The Nanaimo Golf Club has locked out 24 food and beverage employees after being served a strike notice last week.
Club management locked out its chef, as well as bartenders, cooks, servers, dishwashers and janitors Friday afternoon in response to a strike notice served by Unite Here Local 40 that expired the same day.
The clubhouse and bar remain open but food services are limited. It's unknown when employees will return to work.
Ash Chadha, general manager of the Nanaimo Club House, said the strike notice allowed for employees to walk off the job at any given time without further notice, which would have resulted in significant disruption to member services and planned outside events. He said they believe the lock out is in the best interest of the club and members and for certainty of services, but he adds that they want to get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible and have proposed mediation.
Union negotiator Shelly Ervin, however, says she has not heard from the clubhouse about getting back to the bargaining table. She also said that while they would agree to mediation, they are too far apart and the golf club needs to take concessions off the table including reduction of pay to entry-level employees and an increase to number of hours they have to complete to get a full rate.
Food and beverage employees are looking for approximate two per cent wage increase and improved dental and medical benefits.