S.S. Sicamous is unionized

JOE FRIES/Special to The Herald Friday, December 10, 2010

 The S.S. Sicamous has unionized.  Penticton‘s newest – and likely smallest – shop was certified Dec. 2 by the Labour Relations Board as CUPE Local 5036.  The lone member at present is secretary Emma Jones, who earlier this week was laid off for the season. She said talk of unionizing began in the spring shortly after the new volunteer board of directors was installed.  “They just were not taking care of business for their employees,” Jones explained.  The boat‘s only other employee, artistic and managing director Glen Cairns, was denied in his bid to join the union. His contract was not renewed at the end of November and he could not be reached for comment.  Jake Kimberley, president of the S.S. Sicamous Restoration Society, cited privacy reasons when he declined comment on the matter. The society hired Vernon labour lawyer Veronica Ukrainetz to represent it in dealings with the labour board and CUPE.
Ukrainetz said the society argued Cairns‘ job was a management position and should thus be excluded from the union. The two sides had a hearing scheduled with the labour board later this month, which has since been cancelled.  “Ultimately, the parties have reached an agreement that that position would be out,” Ukrainetz said.  The lawyer also declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding Cairns‘ departure, but said the society would advertise for an executive director next year with much the same job description. CUPE did not respond Thursday to requests for comment. The boat is shut down for the winter with a number of security measures in place.