It’s been more than four months since local Rogers technicians first walked off the job in search of wages that match their fellow Lower Mainland workers.
Since then, all talks between Rogers Communications and the United Steelworkers Union Local 1944 have not led to an agreement.
This strike action stems from the fact that Abbotsford technicians are paid approximately nine per cent less than technicians in other areas of the Lower Mainland.
According to Local 1944 president Michael Phillips, this entire issue boils down to wanting equal pay for equal work.
This is something that the union will continue fighting for when both sides return to the negotiation table on Monday, Oct. 27.
“There’s no justification, financially or otherwise, for treating these workers as second-class employees,” Phillips said.
“It’s time for Rogers to do the right thing and agree to a fair and reasonable contract on Monday.”
A Rogers spokesperson said that the company remains committed to negotiating a fair collective agreement with its 25 striking technicians and has made significant steps in helping to bridge the wage gap.
“We have put forward an updated proposal that includes a five-year agreement offering long-term stability and a 16 per cent wage increase over the course of the term, and we look forward to continuing discussions next week,” said the Rogers spokesperson.
Rogers said that this 16 per cent wage hike exceeds all other recent Lower Mainland agreements, and the company has also reportedly agreed to offer things like safety footwear, severance pay improvements, higher RRSP contributions, career development opportunities, and other supplementary benefits.
One issue that has been hindering the negotiations has been Rogers bringing in other employees to fill the role of the striking technicians.
“Rather than negotiate a fair settlement, Rogers has prolonged the dispute by spending significant amounts of money to bring managers from across the country to Abbotsford to perform the work of its striking employees,” Phillips said.
“They’re continuing to exploit a loophole in the new federal anti-scab legislation, which was intended to prevent the use of replacement workers. It’s a shameful practice that violates the spirit of the law.”
In response to this ongoing tactic, the union has introduced a giant inflatable rat to the picket line, which Phillips explained is a symbol of scab workers.
The most recent negotiation took place on Oct. 1, with the two groups failing to reach an agreement.
Both Phillips and Rogers said that they are hopeful that Monday’s meeting will result in a more positive outcome.