Striking retail liquor workers of Armstrong Regional Cooperative (ARC), who are members of SEIU Local 2, crashed a company-wide holiday staff dinner in Vernon, BC on Saturday evening.In a press release, SEIU Local 2 said their three-minute interruption was supported and joined by co-op members and other unionized liquor workers..The striking workers revealed a banner saying "Shame on ARC. Live up to your community co-op values. Fair bargaining now!" Someone dressed as Santa delivered a box of coal to the employer while handing out chocolate treats to staff-attendees and patrons.A one-minute TikTok video of the job action included the activists joining hands in a circle, shouting, "When we fight, we win!" The video closed with someone dressed as Santa saying that ARC was on the "naughty list."Employees of ARC Liquor Guisachan Village, represented by SEIU Local 2, have been on strike since September 14. Negotiations stalled nearly as soon as they began when the employer delivered their “final” offer to the union without discussing important outstanding issues such as wages.Julia Scott, a striking ARC employee, says responsibility for their chosen job action is their boss's fault. “No one wants to strike. No one wants to make an intervention at a holiday gathering,” said Scott. “But the reality is that we had no choice but to bring our message directly to the employer since they are refusing to sit down and talk to us at the bargaining table.”Nathan Sanders, another striking employee of the co-op explained, “ARC talks a big game about being a cooperative that embraces discussion and the local community. The workers are the local community! We’re invested in the success of the cooperative and want to resolve this immediately. We are waiting on ARC to agree to fair negotiations.”A member of the cooperative also joined the surprise intervention. “The reason I wanted to help is because I heard there were five people fighting a greedy corporation for their right to negotiate good wages,” said Cyril Chippeway. “ARC needs to walk the talk about valuing democracy and community.”Hans Petersen, the general manager of ARC, was present for the stunt. In a phone interview Western Standard, Petersen was asked what he thought of the tactic."I didn't think much of it. But quite frankly, that's something that we're dealing with with our legal counsel, and I really have no further comment on it," Petersen said.The striking workers and their union say they are prepared to continue escalating until ARC agrees to fair bargaining. A rally is scheduled for December 19 at 2:30pm outside the Guisachan location with guest speaker, Harry Bains, the former BC Minister of Labour.SEIU Local 2 represents 20,000 workers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They call themselves "proud members of the largest, fastest growing, and most dynamic union in North America."
Striking retail liquor workers of Armstrong Regional Cooperative (ARC), who are members of SEIU Local 2, crashed a company-wide holiday staff dinner in Vernon, BC on Saturday evening.In a press release, SEIU Local 2 said their three-minute interruption was supported and joined by co-op members and other unionized liquor workers..The striking workers revealed a banner saying "Shame on ARC. Live up to your community co-op values. Fair bargaining now!" Someone dressed as Santa delivered a box of coal to the employer while handing out chocolate treats to staff-attendees and patrons.A one-minute TikTok video of the job action included the activists joining hands in a circle, shouting, "When we fight, we win!" The video closed with someone dressed as Santa saying that ARC was on the "naughty list."Employees of ARC Liquor Guisachan Village, represented by SEIU Local 2, have been on strike since September 14. Negotiations stalled nearly as soon as they began when the employer delivered their “final” offer to the union without discussing important outstanding issues such as wages.Julia Scott, a striking ARC employee, says responsibility for their chosen job action is their boss's fault. “No one wants to strike. No one wants to make an intervention at a holiday gathering,” said Scott. “But the reality is that we had no choice but to bring our message directly to the employer since they are refusing to sit down and talk to us at the bargaining table.”Nathan Sanders, another striking employee of the co-op explained, “ARC talks a big game about being a cooperative that embraces discussion and the local community. The workers are the local community! We’re invested in the success of the cooperative and want to resolve this immediately. We are waiting on ARC to agree to fair negotiations.”A member of the cooperative also joined the surprise intervention. “The reason I wanted to help is because I heard there were five people fighting a greedy corporation for their right to negotiate good wages,” said Cyril Chippeway. “ARC needs to walk the talk about valuing democracy and community.”Hans Petersen, the general manager of ARC, was present for the stunt. In a phone interview Western Standard, Petersen was asked what he thought of the tactic."I didn't think much of it. But quite frankly, that's something that we're dealing with with our legal counsel, and I really have no further comment on it," Petersen said.The striking workers and their union say they are prepared to continue escalating until ARC agrees to fair bargaining. A rally is scheduled for December 19 at 2:30pm outside the Guisachan location with guest speaker, Harry Bains, the former BC Minister of Labour.SEIU Local 2 represents 20,000 workers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They call themselves "proud members of the largest, fastest growing, and most dynamic union in North America."
