Your Bargaining Committee is pleased to report that on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the parties were able to reach a tentative agreement.

The Bargaining Committee is recommending acceptance of the three-year agreement that expires on December 31, 2018. 

The agreement consists of 1.5% wage increase on January 1, 2016, January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018. There is an introduction of a tiered wage scale for all new hires. New hires start at 90% of full rate, after 1820 hours they will progress to 95% of full rate and at 3640 hours they progress to full rate. All existing employees are protected at the full rate of pay, no matter how many hours they have worked.

There are minor improvements to special leaves. As well, there are improvements to Extended Health Benefits, including increased vision, dental and paramedical practitioners. 

There are a number of improvements to language contained in the agreement as well as housekeeping changes. There are changes to the casual call in and scheduling of vacation in language, which will be explained at the ratification meeting. The Page Pool memorandum has been deleted and all existing page pool employees will become casual employees whose employment will now be defined by the language in the collective agreement.

Please attend one of the ratification meetings that have been scheduled as follows:

• Tuesday, February 9 – Morning               
• BCGEU Area Office, 158 Oriole Road, Kamloops               
• 11:00 a.m.

• Tuesday, February 9 – Evening
• BCGEU Area Office, 158 Oriole Road, Kamloops  
• 5:30 p.m.                   

Any members unable to attend the meetings in person may call in via tele-conference, 1-866-562-0090. This will allow you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Further information and ballots will be sent to Mid-Six, Gateway and Merritt libraries.

Kamloops, North Kamloops, Administration, and Outreach will be able to vote at the ratification meetings. If you are unable to attend the meetings, you may also vote in person at the Kamloops BCGEU Area Office during business hours between Tuesday, February 9 and Friday, February, 12, 2016. Ballots will be counted Monday, February 15, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.

In solidarity

Kathy Adams, Bargaining Committee Chair 
Larry Maki, Bargaining Committee Member 
Brenda Beckmann, Staff Representative
Brenda Dunn, Bargaining Committee Member
Mike Brown, Bargaining Committee Member

Download PDF of notice here.

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