News Release

Commissionaires BC left with No Alternative - Service at Williams Lake RCMP Detachment Ended

May 27, 2008, Williams Lake, BC – Commissionaires BC issued termination notices to fifteen guards and matrons at the Williams Lake RCMP detachment, yesterday, May 26, 2008.

This comes after workers did not respond by the May 23rd deadline set by Commissionaires to settle the ongoing dispute. On May 9th Commissionaires sent the employees a letter outlining their “Final and Best Offer”. This step was taken in order to give employees a clear idea of what the company was offering, so they could have the opportunity to request a vote on the issue.

The company offered an immediate raise of 12.6 per cent to $14.25, followed by $14.60 for 2009/2010 and $15 for 2010/2011, representing an increase of 18.6 per cent over the three years of the agreement. Commissionaires further offered reinstatement and continuation of existing benefits, and provision for a level of permanent employment – determined by seniority – within the bargaining unit.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 882 rejected the offer. The union was seeking $18 an hour, effective immediately.

“We were offering the same pay rates as received at other equivalent detachments,” says Commissionaires BC CEO, Allen Batchelar. “We have done everything possible within our means to settle this matter. We have a contract with the Government of Canada to provide services within the province of BC from 2007 to 2011 and we are bound by the pricing contained in that contract. Based on those obligations, if we had to pay $18 an hour for the services provided at Williams Lake, our labour costs would exceed our billing revenue.” explains Batchelar. “The RCMP must be able to get on with their operations unimpeded by such distractions.”

Commissionaires was left with no alternative but to notify the Government of Canada that they can no longer provide services at Williams Lake RCMP detachment. This means that Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) will be free to contract out services to another provider.

Commissionaires BC

Commissionaires BC is British Columbia’s largest security organization, providing private and public sector clients with complete security solutions. Commissionaires BC protects air and sea ports, border crossings and government facilities. They also work in hospitals, schools and commercial enterprises. Every security solution or professional service that Commissionaires BC provides draws on the proven experience of highly trained former military and police personnel, who are the mainstay of its team of more than 1,600 professionals. More information at: www.commissionaires.bc.ca.

Media Contact

Allen Batchelar, President & CEO
Commissionaires BC
T 604 646 3331
batchelar@commissionaires.bc.ca

 

“We are a not-for-profit organization and we pay out 88 per cent in wages and benefits to our employees,” says Batchelar. “The remaining 12 per cent of revenue goes to cover operating costs like office staff salaries, administration, insurance, rent, and so on. Any surplus earned beyond needs goes back to our employees. We tried to be fair, but the union wasn’t interested in listening or negotiating.”

Bargaining began in February 2007, and workers went on strike March 3, 2008.

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