SEIU members at Meadow Gardens Golf Club are celebrating the ratification of a new 3-year collective agreement after a successful one-day strike.
“We love working in such a beautiful setting, but as the ones who are responsible for keeping it beautiful, it’s important for us to be compensated fairly,” said Diana Butcher a member on the grounds crew and a chairperson on the bargaining committee.
Negotiations with management had broken down in June and on July 4th members unanimously voted to take strike action, with pickets up at 8 am on Thursday July 11th – by 4:00pm that same day members had a new memorandum with 14% wage increases in the first year, and a host of other improvements and protections.
“This is the textbook definition of union power; when we act collectively to take a stand, we win,” said Don Lackey, one of the longest serving members on the maintenance crew.
There was an overwhelming sense of support from the public and labour community. Visitors to the Club that day dropped by the picket line to endorse the strike and give their support, and members from neighboring SEIU golf courses, IBEW 213, BCGEU and firefighters with the IAFF also showed up on the picket line and lent support.
“Winning this contract ensures that we will be paid what we deserve going forward,” added Diana.
SEIU Local 2 represents hundreds of golf course workers in over a dozen courses in BC.
