CUPE 1698 Last Offer Vote FAQ
November 2025
- What is a “last offer vote”?
A last offer vote is a process under the BC Labour Relations Code where an employer can force the Labour Relations Board (LRB) to conduct a vote of the union membership on the employer’s final offer.
- Who gets to vote?
All CUPE 1698 members covered by the collective agreement can vote.
- How will the vote take place?
The Labour Relations Board (LRB) organizes and oversees the vote. It is conducted by secret ballot, meaning no one will know how any individual votes. The outcome is decided by a simple majority (50% +1) of the votes cast.
- When: Voting opens Thursday, November 13 at 12:00 p.m. and closes Friday, November 14 at 12:00 p.m.
- How: An email from the British Columbia Labour Relations Board vote@simplyvoting.com will be sent to your personal email address at noon on Wednesday November 12th. It will include your unique link to vote and will have a subject line that includes the case number 2025-001388.
- If you do not receive your voting information: contact the Labour Relations Board at 604-660-1300 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. before voting closes. Provide your full and preferred names and cite case number 2025-001388 so they can assist you.
- What happens if members vote NO?
If a majority of members vote NO, bargaining can continue. Mediation through the LRB is already underway, and the mediator has confirmed they will continue working both sides to help reach a fair, negotiated settlement. A NO vote does not trigger a strike or a lockout. It simply send a clear message that members want a better offer and a fair agreement reached through continued negotiation.
- What happens if members vote YES?
If a majority of members vote YES, the employer’s final offer becomes the new collective agreement. Bargaining ends, and we lose the opportunity to keep negotiating for a better deal.
- Why is your bargaining committee recommending a NO vote?
The employer’s offer fails to address key priorities CUPE 1698 members identified, including:
- Fair and reasonable wage increases
- Improved dental coverage and mental health benefits
- Improved vacation leave in an employee’s earliest years of service
- Timely improvements for casual employees
Bargaining is meant to be a collaborative process, with both sides working together to find fair solutions. By calling a last offer vote instead of continuing to negotiate, the employer is trying to push through what they believe is fair.
Voting NO tells the employer members expect a better deal and that we want to reach it through meaningful negotiation—not a take-it-or-leave-it vote.
- Can the employer call another last offer vote later?
No. Under the Labour Relations Code, an employer can request only one last offer vote per round of bargaining. That means this is the only last offer vote they can call until this contract is settled, and a future round of bargaining begins.
- Will this lead to a strike or a lockout?
A NO vote on the last offer does not mean a strike or a lockout. Voting NO on the employer’s last offer simply means members want bargaining to continue. Both a strike and a lockout can only happen after formal notice and legal steps through the Labour Relations Board. No strike can occur without a separate vote by CUPE 1698 members. We are not asking for that at this time.
Right now, we’re focused on getting back to the table with the help of a mediator to reach a fair deal. If anything changes, your Bargaining Committee will ensure that everyone understands what’s happening and has as much notice as possible before any next steps are taken.
If anything changes, your bargaining committee will ensure that everyone understands what’s happening and has as much notice as possible before any next steps are taken.
- Where can members get more information?
We want everyone to have the information they need before casting their ballot. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your bargaining committee at laurie.dyck1698@gmail.com or use our contact us form on our website General Contact – CUPE 1698.
Your CUPE 1698 Bargaining Committee is:
Laurie Dyck, (President)
Minakshi Sidhu (General Vice President)
Robin Braidwood (Member at Large)
Grace Derksen
Natalie Fouquette (Communications Officer)
Michelle Anderson (CUPE National Rep)