BURNABY, BC – Negotiations on a new collective agreement between Shaw Cable and the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1944 appear to have hit a snag.
The union, which represents over 500 employees at Shaw Cable in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, says that strike votes were held earlier this week with 357 members (85% of the membership) voting, giving a strike vote mandate over 98%. These employees have been without a contract since March 23, 2018, it added.
"Shaw says they want an organization that is agile and adaptable; we say this should not be at a cost to our members," said USW Local 1944 chief negotiator Lee Riggs, in a statement. "What Shaw really intends to do is to undermine union workers' rights, and change the rules by making workers disposable while putting more financial pressure on their shoulders. We believe that it is possible for Shaw to be a strong player in the competitive market and also provide a fair and respectful collective agreement that shows our members that the work they do is valued and protected."
When contacted by Cartt.ca, Shaw’s vice-president of external affairs, Chethan Lakshman, offered the following response.
“We remain committed to the process to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with our employees”, he said. “We have said to our employees and the union all along that we look forward to continuing the discussions and reaching an agreement that allows us to serve our customers.”
