A union strike marred by a number of labour complaints has reached a deal after just over six weeks of striking.
On June 16, the Service Employees International Union announced that they have reached a deal with Cascadia Liquor after Cascadia employees from three locations in Victoria, Colwood and View Royal went on strike for 43 days, asking for fair wages.
According to the union's website, "the three-year contract includes significant wage increases, wage premiums for specialized positions, health and dental benefits, and other improvements."
Throughout the strike, the union filed two B.C. Labour Relations Board complaints against the employer. They claimed Cascadia was using head office employees to perform duties typically done by striking employees, which the board agreed with and issued a cease and desist order to the employer; and the second, which is still going through the board, was a claim the employer was bargaining in bad faith after they sent an email to striking employees with an offer of higher wages and a bonus if they go back to work.
The employer also filed a complaint saying the union "engaged in witness intimidation," but the complaint was dismissed the next day.
The three stores unionized in 2023, and a fourth, based in the Uptown Shopping Mall, applied to join the union during the strike.
More details about the deal will be released in the coming days.
