Public Service Bargaining - Bulletin #3

BCGEU President Darryl Walker discusses recent developments in public sector bargaining

Download PDF translation of  Darryl Walker Interview

Negotiations for the 15th master and component agreements for 29,000 BCGEU public service members continued this week over three days in Victoria. This week's sessions bring the total to three weeks of negotiations since the talks began in January.

Bargaining continued under a cloud following last month's announcement by the provincial government that another 158 BCGEU members are scheduled for layoff in March. More are to be announced in next month's provincial budget.

This week talks focused on clearing the table before moving to the priority items of employment security, benefit improvements, and compensation.

"This week negotiations opened on the first day with limited movement by the employer which once again raised questions as to whether the government shares our desire for a new collective agreement," said Darryl Walker, BCGEU president. "The government negotiators told us this week that they agreed with our committee that we need to try and create some momentum at the table by trying to resolve lower priority items."

As a result, the last two days of negotiations were more productive, with both committees working hard to clear the decks. Reasonable progress was made by the end of the session with several substantive exchanges across the table and the resolution of a number of items.

"While we have made some progress this week, we will still be facing some significant demands from the government when bargaining resumes next week" said Walker. "The government's demand to end consultation with the BCGEU by eliminating the Article 29 joint committee process is particularly offensive."

The government proposal would eliminate the requirement for ministries to consult on workforce adjustment. The ministry joint committee process has been a key feature of the collective agreement for over two decades and the Article 13 layoff and recall provisions are built around these committees.

"We have been very clear that the BCGEU is not prepared to recommend a new collective agreement without improvements to our current employment security protections and Article 29 committees play a key role in protecting our members' rights," said Walker. "Members need to know that we will not renew the collective agreement without improved employment security protections for members."

Talks resume February 9 through 11 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