Striking employees at Naramata Centre reach agreement

PENTICTON – After 11 months of labour dispute and the closure of the Naramata Centre earlier this year, the long strike by union staff at the centre has finally come to an end.

The Naramata Centre Society and CUPE 608 announced an agreement today, April 7, noting they have finally come to a 'mutually agreeable resolution' to the nearly year-long labour dispute.

The resolution ends strike action by Naramata Centre workers and resolves outstanding issues related to the centre’s closure earlier this year.

“These 30 members walked a picket line for almost a year – through every kind of weather. I am proud of them and of the overwhelming response they received from CUPE locals and other unions across the country,” National CUPE President Paul Moist said in a release.

Naramata Centre’s labour dispute began May 15, 2014, after a restructuring plan was introduced by the Naramata Centre Board of Directors.

On January 21, 2015, the centre announced it was closing its doors for good, leaving union staff without work or a final settlement.

“The closure of Naramata Centre and this agreement mark the end of CUPE’s 40-year relationship with the Centre, but we will always have enormous respect for our Naramata sisters and brothers who stood up for their rights under difficult circumstances,” CUPE B.C. President Mark Hancock said.

The union will pay tribute to the Naramata workers at their convention in Vancouver, which takes place April 29 to May 2.

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