FFSBC Bargaining Update #5

Date: May 28, 2010
To: All BCGEU Members at the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Re: Collective Bargaining Update #5

Your bargaining committee met with the Employer today, May 28, 2010, four weeks since the Parties last met. There had been an adjournment in negotiations while the Parties consulted with their respective principals and clarified their mandates.

The only outstanding issues are wages and term. The Employer has stated that they have proposed the limit of their mandate, a 0% increase in 2010, a one-half percent (.5%) increase in 2011 and a 2% increase in 2012. Your committee does not feel that this is adequate enough to finalize an agreement. As a result, the Parties are at impasse. We have advised the Employer that we will go to our members to seek further direction.

The bargaining committee is planning to have a conference call with FFSBC shop stewards in the very near future. We will advise stewards well in advance of the date and time of the call. The agenda for that call will be how the bargaining committee and bargaining unit members can move the negotiation forward.

The bargaining committee would like to express their appreciation for the tremendous support that they have received from the membership. It is this support that helps us to remain focused and strong at the bargaining table.

Once again, the bargaining committee urges you to ensure that your personal contact information is up to date. The bargaining committee will be mailing packages to your home and we wish to ensure that we reach every member of the bargaining unit so that you may participate in the voting process. You can change your personal contact information electronically by visiting the BCGEU website at http://www.bcgeu.ca/change_of_address.

If you have any questions or concerns at all, please contact a member of the bargaining committee.

In solidarity,

Tony Andrychuk, Bargaining Committee Chairperson
Pam Fox, Member
Ron Ek, Member
Chris Mullen, Staff Representative Negotiations