B.C.’s Labour Minister Harry Bains has appointed a special mediator to try to end a five-month long labour dispute at the Hudson’s Bay in Kamloops.
The province says David Schaub will be tasked with trying to help both parties – the Hudson’s Bay Company and the United Steelworkers Local 1-417, which represents the workers – reach an agreement that would end the strike that began on Dec. 10.
“Schaub is a highly regarded mediator in the labour, business and public-sector communities,” a statement from the Province said. “He will work with the parties for up to 14 days to secure a resolution to the ongoing strike.”
“If a settlement cannot be reached within this timeline, he will issue recommendations to end the dispute with both parties having five days to either accept or reject those recommendations.”
Last month, the Steelworkers launched a nationwide campaign in support of the striking Kamloops workers to try to urge people at other Hudson’s Bay stores to “put pressure on management to reach a fair deal and reopen the Kamloops store.”
“We understand that our decision to strike may inconvenience some customers, but we believe it is necessary to draw attention to the unfair treatment from Hudson’s Bay,” USW Local 1-417 Financial Secretary, Jordan Lawrence, said.
“We urge consumers to support us in our fight for a fair deal and to join us in holding Hudson’s Bay accountable. To the residents of Kamloops – please respect our picket line by not shopping online during Bay Days.”
Employees of the Hudson’s Bay store in Kamloops have been unionized since 1993.
Their only other labour dispute came during negotiations over the very first collective agreement three decades ago, a dispute that lasted nine months.