BCGEU issues 72 hours strike notice to BC Place (PAVCO)

BCGEU issues 72 Hours Strike Notice to BC Pavilion Corporation (PAVCO)

The BCGEU and the employer have made several attempts to reach a tentative agreement. But, even with the assistance of a mediator, we have failed to do so.

On October 17, 2011, the union asked the mediator to book out of the mediated talks between the parties.

The focus of the bargaining committee has been around job security, which is our key issue. We are concerned about contracting out and a reduction of work hours.

The union has now exercised its strike mandate, and issued the employer 72 hours strike notice on October 18, 2011.

The BCGEU will be in the legal position to exercise the strike mandate as early Friday afternoon October 21, IF it elects to do so.

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Background.....

Four days of strike voting wrapped up on Friday, September 30, 2011.

89% of members supported a strike mandate. We released these results to the public on October 3.

As of that date, we have a 90 day window to issue strike notice. We did that on October 18.

The key issue is job security.

Please note.....

The BCGEU represents two distinct groups of workers at BC Place, covered by separate collective agreements.

1) The workers who participated in the strike vote work for PAVCO. They're skilled tradespeople, perform hosting, first aid, security, field maintanence and other operational duties. Their contract expired at the end of May 2011, but remains in full force and effect until a new contract has been reached. We represent about 600 members in this bargaining unit.

2) The workers who perform food and beverage duties/serving work for CENTERPLATE. They're covered by a separate collective agreement and did NOT participate in the strike vote. Their contract expired at the end of January 2011, but remains in full force and effect. Negotiations will resume in December 2011.

Members of 1703 at BCP: please contact your shop steward for more information.