NEWS & UPDATES
July 02, 2017
BCGEU Celebrates Canada Day 150 Plus - BCGEU
On Saturday July 1, 2017 Canada celebrated its 150th birthday. While many took part in celebrations across the country, others chose this important date to make us aware of some of the more disturbing aspects of our history.
The Indigenous peoples of this land governed themselves for thousands of years before colonization by Europeans just 300 years ago.
What happened 150 years ago?
In ...
June 29, 2017
BCGEU congratulates the NDP as they prepare to form government - BCGEU
The BCGEU congratulates John Horgan and the BC NDP as we move into a new era of leadership in our province.
“We look forward to working with the new government,” says BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. “We are optimistic that the alliance between the BC NDP and BC Greens will move us towards a British Columbia that lifts up all people, provides a transparent and accountable government, and protec...
June 29, 2017
Bargaining Resumes/Update for members at Hard Rock Casino - BCGEU
Bargaining for Hard Rock Casino's first collective agreement resumed on June 28th. Two days of negotiating were scheduled with the Employer, and your committee left the bargaining table pleased with the progress that was made during this latest round of complicated talks.
Both sides spent a lot of time discussing the very important issue of health and safety at the casino. Your committee has wo...
June 28, 2017
Stephanie Smith: Post-Convention Address - BCGEU
Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President, reflects on your union's recent convention, and talks about the work we're going to do together to make our union stronger.
June 28, 2017
North Peace Cultural Centre - Ratification of Collective Agreement - BCGEU
We are pleased to announce the members of Local 1710, North Peace Cultural Centre ratified their tentative agreement on Tuesday, June 27, 2017.
The Committee is pleased with the positive changes and improvements that have been negotiated.
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to the membership for their support and participation in this important process.
Please feel free ...
June 26, 2017
Vancity Savings Credit Union – Visa Centre: Interim Steward Nominations - BCGEU
Nominations are now open for 4 positions for stewards at your worksite and will close July 10, 2017. 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 collective agreement;• Supporting co-workers in meetings with management;• Listening to co-workers about their ...
June 26, 2017
As provinces seek the 'right' price for pot, how it's sold could matter - BCGEU
Provincial finance ministers are getting a clear message from the federal government this week: Keep taxes on legal marijuana sales consistently low across Canada, or risk undercutting the government's goal of ending black market cannabis sales. But provincial governments may find that enticing consumers to buy legal marijuana over illicit weed will take more than just tweaking tax rates. The q...
June 26, 2017
Vancouver's grocery store liquor policy not restrictive enough, addictions ex...
The City of Vancouver has made changes to its liquor policy - including allowing for a store-in-store model for grocery store liquor sales - but one addictions expert says the changes make alcohol-use too permissive and put vulnerable people at risk. The city chose the store-in-store model - where grocers can create a separated liquor area with its own cashier - precisely because it was more re...
June 26, 2017
Liquor policy review: Vancouver council allows grocery stores to sell booze -...
As part of a suite of changes to its liquor policy, Vancouver city council is allowing grocery stores to sell wine, beer and liquor.
The sale of booze inside grocery stores will be done through the "store-within-a-store" model that will require a separate checkout.
Read more...
June 23, 2017
River Rock Casino Resort - Bargaining Cancelled By Employer - BCGEU
Your Bargaining Committee has spent months working tirelessly on members' behalf, with the ultimate goal that a first and fair collective agreement is reached with your Employer. Unfortunately, for the second time in a row, bargaining has been cancelled by the Employer, for reasons that are in the Union's view, unrelated to the negotiation process. The parties were scheduled to meet on June 23r...
June 22, 2017
BC Liberal throne speech rings hollow to British Columbia voters - BCGEU
By releasing major elements of their final throne speech before presenting it in the legislature, the B.C. Liberal government has signalled a cynical about-face on major policy issues that rings hollow to B.C. voters, says the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union. "For the past 16 years, the B.C. Liberal government has ignored the needs of B.C.'s most vulnerable citizens and working fam...
June 21, 2017
BCGEU Celebrates National Aboriginal Day - BCGEU
This year is a special year for the BCGEU as we celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
We're so incredibly proud of the great strides that BCGEU members – both new and experienced – have taken over the past year to strengthen relationships with our allies in Aboriginal communities around the province.
In just the last twelve months, we've welcomed employees at Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child and Fam...
June 20, 2017
Celebrate National Aboriginal with the BCGEU at Trout Lake - BCGEU
The BCGEU is proud to celebrate National Aboriginal Day with our members and community allies across the province.
The day's celebrations begin with breakfast at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society and will be followed by the march to Trout Lake for the opening of the afternoon festival.
The BCGEU is a proud sponsor of the morning breakfast and encourages members to join us in vo...
June 19, 2017
New team elected to lead BCGEU to 2020 - BCGEU
Delegates at the 2017 BCGEU Constitutional Convention have elected our new leadership team. As expected, Stephanie Smith was acclaimed as BCGEU president. This will be her second term as president after serving one term as treasurer between 2011 and 2014. Smith is the union's first elected woman president. Paul Finch was also acclaimed for a second term as treasurer. Elected or re-elected to th...
June 15, 2017
Response to media statement by executive director with the Forensic Psychiatr...
In response to a media release the BCGEU issued yesterday – Chronic failure by PHSA to protect staff at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) leads to another assault on health care worker – we were disappointed that Angela Draude, provincial executive director with the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, said she "hasn't personally heard a request for protective equipment from the BCGEU" i...
June 14, 2017
Chronic failure by PHSA to protect staff at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital lea...
A violent incident at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) in Coquitlam put another staff member in harm's way yesterday afternoon because of the ongoing failure of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) to adequately resource and protect workers at the facility.
Following his release from long-time seclusion, a patient assaulted a staff member whose colleagues were unable to immediat...
June 12, 2017
River Rock Casino Resort Bargaining Resumes/Update - BCGEU
Your Bargaining Committee resumed negotiations with your Employer on June 6th. Three days of talks were scheduled, with two spent in intense negotiations. We were hoping to meet again on Friday June 9th, but your Employer abruptly declined to show up. We assume this was in response to the Union's successful "Sticker" action at River Rock, which was held on the same day, but we were never given ...
June 07, 2017
National Aboriginal Day - June 21st - BCGEU
The BCGEU Area 01 Cross Component Committee Invites all BCGEU members and their families to participate in the National Aboriginal Day - June 21st A number of events are being hosted in Victoria commencing June 10th. Members are encouraged to review, and in some cases register to attend. June 10th – Victoria Native Friendship Centre Library & The Greater Victoria Public Library - Mu...
June 07, 2017
BCGEU starts construction on new office in Terrace - BCGEU
PG DAILY NEWS - The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to begin construction on their new office in Terrace. The new building will replace the existing office building and will serve over 2,100 members from across northwest B.C. Over 1,400 of BCGEU members in northwest B.C. live within a two-hour drive of the new office, making this o...
June 05, 2017
BCGEU commends extended apology from head of the B.C. Public Service on 2012 ...
The BC Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) commends last week's extended apology from Deputy Minister to the Premier and head of the B.C. Public Service Kim Henderson to those affected by the terminations of Ministry of Health employees in 2012. In the April 2017 report Misfire: The 2012 Ministry of Health Employment Terminations and Related Matters, the B.C. Ombudsperson document...
June 02, 2017
Vancouver Talmud Torah Teachers Association joins BCGEU - BCGEU
Today the BC Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) welcomes 47 teachers into its membership from the Vancouver Talmud Torah School, one of the largest Jewish Schools in Western Canada. The Vancouver Talmud Torah Teachers Association (VTTTA) voted to merge with the BCGEU in order to secure a more stable labour relations environment and increase leverage in negotiations with the emplo...
June 02, 2017
WEB DEVELOPER (Temporary) EXTERNAL POSTING - BCGEU
The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union requires a temporary Web Developer to work in the IT Services section of the Administration Department, effective date to be determined. The term of assignment is for six months. DUTIES: Website Development – Plan, develop and create websites to achieve the goals of the Union; work with development team to deliver state of the art websites tha...
May 31, 2017
Steward Nominations (one position) at Vancity Branch 25 - BCGEU
Please be advised that nominations are opened for one steward at your worksite. Should we receive more than one nomination, an election will occur.
Nomination forms must be received at the Fraser Valley Area Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017. Completed nomination forms may be sent:
via fax: 604.882.5032; or via email: [email protected] (attention: Margaret Coplin)
Ple...
May 31, 2017
Steward Nominations (two positions) at Vancity Branch 27 - BCGEU
Please be advised that nominations are opened for two stewards at your worksite. Should we receive more than two nominations, an election will occur.
Nomination forms must be received at the Fraser Valley Area Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017.
Completed nomination forms may be sent:
via fax: 604.882.5032; or
via email: [email protected] (attention: Margaret Coplin) ...
May 31, 2017
Steward Nominations (one position) at Vancity Branch 44 - BCGEU
Please be advised that nominations are opened for one steward at your worksite. Should we receive more than one nomination, an election will occur.
Nomination forms must be received at the Fraser Valley Area Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017.
Completed nomination forms may be sent:
via fax: 604.882.5032; or
via email: [email protected] (attention: Margaret Coplin)
...
May 31, 2017
Steward Nominations (one position) at Vancity Branch 36 - BCGEU
Please be advised that nominations are opened for one steward at your worksite. Should we receive more than one nomination, an election will occur.
Nomination forms must be received at the Fraser Valley Area Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017.
Completed nomination forms may be sent:
via fax: 604.882.5032; or
via email: [email protected] (attention: Margaret Coplin)
...
May 31, 2017
Vancity Branch 32 Steward Nominations (one position) - BCGEU
Please be advised that nominations are opened for one steward at your worksite. Should we receive more than one nomination, an election will occur.
Nomination forms must be received at the Fraser Valley Area Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017. Completed nomination forms may be sent:
via fax: 604.882.5032; or via email: [email protected] (attention: Margaret Coplin)
Ple...
May 31, 2017
British Columbia’s Fastest Growing Union Breaks Ground for New Office in Terr...
The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to begin construction on their new office in Terrace B.C.
The new building will replace the existing office building and will serve over 2,100 members from across northwest B.C. Over 1,400 of BCGEU members in Northwest B.C. live within a two hour drive of the new office, making this office a ke...
May 31, 2017
Courses for Labour Code OHS Committee Members in the Williams Lake Area - BCGEU
"Joint OHS Committee Training" will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 and "Incident Investigations" will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. These courses will be held at the BCGEU office at 107A North First Avenue, Williams Lake from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm.
In the Joint OHS Committee Training course you will learn:
Worker OHS rights, including the refusal of unsafe work procedure
OHS legislation
...
May 31, 2017
BCGEU congratulates BC Greens and BC NDP on historic agreement - BCGEU
VANCOUVER -
We welcome yesterday’s historic agreement between the BC NDP caucus and BC Green caucus. “Three weeks after B.C. went to the polls we now finally have a clearer idea of what the next government’s priorities are going to be going forward.” said Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President. “The Green and NDP Confidence and Supply Agreement sets the stage for four years of stable government tha...
BCGEU Headquarters is on the unceded and shared traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skxwú7mesh (Squamish) & Səlí̓ lwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.