Rogers technicians in B.C.’s Kootenay region are back on the job after the company ended a nine-day lockout tied to ongoing contract talks.
The lockout began March 19 and affected 26 employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 213. The workers, based in communities including Nelson, Trail, Cranbrook, and Fernie, handle network installations, repairs, and infrastructure work for homes and businesses. These were former Shaw employees prior to the merger with Rogers that was a $26 billion deal. They unionized last year after the deal was done.
Rogers confirmed the lockout was lifted on March 28. In a statement to the Nelson Star, the company said it wants to reach a negotiated agreement and believes a strike is unlikely at this time.
“Our goal has always been to achieve a negotiated collective agreement with our technicians. We understand a strike action on short notice is unlikely at this time, which would limit our ability to meet the needs of our customers without interruption,” said the Rogers spokesperson.
The union has filed an unfair labour practices complaint over the lockout and has not yet said when talks with the company will resume.
During the lockout, an incident involving temporary replacement workers and union members prompted a call to the RCMP in Trail on March 26. A protest group blocked a doorway with a banner that prevented replacement workers (‘existing staff’ according to Rogers) from leaving a hotel. Once the RCMP arrived the protesters agreed to take down the banner.
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Stop refering these people as "former Shaw employees" they have been Rogers employees for over two years.