Public Service Bargaining - Bulletin #2

January 28, 2010

Negotiations for the 15th master and component agreements for 29,000 BCGEU public service members continued this week over three days in Vancouver with the union and government canvassing bargaining proposals which were tabled earlier this month.

Bargaining started under a cloud following last week's announcement by the provincial government that another 158 BCGEU members are scheduled for layoff in the coming months. The reductions come from the Ministry of Forests and Range and the Ministry of Citizens' Services, with the bulk of the reductions coming from Shared Services B.C., an agency of the Ministry of Citizens' Services. Most of these new job cuts will take place in the Capital Region.

"We told the government negotiators that while we are ready to roll up our sleeves and do some hard bargaining, last week's announcement raised questions as to whether the province shares our desire for a new collective agreement or are they looking for a fight," said Darryl Walker BCGEU president. "The actions of government last week have made an already complicated set of talks even more challenging."

"I told the government negotiators that these announcements left our members and bargaining committee shocked and angry," said Walker. "We can't recall a previous round of negotiations where government has shown such disrespect to our members by announcing new job cuts as we sit down to try and bargain a new agreement."

Based on input from the members, the priority areas for the union at the bargaining table include employment security, benefit improvements, and compensation.

"We have been very clear that the BCGEU is not prepared to recommend a new collective agreement without improvements of our current employment security protections," said Walker. "After last week's announcements, I can tell you that our demand for improved employment security is set in concrete."

The BCGEU bargaining committee reconfirmed its desire to work creatively and bargain a new agreement with the government. Some progress was made this week on the range of proposals which both sides have tabled.

Talks resume February 2 to 4 in Victoria, with additional dates set through to March 31, when the current contract expires.

The committee will be updating members following each bargaining session.

Members should check the web site for updates. To make sure the union has your e-mail address to receive bargaining news, go to http://www.bcgeu.ca/email.

Members can also check the union's Bargaining Hotline by calling (604) 473-5444 or 1-800-335-5665.

Public Service Bargaining Committee members:

BCGEU president - Darryl Walker
BCGEU vice-president - Colleen Jones
Component 1 - Dean Purdy
Component 2 - Susanne Francoeur
Component 5 - Craig MacKay
Component 6 - Doug Kinna
Component 12 - Sandi McLean, Lori Joaquin
Component 20 - Byron Goerz
Chief staff negotiators - Jaynie Clark, David Vipond