the new agreement had been successfully signed.
“The Town of Qualicum Beach wishes to announce that it has reached a new collective agreement with its unionized employees and that all outstanding issues previously identified by Council have been resolved. The unionized employees of the Town will recommence their duties on Friday, September 4, 2015. We look forward to their return. Council would like to thank the community for their support and patience,” the statement said.
On September 1 the Town Council had given conditional agreement to the recommendations provided by the Labor Relations Board mediator who had been called in to settle the five week work stoppage. At that time only one outstanding issue remained to end the dispute, a condition now agreed upon by both sides. The Town’s unionized staff began strike action at the end of July.