BC FORUM News - from the BC Federation of Labour

July, 2015

Standing in solidarity with BCAA workers - July, 2015

The British Columbia Automobile Association, BCAA, locked out approximately 70 Emergency Roadside Assistance employees, members of COPE 378, on June 5.

COPE 378 is now asking the public to avoid using BCAA’s car sharing program, Evo, until the lockout is ended and a fair deal is reached. Modo (Unifor), Zipcar, car2go, and Student Car Share are the other Lower Mainland car sharing options. Evo’s employees are non-union.

If you have not yet had a chance to do so, here are the other ways you can support our members.

1.      The picket line is up. Please stop by and show your support with the COPE 378 locked out members. Thank you to all the affiliate representatives who have showed their support on the picket line over the past month.

2.      If you're a BCAA member, please call their Corporate Communications number at 604-268-5339 and tell them you aren't happy with being put in the middle and want them to negotiate a fair deal for our members.

Here's a sample script:

Hi there. My name is _______ and I’m a BCAA member. I’m calling because I heard about your lockout of your roadside assistance dispatchers and I’m upset about it. I don’t appreciate being put in the middle. A big reason I have a BCAA membership is because your employees provide good service and timely roadside assistance but I’m worried you won’t be able to guarantee that with the lockout.

People should get paid fairly for the hours they work. Please tell the President of BCAA that you need to get back to the negotiating table and reach a fair deal with the union.