A memo from B.C. Place Stadiums general manager to unionized workers says Novembers Grey Cup championship could be in jeopardy if they vote to strike.
I know you share my enthusiasm for the many events in the weeks and months ahead from the B.C. Lions to the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Whitecaps FC, and leading up to Canadas largest event, the Grey Cup! Howard Crosley wrote Tuesday.
Unfortunately, all those events could be in jeopardy. The union that represents employees in the stadium has announced that it is conducting a strike vote that might result in a strike disrupting these events.
The four-year contract for the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union Local 1703 expired May 31. Scheduled negotiations that included mediator Mark Brown reached an impasse Sept. 8. Members are voting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Hyatt Regency and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the BCGEU office in Burnaby on whether to issue 72-hour strike notice against stadium management.
He wrote that a strike could disrupt the scheduled events, tarnish all of our reputations as providers of the best entertainment experience, and interfere with your income and your enjoyment of your employment at these events.
The B.C. government paid the Canadian Football League $1.88 million to host the 99th Grey Cup on Nov. 27 at B.C. Place.
He explained the union needs only a simple majority to strike.
So, if only 10 employees vote, but 6 vote in favour of a strike, a legal strike may follow, Crosley wrote. There need be no further votes.
Crosley did not respond to a Courier phone call Thursday morning, but B.C. Place spokesman Trevor Pancoust said the letter was sent in order make sure the employees are fully informed about all of the potential impacts of a strike.
BCGEU spokeswoman Karen Tankard said the union would not comment on the memo.
Our priority remains getting a fair collective agreement for our members. There will be no job action on opening night, Tankard said. We want the opening to be a success and so do our members who work there. We don't intend to release the strike vote results until Monday.
Tankard said the unions goal is to kickstart negotiations and get a new contract. Job security is the main issue, Tankard said. Provincial workers are subject to a wage freeze. B.C. Place workers are paid $13.99 to $29.59 per hour.
Meanwhile, the B.C. Lions and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Whitecaps may have nowhere else to play in the event of a strike. Empire Field, their former temporary home at the Pacific National Exhibition, is scheduled to be dismantled in the first week of October and will take us till Christmas, said Florian Weber, head of stadium construction for Nussli Special Events (Canada).
