Home

President's Blog

Tentative public service agreement reached with provincial government

30 Mar '10
After three months of public service bargaining, we reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government on the weekend.

This was one of the toughest rounds of bargaining I've ever been in. The government said there would be no wage increase and any improvements to the agreement had to come from savings in the current agreement. Read more »

Closing legal aid offices hurts those most in need

25 Mar '10
If you are a single mother on a limited income who needs legal representation to gain custody of your children and financial support for them, you're pretty much on your own in British Columbia.

Likewise, if you are an immigrant fleeing from a repressive country, trying to begin a new life in Canada, your ability to access legal aid has been severely restricted. Read more »

Health science professionals begin bargaining

19 Mar '10
Health science professionals began bargaining this week. Like all other sectors that are bargaining this year, they face some serious challenges.

The government's zero mandate on wage increases is making it hard for all sectors to negotiate to get the improvements that they need in their agreements. Read more »

Community social services matter

11 Mar '10
March is Community Social Services (CSS) Awareness Month. This year the people who do this important work and the British Columbians who pay for and rely on these services need support more than ever before.

The B.C. government refuses to make community social services a priority. In the past six months, nearly 100 community programs have been cut across the province. More cuts are coming. Read more »

A tentative agreement in facilities bargaining

10 Feb '10
The multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association and B.C.'s health employers have reached a tentative two year agreement. It covers more than 48,000 hospital and long-term care workers. Roughly 2,000 belong to the BCGEU.

The overall framework of the tentative facilities agreement is similar to what we achieved in community health. Read more »

BCGEU contributes to Haitian relief on behalf of members

26 Jan '10
Like many of you, I was shocked by the television images of devastation and grief that followed the earthquake in Haiti - levelling many towns and cities and claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.
Read more »

Withdrawl of BCNU raid applications an opportunity to move forward

20 Jan '10
This week, the BC Nurses Union announced it is withdrawing its raid applications at the Labour Relations Board to represent all Licensed Practical Nurses in B.C., because they don't have enough signed cards to trigger a certification vote.
Read more »

BCGEU stakes clear position in public service talks

13 Jan '10
As we finish our first two days of public service bargaining, it is clear that we face a challenging round of negotiations.
Read more »

BCGEU members stand up for their communities

16 Dec '09
I continue to be amazed by our members and how dedicated they are to the services they provide, in the face of real challenges.

The Northern Health Authority (NHA) announced it would be closing two important services for some of the most vulnerable people in our province: Step Up House, a mental health group home in Quesnel and ATLAS Youth Drug and Alcohol Treatment centre in Terrace.
Read more »

Cuts to mental health are short-sighted

8 Dec '09

Yesterday I went to Waddell's Haven Guest Home, a mental health and addictions facility in Mission.

I was there to talk to workers, residents and their families about Fraser Health Authority's recent announcement of the facility's closure. They were in shock after hearing the news last week.

Read more »
Syndicate content