The Pacific National Exhibition and its unionized workers plan to meet Monday to Wednesday to avoid disruption of the Vancouver Giants Pacific Coliseum home opener and the Vancouver Whitecaps Empire Field farewell.
Ninety-two percent of an undisclosed number of CUPE Local 1004 members voted Sept. 12-13 in favour of striking. Their contract expired Dec. 31.
If (talks) broke down on Monday or Tuesday and everyone was annoyed with each other, you could serve (strike) notice in time for the Giants game on Friday, said Local 1004 business agent Steve Varty. If things are going on, Im sure well find more time after Wednesday.
Talks broke off the day before the annual Fair opened Aug. 20 and the union delayed a strike vote. Varty said the union wanted to continue talks, but management didnt. PNE spokeswoman Laura Ballance said both sides mutually agreed to the break.
It was important that the Fair succeed and come off well, which it did, for everybody's best interests, Ballance said.
Varty said it was the first time in 25 years that a deal was not signed before the Fair. A threatened strike in 1990 prompted the National Hockey League to move its annual player draft to B.C. Place Stadium, but the sides settled and the Fair went ahead.
The PNE is offering a three-and-three-quarter percent raise over three years, which is half of what the union wants.
We have presented what is a reasonable offer, given our competition, given the economy, Ballance said. We're looking forward to getting back and hammering out a deal.
The union represents ushers and ticket takers, concession employees, janitors, administrative workers, ride operators and technicians, gardeners, mechanics and plumbers. Membership swells to 4,000 during the Fair. Varty said there are 125 year-round full-timers and 1,500 part-timers at the PNE and Playland. Wages range from $10 to $30 an hour.
Job security, cost of living and equity for the lowest paid workers are among the major issues. Varty said the union also wants the contract to include opportunities for members during the planned 20-year revitalization of the site.
If we're going to move ahead with the latest and greatest for Hastings Park, we want to be part of the PNE and get part of the work out of it and we don't think that's unreasonable, Varty said.
The Giants are scheduled to begin their 11th season at the Pacific Coliseum on Sept. 23 with a visit from the Victoria Royals, the former Chilliwack Bruins. The Whitecaps host the Seattle Sounders the next day at Empire Field.
The Whitecaps Oct. 2 move into B.C. Place Stadium could also be affected by labour negotiations. Mediated talks between the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union local 1703 and B.C. Pavilion Corporation broke off Sept. 8. The union has not announced a strike vote or new negotiation dates.
Whitecaps chief executive Paul Barber called the PavCo situation "hypothetical," but said he spoke with PNE management on Thursday and there is no back-up plan.
"The fact that the PNE have advised that mediation is taking place reassures me, and the fact that they, like us, expect the Seattle game to go ahead unaffected also reassures me," Barber said.
