NEWS & UPDATES
October 23, 2018
President Irene Lanzinger won't seek re-election as BC's top labour leader - ...
Sister Irene Lanzinger has announced that she will not be running for re-election next month at the 58th Convention of the BC Federation of Labour. As the largest affiliate union of the BC Fed, the BCGEU would like to thank Irene for her contributions to the labour movement in British Columbia during her time as president.
As the first woman president of the Federation, Irene redefined what is ...
October 22, 2018
Proposed legislation will lay foundation for improved professional reliance s...
The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) is pleased with the provincial government's introduction today of the Professional Governance Act aimed at improving B.C.'s professional reliance system in the natural resource sector. If passed, the new legislation will lay the foundation for a series of much-needed changes to better protect and manage the province's natural resources for ...
October 22, 2018
Hard Rock Casino Members Health Eligibility Grievance Resolved - BCGEU
Shortly after returning to work after the strike, most workers received a letter from the Employer informing them that they were ineligible for Long Term Disability benefits. A much smaller number of workers were informed they were ineligible for all health benefits. This happened as a result of the Employer including the weeks of the strike in the 6-month averaging period for health benefit el...
October 22, 2018
River Rock Casino Table Games Schedule and Vacation Selection - BCGEU
The Union has advised the Employer that its intended schedule and vacation selection process for table games employees presents numerous gross violations of the Collective Agreement and therefore must not proceed.
The Union says that such Collective Agreement violations include, but are not limited to:
effectively laying employees off without proper process by (a) forcing them to accept down...
October 18, 2018
How To Grieve Discipline - Hard Rock Casino - BCGEU
With your collective agreement, there is now a formal process to solve problems or disagreements about discipline. This is called the grievance procedure and you can find it in Article 7 of the collective agreement.
You have the right to have a steward present whenever you are receiving discipline of any kind from the Employer (as per Article 9.1)If you receive discipline that you believe is u...
October 17, 2018
British Columbia turns over a new leaf - BCGEU
Vancouver –
With cannabis prohibition finally over in Canada, British Columbia is bracing itself for a new era of economic potential.
“Legal, recreational cannabis has the potential to be a major driver of economic growth and direct monetary benefit to the province” noted BCGEU President Stephanie Smith. “Wise investments in the regulation, sale, and distribution of alcohol provide billions in ...
October 16, 2018
BCGEU members in employment assistance meet with minister - BCGEU
Six BCGEU members who work for the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction met with minister Shane Simpson late last week.
The members are from BCGEU Component 6 - Social, Information and Health and Component 12 – Administrative Services.
The meeting was organized by the union so that the minister could hear firsthand the issues facing workers on the front-lines in the hope they ca...
October 12, 2018
Provincial magazine – Autumn 2018 - BCGEU
The latest issue of The Provincial magazine is available for download. In this month's issue:
• Casino workers stand strong
• Violence at Forensics Hospital
• Protection from online harassment
• Sectoral Bargaining updates
• Referendum on proportional representation
• Ginger Goodwin memorial, and much more.
• Download PDF file of Provincial
UWU/MoveUP
October 11, 2018
BCGEU submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government S...
Every fall your union participates in the public consultation for the next provincial budget. The consultation is led by the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services—an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly—and involves public hearings across the province as well as written, audio and video submissions and online surveys. The Committee reviews all input received fr...
October 11, 2018
Local 1703 Members at Canadian Diabetes Association and National Diabetes Tru...
On behalf of your bargaining committee, I am happy to announce that after votes at both the CDA office in Vancouver and the NDT office in Coquitlam were tallied, your agreement has ratified.
We look forward to working with you all to implement this new agreement. If you have questions about the implementation of the collective agreement, please contact one of your local shop stewards.
In so...
October 11, 2018
Local 1703 Members at Hard Rock Casino - BCGEU
Shift Pick at Hard Rock
The members have made it clear that they have unanswered questions and concerns about the shift pick process.
Your union representatives met with the Employer at the Joint Labour Management Meeting yesterday to review those concerns.
Following the meeting, it has been mutually decided that the shift pick process will be delayed by one month.
We need time to address worke...
October 10, 2018
Local 1703 Members at Vancity Branch 52 - New Steward at Branch 52 - BCGEU
Nominations closed for 1 steward position on Friday, October 5, 2018.
We are pleased to announce that Tyler Russell is the new steward at Branch 52.
Please join us in wishing Tyler well in his new position.
In Solidarity,
Megan McKinneyStaff Representative
Download PDF of notice here
UWU/MoveUP
October 10, 2018
New Steward at Vancity Branch 41 - BCGEU
Nominations closed for 1 steward position on Friday, October 5, 2018. We are pleased to announce that Teresa Perri is the new steward at Branch 41. Please join us in wishing Teresa well in her new position.In Solidarity, Megan McKinneyStaff RepresentativeDownload PDF of notice here. UWU/MoveUP
October 10, 2018
UPDATED: Information For BCGEU Members At Gateway Casinos - BCGEU
On Friday, September 15 Gateway Casino filed an application in BC Supreme Court seeking an injunction that would have severely restricted picketing at the Penticton location. Gateway's application relied on video and other evidence that allegedly showed our members trespassing, delaying vehicles, and intimidating casino clients.
The Court heard the application on Monday and issued a ruling on ...
October 09, 2018
New resource guide to First Nations acknowledgements, protocol and terminolog...
There is a groundswell of change happening in Canada with respect to relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The BCGEU has always strived to be a positive ally to Indigenous Peoples and as part of our ongoing work to put this commitment into action, I am pleased to provide you with a copy of the BCGEU guide to First Nations acknowledgement, protocol & terminology. D...
October 05, 2018
Labour Endorsed Candidates - BCGEU
Local government elections are your opportunity to influence decision-making in your community by electing mayors, councilors, regional district directors, school board trustees and other representatives who will take action on issues that matter for working people; issues like affordable housing, inclusive schools, and keeping services public. Polls will be open in every community across the p...
October 05, 2018
Hard Rock Casino Steward Election Results - BCGEU
The votes have been counted.
Big thanks to Trish Gant, Matt Heisler and Gordon Barkman for running the vote.
Casino:
Edeliza Madriaga
Kam Wing Cheong
Katherine Wiebe
Nicole Shaw
Pak Keung (Mark) Chun
Zhong Hua (Ivan) Yao
Culinary:
Parminder Bains (acclaimed)
Theatre:
Barry Salway (acclaimed)
These eight people will act as your union representatives. Any steward can represent any mem...
October 05, 2018
Collective Agreement For River Rock Casino Resort - BCGEU
Members are advised that an electronic copy of the renewed Collective Agreement (September 25, 2017 to September 24, 2021) can downloaded from the BCGEU website here. The Union encourages use of the electronic copy. If preferred, members may pick up a printed copy of the Collective Agreement from the Tip Committee during tip distribution time. Alternately, you may request a copy of the Collecti...
October 05, 2018
Local 1703 River Rock Security Members - Steward Election - BCGEU
An interim election for one (1) Steward position in Security is being held to replace a Steward in Security who resigned their employment with River Rock. The successful candidate will serve for the remainder of the current term.
What do stewards do?
Stewards provide support and advice to members who think they are being treated unfairly. They make sure new employees sign union membership cards...
October 04, 2018
Sisters In Spirit Vigils - A movement for social change - BCGEU
October 4th is a day to honour the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and their families. The Native Women's Association of Canada invites all family members, Indigenous community members and allies to take some reflective time on October 4th to attend a vigil or a community event or take a moment of silence to honour our stolen sisters and to support all families ...
October 04, 2018
Local 1703 Members at Canadian Diabetes Association - Shop Stewards - BCGEU
The Union is pleased to announce that Paul Tomczak has been acclaimed as shop steward for Canadian Diabetes Association.
This notice is to advise all BCGEU members at Canadian Diabetes Association that the following people are your shop stewards:
Franca Lattanzio
Paul Tomczak
If you have any questions regarding workplace issues or your collective agreement, please contact either of your stewa...
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,"...