Vancouver, B.C.—E-Comm and CUPE Local 873, the Union that represents E-Comm’s 533 Bargaining Unit employees, have mutually agreed to proceed to interest arbitration to settle their Collective Agreement, which expired December 31, 2018.
The parties have been engaged in collective bargaining and mediation at the Labour Relations Board (LRB) since March 2019. Due to the critical nature of the public safety services E-Comm and its employees provide, the LRB has also been involved in negotiating essential services levels to limit any impacts in the event of labour disruption. Given the process of interest arbitration will result in a binding Collective Agreement, any labour disruption at E-Comm has been avoided and essential services negotiations are concluded.
The parties have agreed on a process to select an arbitrator who will conduct an interest arbitration on an expedited basis.
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About E-Comm
E-Comm is the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in 25 regional districts in British Columbia and provides dispatch services for more than 70 police agencies and fire departments. E‐Comm also owns and operates the largest multi‐jurisdictional, tri‐service wide‐area radio network in the province used by police, fire and ambulance personnel throughout Metro Vancouver and parts of the Fraser Valley. As of October 31, E-Comm has handled over 1.5 million 9-1-1 calls in B.C. so far in 2019.
Media Contacts
Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm Corporate Communications
Matthew J. Bordewick
Chairperson
CUPE Local 873-02
Emergency Dispatchers of BC