File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

City of Kamloops

Labour Relations Board dismisses City of Kamloops appeal of ruling on Bylaw Services Department restructuring

Feb 1, 2024 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops has lost its appeal of an arbitrator’s ruling that it breached its union contract by restructuring its former Bylaw Services Department.

The restructuring took place in 2020, with the city transforming the department into a team of Community Services Officers while folding in custodians at Kamloops RCMP cells.

CUPE 900 grieved the restructuring, arguing the city imposed more stringent prerequisites and schedule changes while not making ‘real and substantial’ changes to the position’s duties.

The B.C. Labour Relations Board (BCLRB) sent the dispute to arbitration, with Arbitrator Andrew Sims ruling largely in favour of the union. Sims said the affected employees should remain in their positions while the city and union sit down to negotiate areas in which the city breached the collective agreement.

The city appealed Sims’ ruling, saying he failed to fairly consider the city’s argument that the move to Community Services Officers did constitute ‘real and substantial change’ in duties.

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BCLRB Vice-Chair David Chesman released his ruling on the appeal Wednesday (Jan. 31).

Chesman sided with the union, dismissing the appeal while saying the city did not convince him it did not receive a fair hearing from Sims.

Read the full ruling here.