Public Service Bargaining - Bulletin #5: Component bargaining underway

IN CONVERSATION - BCGEU president Darryl Walker updates members on public service bargaining

Download a PDF transcript of the Darryl Walker Interview

Negotiations for the 15th Component agreements for 29,000 BCGEU public service members got underway this week in Victoria. This week's sessions mark the first of two weeks which the BCGEU and the province have agreed to dedicate to Component negotiations.

The Components are:

• Correctional and Sheriff Services - Component 1

• Hospital and Allied Services - Component 2

• Retail Stores and Warehouse - Component 5

• Social, Information and Health - Component 6

• Administrative Services - Component 12

• Environmental, Technical and Operational - Component 20

All Components are reporting slow progress in the early days of negotiations and it is anticipated that negotiations will proceed into next week. Component committees will be updating members following these bargaining sessions.

Talks resume at the master bargaining table following the provincial budget on March 2 in Victoria, with additional dates set through to March 31, when the current contract expires.

Members should check the BCGEU 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