The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) have closed their libraries indefinitely thanks to an impending strike by the BC General and Service Employees Union (BCGSEU), and are outlining other services that they say will be affected.
On May 7 the BCGSEU gave the CRD a 72-hour-strike notice for its 109 employees it represents. The CRD says that because of the BCGSEU strike action, all of their libraries will be closed and will remain such until the BCGSEU strike ends, with them noting that “late fees for library books which are due for return after May 8 will be waived during the duration of the strike.” Libraries affected include the Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100 Mile House locations.
This strike will not affect the CRD’s essential and contract services, including their operation of fire departments due to them being staffed by volunteers and landfills and transfer stations due to them being operated by independent contractors. CRD staff will continue to operate, maintain and conduct emergency repairs for customers of the CRD’s water and sewer systems.
Central Cariboo Search and Rescue will also operate normally and in the result of an emergency during the strike the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will remain staffed. Board meetings, elections/referenda that have to go ahead during the strike also will not be affected.
The CRD will also continue to accept grants of assistance through their online application portal during “designated times.”
READ MORE: Union, Cariboo Regional District in negotiations
Services that will be directly affected by the strike include utility bill payments, which the CRD said will “not be accepting payments through our offices at this time” - giving people the options to pay their utility bills by mailing a cheque to their Central Cariboo Office at Williams Lake, or by online banking, an ATM, telephone banking or in-person at your bank. In addition, the CRD said that their Invasive Plant Management services and activities grant writing support services will be postponed until the strike ends.
Freedom of Information Requests may also be delayed, noting that Section 10 of the Act identifies “circumstances where the Regional District may request a time extension for responses” - with the CRD adding that “we will communicate with individual requestors about any delays in meeting the 30-day response timeline under the Act.”
The CRD stated their ability to process development applications “will be limited because of the strike” and that applicants should anticipate “delays and longer processing timelines.” The CRD will not be taking any general zoning and land use questions, and have directed property owners to use the online zoning tool to look up the appropriate regulation.
READ MORE: CRD unionized employees issue 72-hour-strike notice
Building permit applications can still be submitted digitally but no customer support will be available to deal with competing permits. Processing will be done on a “first come first served” basis with no guarantees of the processing time. Building inspections will take place with no scheduled time or dates given, instead taking place when convenient for inspection personnel.
The CRD stated that they “may still proceed with compliance and enforcement action if buildings are constructed without a permit or without mandatory inspections being completed”, but also noted that although they will continue to accept complaints about possible bylaw infractions, “no compliance or enforcement staff will be able to respond to the complaint.”
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