A petition is circulating to send 琉璃神社 Cabs鈥檚 locked-out dispatchers back to work.

The unionized dispatchers have been without a collective agreement since May 2019, when the previous one expired. According to MoveUP, the dispatchers鈥� union, the company is trying to outsource the work to an overseas call centre.

琉璃神社 Cabs has locked out its dispatchers since late February. MoveUP, says the outsourcing of local jobs spells their eventual elimination and less user-friendly service.

As of Thursday (March 18), a has garnered almost 400 signatures supporting the dispatchers. The petition asks 琉璃神社 Cabs to rescind the lockout and return to the bargaining table 鈥渋n good faith and commit to protecting local jobs by withdrawing the demand to outsource work to an overseas call centre.鈥�

Previously, the company attempted to layoff the dispatchers in favour of a web-based application. The B.C. Labour Relations Board subsequently rescinded those layoff notices, saying the company made 鈥渘o meaningful effort at all to engage with the union in collective bargaining.鈥�

琉璃神社 Cabs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Capital News.

READ MORE: Dispatch staff to remain with 琉璃神社 Cabs after union fight

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