MEDIA ADVISORY: Qualicum Beach rally for locked out workers

QUALICUM BEACH, BRITISH COLULMBIA--(Marketwired - July 30, 2015) - On Friday, July 31, the eve of the British Columbia Day holiday weekend, the town of Qualicum Beach plans to lock out its 66 municipal workers for the first time ever.

Despite a long history of labour peace, the current mayor and council have refused to give their public employees the same modest two-per-cent per-year wage settlement reached in neighbouring municipalities. Wages are the only outstanding issue after mediated contract talks broke off last month. The workers have been without a contract since 2013.

CUPE Local 401, which represents the municipal workers, will host a rally outside the Qualicum Beach town hall from 3-6pm on Friday afternoon. CUPE BC Secretary-Treasurer Paul Faoro will be speaking at the event.