Workers at the Hudson's Bay in Kamloops picket the entrance to the store inside Aberdeen Mall. (Photo via United Steelworkers Local 1-417)
UPDATE May 23, 11 a.m. – An over five-month long strike at the Hudson’s Bay in Kamloops is over, with the store at Aberdeen Mall set to reopen in the second week of June.
The company confirmed to Radio NL that it has reached an agreement with the United Steelworkers Local 1-417, which represents about 50 employees who have been on the picket lines since Dec. 10, 2023.
“Hudson’s Bay is pleased that an agreement with the union representing the associates at its Kamloops location has been ratified,” Tiffany Bourré, Hudson’s Bay Vice President of Communications said, in an email to Radio NL.
“We are happy with the outcome, and look forward to welcoming associates back to store and serving our customers in the community.”
Workers who went on strike demanding better wages rejected an “insulting” a 1 per cent increase in January. At this time, it is not clear how much of an increase they negotiated, as details about the agreement have not been made public.
“The agreement brings substantial contract language improvements, safeguards for union positions, wage increases, and lumpsum provisions,” the Steelworkers 1-417 said, in a statement. “In addition, HBC has committed to providing significant financial support for members opting not to return to The Bay.”
“Like all collective agreements, this agreement involved compromise, with neither the USW nor HBC management getting everything they desired. However, USW members have fought for and won an agreement that will enable them to return to work with dignity, knowing our fight has resulted in a better workplace now and into the future.”
The agreement comes about three weeks after the B.C. government appointed David Schaub as a mediator to try to end the strike.
“We thank mediator David Schaub for his assistance in achieving a resolution, and our customers for their patience and loyalty over the last several months,” Bourré added, in her statement.
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.
