17 Kelowna jail guards employed by Comissionaires BC have given a 72 hour strike notice, and intend to do so Friday morning at 6.
The negotiations between Comissionaires BC and CUPE Local 338 have been ongoing for over 6 months and the stalemate started over the union's request for a 2 dollar wage increase. Harry Nott, the national representative for CUPE says 2 bucks isn't too much to ask. "We're making 5 dollars less than people doing the same job in other places in the province, including as close as Penticton."
Nott says a 2 dollar increase wouldn't close the whole gap but the union is trying to "take baby steps."
Aside from the pending job action the union will also likelly approach the City of Kelowna to broach the idea of eliminating the Commissionaires from the process. Nott says there are questions as to whether the city actually saves money by contracting the jail service to the Commissionaires, or if council would consider taking control of the service again.
Duties for local jail guards include overseeing prisoners, assisting with personal and cell searches and finger printing.