No BCGEU job action planned for Saturday’s Whitecaps game

The BCGEU has no plans to set up picket lines at the Vancouver Whitecaps’ final game of the season on Saturday October 22, 2011.  No action on the part of BCGEU members will be taken before, during or immediately after the game.

The union issued 72-hour strike notice this week. The BCGEU and PAVCO have not been able to negotiate a collective agreement. We remain hopeful such an agreement can be reached without job action.

The BCGEU wishes the Whitecaps all the best in their final game of the season.

Please continue to watch the BCGEU website for updates.

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.
• We have issued 72 hours. We will be in a legal strike position as of October 22.
• The key issue is job security.

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 maintenance 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.