NEWS & UPDATES
October 03, 2018
Casino workers say they cannot get by on Gateway wages - BCGEU
Striking workers speak out about need for family-supporting wages
(Thompson-Okanagan) As the strike at Gateway Casinos in the Thompson-Okanagan continues, BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) members are opening up about why they are holding out for fair wages despite being on the picket line for over three months.
"Over the years I've struggled as a single mom to make ends meet,"...
October 02, 2018
President’s bulletin to members on the introduction of the Poverty Reduction ...
Since November 2017 it has been my honour to serve as a member of the Minister's Advisory Forum on Poverty Reduction-a diverse and dynamic group made up of 27 people from the non-profit sector, labour, business, academia, local government, health care, social services, First Nations and Indigenous communities and including people with lived experience of poverty.
The Forum was created to serve ...
October 02, 2018
Hardrock Casino Steward Election Ballot Count Time - BCGEU
The ballot count for the Hard Rock steward election will take place just after midnight after the close of voting at 12:01 AM on Thursday, October 4th. The original bulletin showed the vote count taking place at 12:01 pm (noon) which is incorrect. You can vote for you Casino Stewards Tuesday, October 2nd from 10am to 6pm and on Wednesday, October 3rd from 4pm to midnight. In solidarity, Fateh...
September 28, 2018
Union challenging undemocratic ICBA referendum lawsuit - BCGEU
VANCOUVER - The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) was granted intervenor status with the right to call evidence by the B.C. Supreme Court Thursday in response to the petition brought forth by the Independent Contractors and Business Association (ICBA), the Canada West Construction Union and private citizen Kenneth Baerg. The petition challenges the provincial government's propo...
September 28, 2018
Local 1703 Hard Rock Casino - Time To Vote For Your Stewards! - BCGEU
What: Steward Election (Stewards are Hard Rock workers just like you who act as union representatives on the job and whom management is legally responsible to recognize in the process of resolving issues in the workplace.)
Who: All members in the Table Games, Slots, Guest Services, Security, Count/Cage departments can and should vote!
When: The election for stewards will take place on Tuesday, ...
September 26, 2018
BCGEU applauds provincial government's decision to lower annual rent increase
The BCGEU is encouraged by the government's decision to lower annual rent increases by capping them to inflation. This was one of the recommendations outlined earlier this week by the BC Rental Housing Task Force.
"There is no solution to the housing affordability crisis that doesn't include rental affordability so we are very pleased with the government's decision to cap the maximum allowable ...
September 25, 2018
List of Vancity MSC/Visa Stewards - BCGEU
Please be advised the following members below are stewards at MSC/Visa: Bruce Hill Janet Cruz Cesar Junio Melissa Harding Cody Burenski Nathaniel Prakash Gurmeet Singh Vicki Kwong Javier Gonzales If you have any questions regarding workplace issues or your collective agreement, please feel free to contact one of these stewards. Thank you to all of you who stepped up to repre...
September 25, 2018
Improvements to front line services for seniors welcome, and long overdue. - ...
New Westminster – Today Health Minister Adrian Dix, and Premier John Horgan announced important new funding for seniors in British Columbia. The government is increasing the budget for staffing, retention, and training by $240 million dollars in the next three years, with $50 million in this calendar year.
BCGEU President Stephanie Smith reflected on today's announcement: "More money for staff...
September 24, 2018
BCGEU celebrates National Forest Week: Sept. 23-29, 2018 - BCGEU
Each year National Forest Week (NFW) is celebrated by individual citizens, governments and non-governmental organizations across Canada.
Established in 1920 as Forest Fire Prevention Week, there was no shortage of trees for industrial expansion – at a time the time when the main threat to forests was from forest fires, many caused by humans. In 1967 the name was changed to National Forest W...
September 24, 2018
Local 1703 Hard Rock Casino Members - Grievances Filed on Health Benefit Elig...
The Union has filed two grievances on behalf of all impacted members regarding Health Benefit eligibility as per Article 31 of the Collective Agreement.
Weeks On Strike included in Eligibility Period
Shortly after returning to work after the strike, members received a letter from the Employer Re: Eligibility for Group Benefits. Members were deemed ineligible for Long Term Disability (LTD) becau...
September 21, 2018
Members at Canadian Diabetes Association Call for Nominations for Steward - B...
To: All BCGEU Members at Canadian Diabetes Association
Re: Call for Nominations for Steward
We are calling for nominations for one (1) shop steward at the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Deadline for the return of nominations is October 1, 2018 at 5:00 PM.Nominations forms may be returned by one of the following options:
• In person at the Lower Mainland Area Of...
September 20, 2018
Revised- All Vancity Stewards – Local 1701, 1703 & 1704 Vancity Stewards Meet...
TO: All Vancity Stewards – Local 1701, 1703 & 1704
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm
PLACE: Lower Mainland Area Office – Squamish Room
#130 - 2920 Virtual Way, Vancouver, BC V5M 0C4
6:00 p.m. – pizza dinner | 6:30 p.m. – meeting starts
RE: ...
September 20, 2018
CLC Winter School 2019
CLC Winter School 2019
Course listings and registration for the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School (January 13 to February 15, 2019) at Harrison Hot Springs is now available.
Active union members are encouraged to apply online. Applications will be forwarded to your Component executive to make their selections on who will attend the school.
Registration cut off is November 2nd for all cour...
September 19, 2018
Steward Nominations at Vancity – Branch 52 - BCGEU
As long-serving steward Sabina Braidwood has retired, the Union is calling for nominations for a new steward at your branch.
Nominations are now open for 1 position of steward position at your worksite and will close on Friday, October 5, 2018.Stewards are the primary representatives of members and have an important role within the Union. Some of the roles of a steward are:
Helping co-worke...
September 19, 2018
1703 Members at Vancity-Branch 41 Steward Nominations - BCGEU
To: All Local 1703 BCGEU Members at Vancity – Branch 41
Re: Steward Nominations
Nominations are now open for 1 position of steward position at your worksite and will close on Friday, October 5, 2018.
Stewards are the primary representatives of members and have an important role within the Union.
Some of the roles of a steward are:
• Helping co-workers interpret and understand their colle...
September 17, 2018
Local 1703 Members at Grand Villa Casino Union Support for Evening and Overni...
Your Bargaining Committee Chair, Craig Proctor will be available to speak with workers:
Tuesday, September 18th 8pm – until 2am
Saturday, September 22nd 8pm – until 2am
Craig will be stationed in the break room. He is available to answer your questions about the Collective Agreement and hear your opinion on workplace issues.
Please take time on your break to learn more about the Union.
I...
September 14, 2018
Members at Grand Villa Casino - Taking Breaks and Leaving On Time - BCGEU
Taking Breaks and Leaving On Time
Your Union has received numerous reports from members at Grand Villa struggling with unmanageable workloads. In some cases, members have reported working through their breaks and performing unpaid overtime to compensate.
As Union members, you have rights under your Collective Agreement and if these are denied you should ask a steward to help you file a grievan...
September 13, 2018
Strike continues as Gateway Casinos refuse to release company financials - BCGEU
Union cites lack of transparency as reason for breakdown in talks
(Kelowna) Mediated talks between Gateway Casinos and over 675 members of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) in the Thompson-Okanagan broke off last week after the company refused to release financial information to back up claims that they cannot afford the workers' wage proposals.
"Gateway says they can't af...
September 13, 2018
Casino union fires back - BCGEU
The president of the BCGEU says she shares Gateway Casinos' disappointment at the failure of mediation talks last week.
Read more...
UWU/MoveUP
September 13, 2018
City of Kamloops could take financial hit due to casino strike - BCGEU
The City of Kamloops doesn't yet know how the Cascades Casino strike will impact its bottom line, but if last year is any indication, it stands to lose a half-million dollars by the end of the month.
Read more...
UWU/MoveUP
September 12, 2018
BCGEU demands WorkSafe investigate new assaults on Forensics hospital staff -...
BURNABY – The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union reports that four staff members at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam have been injured in another violent attack by a patient this week and the union is demanding that WorkSafeBC investigate security measures at the facility.
BCGEU members report that two health care workers (HCW) and two nurses were attacked by a patient on Se...
September 12, 2018
Area 01 Young Workers Committee - BCGEU
We are excited to introduce ourselves to you as your Area 01 Young Worker Committee.
Local 301 Amanda Nurse amanda_nurse@hotmail.com
Local 401 Sarah Ball sarahmichelleball@hotmail.com
Local 501 Rostislav Artiushenkov rostokcan@gmail.com
Local 601 Alexandra Richardson alex_richardson12@hotmail.com
Local 801 Samantha Brumwell samma12@live...
September 11, 2018
Grievance Filed on Stat Holiday Rate of Pay - Hard Rock Casino - BCGEU
The Union has filed a grievance on behalf of all members that worked on the August 6th statutory holiday.The Employer and the Union have been unable to reach an agreement on the meaning of Clause 18.2 d):An employee who is scheduled by the Employer to work on a statutory holiday shall be paid one and one-half times their wage rate for any hours worked on the statutory holiday, in addition to th...
September 10, 2018
Steward Nominations for Hard Rock Casino - BCGEU
Nominations are now open for 8 steward positions at your worksite andwill close at 11:59 PM on Sunday, September 23rd.
Background
The Steward Election Committee met on August 23rd to review the results of a member survey about how to elect stewards. The majority of members that completed the survey wanted to use the Grand Villa model of non-departmental stewards. As a result, the Committee dec...
September 07, 2018
Pension workshops available for Public Service Pension Plan and Municipal Pen...
Every year the Pension Corporation offers a spring and fall calendar of educational workshops about the Municipal Pension Plan and Public Service Pension Plan. The calendars are now posted on the pension websites (see links below). The College Pension Plan sessions should be posted soon. Two different workshops are offered: 1) For younger members who want to know more about your plan. 2) For t...
September 06, 2018
Union representing correctional officers calls for action after alleged assau...
The BC Government and Service Employees (BCGEU) union is asking for a change to better protect correctional officers and sheriffs who are escorting prisoners from correctional centers. The call comes after the alleged assault of a correctional officer at Vancouver General Hospital on Aug. 28. Read more... UWU/MoveUP
September 05, 2018
Union calls for gov't intervention after spike in staff assaults at Coquitlam...
Two unions that represent workers at Coquitlam's Forensic Psychiatric Hospital are sounding the alarm over a recent spike in assaults, blaming management for a "systemic failure" to respond. The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union said that there have been 21 staff injuries committed by patients to its members alone, between May and August of this year. Read more... UWU/MoveUP