SEIU Local 2: Cascadia liquor store workers begin strike Saturday, plan community rally at noon
May 03 2024 - 11:23AM
Employees of three Cascadia liquor stores will begin their strike
on Saturday, with a community rally planned for noon at one of the
stores. After months of negotiations, SEIU Local 2 says that
Cascadia does not seem to agree that good jobs with fairness and
dignified pay are important in the community.
"If Cascadia isn't going to recognize the hard work we do to
help make their business successful, we have no recourse other than
to strike,” said Alyssa Lansdowne-Allan, from the Eagle Creek
store.
WHAT: Rally
to Support Striking Workers
WHEN:
Saturday May 4, 2024 @ 12 pm
WHERE:
Cascadia Liquor at Quadra Village (2670 Fifth Street,
Victoria)
The workers say they need wages that allow them to live in
Victoria. Most currently make between $18 and $19 per hour. They
most recently turned down Cascadia’s offer in favour a strike on
Tuesday.
Community leaders will be voicing their support for
Lansdowne-Allan and her striking co-workers.
BACKGROUND
Cascadia liquor store workers at three locations joined SEIU
Local 2 last year because they needed improvements and fairness at
the workplace. Like many retail workers, they’ve struggle to make
ends meet, and cannot count on regular raises that keep up with the
rising costs of living.
Workers at the Quadra Village store applied for Union
certification on July 24, 2023. They were followed by workers at
the Eagle Creek store who applied on October 15, 2023. Colwood
store employees joined them on November 6, 2023.
Despite common management and ownership, for months Cascadia
insisted each liquor store was a separate employer. They tried
stopping workers from bargaining together but were ultimately
unsuccessful. They eventually dropped the challenges they filed at
the BC Labour Board and the workers were able to bargain as one
group.
“Pumping money into union-busting is no way forward,” said Chris
Stonier, one of the workers from the Colwood location. “Instead,
Cascadia should think about investing in us. Pay us fairly so we
can best serve Cascadia customers.”
The Cascadia Liquor stores are owned by the Truffles Group,
which also own Truffles Catering, Habitat Catering, Flight Cannabis
(three locations), Victoria Butterfly Gardens, and thirteen
Cascadia Liquor store locations.
SEIU Local 2 represents 20,000 workers in British Columbia,
Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Alberta. We are proud
members of the largest, fastest growing and most dynamic union in
North America.
Media Contact Diego Mendez |
416-476-7762dmendez@seiulocal2.ca