BCGEU Master Bargaining update: week one wraps up in Vancouver

Master bargaining between the BCGEU and the B.C. Government, which commenced on January 10, has finished for the week.

“We’re in the preliminary stage of negotiations. Already we’ve made progress on some minor items,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker.

The union also tabled a proposal to increase government revenues by approximately $150-million a year by opening liquor stores on Sundays.

Negotiations resume in Victoria next Tuesday for three more days of bargaining. Dates have been set through to the end of March.

At our bargaining conference in December 2011, members identified wage increases, job security and improved benefits as their main contract priorities.

“Since 2010, during the term of the current agreement, our members have suffered a real wage cut of 5 percent. What we want is a fair and reasonable agreement for our members,” said Walker.

Please visit our Bargaining 2012 web page for bargaining updates.