(Burnaby) The BC Federation of Labour’s executive officers have voted unanimously to declare a boycott of the Alberni Golf Club, which laid off its entire unionized workforce in November.
“We reserve boycotts for only the most outrageous cases of unacceptable employer actions,” said BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore. “We couldn’t let the Alberni Golf Club’s shocking, flagrant disrespect of basic worker rights go unanswered.”
Alberni Golf Club employees first unionized in the fall of 2024. After months of bargaining delays from the employer, the workers walked out last July, winning a contract after a 10-day strike.
While the golf club’s seasonal workers are usually laid off for the winter, the club has now laid off their full-time permanent employees as well, while it plans to stay open year-round.
“This is blatant union-busting, and obvious retaliation for our insisting that the employer meet their obligations under the contract they signed in July,” SEIU Local 2 Business Agent Dallis Van Steinburg said.
“They had to be dragged kicking and screaming through every step of the bargaining process, and even once we had an agreement, they refused to honour it. But threatening our members’ livelihoods is a new low.”
BCFED Secretary-Treasurer Hermender Singh Kailley joined the workers and local supporters in a rally late last month, where he called the employer’s behaviour “pretty close to rock bottom,” adding the right to bargain collectively is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“Management may not like that. I don’t care. It’s the law of the land.”
Skidmore called on unions and workers to refuse to do any business with the golf club until the boycott is lifted. “We’re asking you to stand with people who are your friends, neighbours and fellow workers. Not one dime should go to this employer so long as they refuse to treat their workers with even a shred of decency.”
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BCFED: Rob Cottingham
Director, Communications
media@bcfed.ca
604-861-4321
SEIU Local 2: Dallis Van Steinburg
Business Agent
dvansteinburg@seiulocal2.ca
(236) 558-9447