Unionized USW 1-417 Workers at Hudson’s Bay Kamloops Store On Strike
United Steelworkers (USW)) union Local 1-417 have issued a 72-hour strike notice to Hudson’s Bay in Kamloops on Wednesday, with the job action officially starting at 9:30 am on Sunday December 10th. Upwards of 50 union members from USW and several other unions showing their support were on the picket lines on Sunday.
The strike notice was served after meeting with the employer and a mediator at the BC Labour Relations Board on Tuesday, with the company unwilling to provide a meaningful offering to its workers.
In addition to only offering a 1% raise, which works out to 17 cents per hour, Hudson’s Bay is asking to take things away from employees agreed upon in their 30 year old collective agreement. Workers on the picket line were unwavering in their resolve, many feeling insulted by the offering.
The USW is the largest private sector union in North America with more than 225,000 members in Canada and more than 850,000 members continent-wide. The USW is Canada’s most diverse union, representing working people in every sector of the economy.
Photos thanks to Barb Nederpel, President of the Hospital Employees’ Union