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BCGEU Public Sector Bargaining 2022: Backgrounder

The BCGEU is one of B.C.’s largest unions, representing more than 85,000 members who work in every sector of the provincial economy and live in every community across B.C. 

More than 64,000 BCGEU members (78 per cent) are covered by one of the six public sector agreements that will be negotiated in 2022. 

BCGEU members make up 17 per cent of the 384,000 unionized workers and public service professionals that will be negotiating with the provincial government in 2022. 

All six agreements took effect April 1, 2019 and are set to expire on March 31, 2022. 

Public Service agreement 

  • The BCGEU is the only union covered by this agreement. 
  • Employer: Public Service Agency 
  • BCGEU members covered: approximately 33,000 
  • Negotiations start date: Tuesday, February 8, 2022 
  • Examples of jobs performed and services provided by BCGEU members 
    • Correctional officers and sheriffs; 
    • B.C. government liquor store and cannabis store workers; 
    • Social workers, child protection, probation officers, and system analysts;  
    • Administrative and support services; 
    • Wildfire forest fighters, biologists, design engineers, conservation officers, scientific/technical officers, inspectors and planning officers.  

Community Social Services (Community Living, General Services and Indigenous Services agreements) 

  • BCGEU leads the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) – an association of 10 unions 
  • Total workers covered: 17,000 
  • BCGEU members covered: over 11,000 
  • Employer association: Community Social Services Employer Association (CSSEA) 
  • Negotiations scheduled to start on: February 2, 2022 
  • Description: workers who help and support the most vulnerable members of our communities, including youth at risk, women, people with disabilities, new Canadians, First Nations, and many others. 

Community Health (the Health Services & Support – Community Subsector agreement) 

  • BCGEU leads the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) – an association of 8 unions  
  • Total workers covered: 21,000 
  • BCGEU members covered: over 13,000 
  • Employer association: Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) 
  • Negotiations start date: Thursday, February 3, 2022 
  • Description: health care professionals who provide home care that enables seniors age in place, support people living with mental health and addictions challenges, provide administrative services to keep the community health care system running smoothly.  

Post-secondary (Instructors and Support Staff agreements) 

  • The BCGEU is the only union covered by the common agreements for instructors and support staff. 
  • Employers: Camosun College (Instructors only), Coast Mountain College, Douglas College (Support only), Justice Institute of BC (Support only), Kwantlen Polytechnic University (support only), Northern Lights College, Okanagan College, Selkirk College (Instructors only), Vancouver Island University (Instructors only). 
  • BCGEU members covered: about 4,800 (900 Instructors, 3,900 Support staff). 
  • Negotiations start date: 
    • Instructors - February 28, 2022 
    • Support staff - September 20, 2022
  • Description: Technical and trades instructors and administrative professionals at post-secondary institutions across B.C. 

Health Science Professionals

  • BCGEU is part of a multi-union association of 5 unions led by the Health Sciences Association 
  • Total workers covered: 19,000 
  • BCGEU members covered: over 3,000 
  • Employer association: Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) 
  • Negotiations start date: Wednesday, March 2, 2022
  • Description: health care professionals working as social program officers, environmental health officers, public health inspectors, recreation therapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technologists and more. 

Health Facilities (Health Services and Support - Facilities Subsector agreement) 

  • Bargaining has concluded – a new agreement was ratified on October 13, 2022
  • BCGEU is part of a multi-union association led by the Hospital Employees Union 
  • Total workers covered: over 44,000 
  • BCGEU members covered: over 2,000 
  • Employer association: Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) 
  • Negotiations start date: February 11, 2021 
  • Description: health care professionals providing personal care, housekeeping, building maintenance, laundry, dietary, security and rehabilitation services at institutional and long-term-care facilities.