‘This decision shows a lack of leadership’: CUPE reacts after district lockout of workers

The District of Squamish has announced a lockout of its employees who deliver public services across the community. While the District refers to it as a “partial lockout,” the union representing workers says there is no such thing: A lockout is a lockout. In a press release, the union said once the lockout takes effect on Thursday, October 16, all services provided by CUPE 2269 members will stop, except those deemed essential as per the Essential Service Order in place.

“This decision shows a lack of leadership,” said Celeste Bickford, President of CUPE 2269. “The Mayor and Council, and senior management, have chosen escalation over resolution. Instead of doing the hard work needed to find a solution, they have chosen to lock out their own workers and indefinitely disrupt the public services that residents depend on every day”.

CUPE 2269 has engaged in limited job action since October 2 to reinforce that workers need a fair deal with competitive wages that address rising costs. The union says this will not just benefit workers but help the District recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver reliable public services.

Since 2024, approximately 40 percent of unionized workers have stopped working for the District of Squamish. And while the District has amended their exempt staff compensation policy to help address recruitment and retention concerns, they have not implemented a similar measure for unionized workers.

The press release by union says the District’s choice to lock out workers rather than engage in honest dialogue harms both workers and the community, and does nothing to address the issues that caused this dispute.

“Let’s be clear, we never walked away from the table,” said Bickford. “When the District asked to resume negotiations earlier this month, we agreed in good faith. Instead of moving toward a deal, they came back with an offer that was lower than what they had previously proposed. Since our last bargaining date, the District has misrepresented what happened during negotiations and shared inaccurate information with the public.”

CUPE 2269 has always been ready to bargain. It remains prepared to return to the table if the District is serious about reaching a fair deal that respects workers and protects the services Squamish residents rely on every day.

CUPE 2269 members represent approximately 250 workers who provide integral community services to residents, businesses, and visitors in Squamish, including water and wastewater treatment, swimming lessons, children’s programs and camps, recreation services, facilities maintenance, parks and trails maintenance, bylaw and animal control, snow removal, emergency program administration, and administrative and operations support for the RCMP.