For the past 43 days, workers of Cascadia Liquor stores throughout Greater Victoria have been on strike.
However, on Sunday, June 16th, an amicable deal was made and ratified between Cascadia and the workers union, SEIU Local 2, thus ending the strike and boycott.
The strike began because workers were upset that Cascadia’s upper management had been trying to supplement their wages by having debit and credit transactions prompt customers for tips.
The three locations of Cascadia that have been unionized and participated in the strike are those from the Colwood, Eagle Creek and Quadra locations.
The workers and their union felt this was a way for Cascadia to try to avoid paying their staff a living wage by putting the financial onus on their customers.
“After 43 days of walking the picket line, Cascadia Liquor workers have won their first union contract,” said the union’s website.
“The three-year contract includes significant wage increases, wage premiums for specialized positions, health and dental benefits, and other improvements.”
During the 43-day strike, Cascadia was called out by workers on the picket line for bringing in temporary workers to keep stores open during the strike.
According to SEIU Local 2, the BC Labour Relations Board confirmed with them that this was illegal and in breach of the provincial Labour Relations Code.
Now that a deal has been made and ratified by Cascadia’s workers, their union will be releasing details of the agreement, which may include whether or not customers will still be prompted to tip at the till.
