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COMPONENT 17 - GENERAL SERVICES

Component 17 includes members in a variety of sectors in B.C.

They are employed by casinos, hotels, banks, credit unions, B.C. Place, B.C. Housing Management, some Royal Canadian Legion operations, B.C. Milk Marketing Board, Compass Foods, regional districts plus private businesses.

NEWS & UPDATES

July 21, 2017

River Rock Casino - Monetary Proposals/Hundreds Attend Strike Education Works...

On July 6, 2017, your Employer responded to the Union's monetary proposals that had been tabled weeks earlier. July 6th turned out to be a very disappointing day. Instead of coming to the table with a serious offer to improve wages and benefits, the Employer presented a package that offered few improvements and actual ROLLBACKS! Talk about being completely unacceptable!! When the parties resume...

July 21, 2017

Call for Nominations for Bargaining Committee - Lake City Casino Members - B...

With summer now in high gear, and your collective agreement soon to expire, it's time for our members working at Lake City Casinos in Penticton, Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops to nominate candidates to become your new BCGEU bargaining committee. There are four spots available, and each casino will be represented by one member. The committee will be made up of a Chairperson and three Bargaining Co...

July 20, 2017

BCGEU, NUPGE pledge $100,000 donation to B.C. wildfire relief - BCGEU

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) announced today that it has joined with its national affiliate, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) to pledge a $100,000 donation to the Red Cross to help with wildfire relief efforts in British Columbia.  "We are pleased to contribute to the relief effort for B.C. residents affected by wildfires," says BCGEU presid...

July 18, 2017

BCGEU looking forward to working in the spirit of collaboration with new Premier

VICTORIA –   As a new government is sworn in today at the British Columbia Legislature, it marks a new era of leadership for the people of British Columbia. In marking the occasion, President Stephanie Smith noted that "We are incredibly excited by what the future will hold for Premier John Horgan, and a new government forged in the spirit of collaboration."  Under the leadership of Premier Hor...

July 13, 2017

BCGEU Recognizes the Unsung Superstars Behind the Wildfire Response - BCGEU

Over the past week, hundreds of wildfire fighters have been fighting over 200 wildfires across the province, and experts fear more wildfires are on their way. While firefighters, RCMP and paramedics are the emergency response units we see on the highways and on television every day, there are hundreds other public servants who are making this response possible. These are the workers doing admin...

July 11, 2017

The BCGEU Stands in Solidarity with Pacific Blue Cross Workers Locked Out of ...

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU), representing over 73,000 workers across B.C., will stand in solidarity with the workers locked out of their jobs by Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) in Vancouver.   On June 30th, PBC announced to its workers they would be prevented from returning to work if they continued a job action aimed at securing a fair deal for workers. During the latest ...

July 10, 2017

BCGEU President Extends Support to Communities Affected by Wildfires and Than...

On behalf of 73,000 BCGEU members, I would like to extend our support and solidarity to the communities affected by wildfires burning through much of British Columbia this week. With over 200 wildfires starting over the weekend, hundreds of B.C. families spent their weekend wondering whether their homes would be standing by Monday. As one of B.C.'s largest unions, we know that hundreds of our m...

July 10, 2017

Closure of REACH Daycare a significant loss for the community - BCGEU

REACH Daycare and Young Parent Centre in Langford will close at the end of September representing a tremendous loss of community for families who rely on the centre. Due in part to lack of provincial funding, this closure will leave some young parents without the support they need to complete their education, creating a gap in valuable social services. REACH Daycare provides early learning and ...

July 10, 2017

Williams Lake Area Office Temporary Closure - BCGEU

There is a temporary closure of the Williams Lake Area Office (Area 06) due to the fire conditions in the area. All calls to the office have been re-routed to the Prince George Area Office. We will update you once we have more information.

July 07, 2017

EMPLOYER’S MONETARY COUNTER/TRIAL CASINO SHIFT PICKS - River Rock Members - B...

Collective agreement negotiations resumed with your Employer on July 5th and 6th. It was an intense round of talks that saw the parties agree in good faith to soon begin a trial shift selection process, and on Thursday, a day of disappointment when the Employer finally responded to the Union's monetary proposals. On a positive note, in the next few weeks, members working in the table games dep...

July 05, 2017

Prince George Pride Parade - July 8, 2017 - BCGEU

Pride Season is here again in Prince George!   We want to encourage everyone to join in the fun! This year is expected to be the biggest yet! Date: July 8, 2017 Start: 11:00 am Where: Parade begins at the Veterans Plaza at 100 Patricia Blvd If you would like to join the BCGEU in the parade we will be meeting at 9:30 am behind City Hall, look for the BCGEU flags. If you need more information, pl...

July 05, 2017

Victoria Pride Parade - July 9, 2017 - BCGEU

Pride Season is here again in Victoria!   We want to encourage everyone to join in the fun! This year is expected to be the biggest yet! Date: July 9, 2017 Start: 11:00 am Where: Parade begins at Pandora and Government If you would like to join the BCGEU in the parade we will be meeting between 8:30 am and 10:00 am at the corner of Pandora and Government, look for the BCGEU flag. If you need mo...

July 05, 2017

More violence at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital as BCGEU calls on PHSA board o...

Another staff member at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) in Coquitlam, operated by the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), has been assaulted after being asked to escort a patient exhibiting aggressive behaviour to a seclusion room. Staff members are not provided with protective gear at FPH.  "The ongoing violence at FPH is due to an imbalance created by bringing dangerous individua...

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...