NEWS & UPDATES
November 30, 2020
New Book Recounts Worker-led Occupation at Tranquille - BCGEU
UPDATE - It is with heavy hearts we have to tell you about the passing of our dear friend Gary Steeves, a true champion of working people, human rights and social justice.
The devastating news comes as we and Gary were celebrating another great achievement of his, the recent printing of his book, Tranquility Lost: The Occupation of Tranquille & Battle for Community Care.
We are feeli...
November 19, 2020
BCGEU members win major victory for safe workplaces during COVID-19
I am writing to celebrate with you. Because of our solidarity and collective action, our union has won a major victory in our campaign to ensure safer workplaces across British Columbia.The Provincial Health Officer has just announced that wearing masks is now mandatory in all indoor public and retail spaces. This is a huge victory that shows the power of workers standing together to demand saf...
November 19, 2020
BCGEU members win major victory for safe workplaces during COVID-19 - BCGEU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 19, 2020BCGEU members win major victory for safe workplaces during COVID-19BURNABY, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES – After weeks of surging COVID-19 case numbers, members of the B.C. Government and Services Employees' Union (BCGEU) have won a major victory in their campaign to ensure safer workplaces across British Columbia."This is a huge victory that shows the power of...
November 13, 2020
Letter from the Premier regarding the loss of John Fryer - BCGEU
November 5, 2020
Stephanie SmithBCGEU President4911 Canada WayBurnaby, BC V5G 3W3Sent via email
Dear Stephanie:
As Premier of the Province of British Columbia, my thoughts are with you and all BCGEUmembers as you mourn the loss of John Fryer.
John was a tireless advocate for workers' rights, and he played a crucial role in transitioning theBCGEU into the union it is today. His career was underp...
November 09, 2020
All BCGEU Members at BC Parks - WorkSafeBC Safety Orders - BCGEU
As you may already know, WorkSafeBC has issued safety orders following an inspection at one BC Parks office. We wanted to reach out to you about these orders as we are trying to work with your employer to fix many long-standing safety concerns. Most of the orders have a province wide application and some are not limited to Parks.
BCGEU members have long raised Occupational Health and Safety (O...
November 08, 2020
BCGEU calls on BC Public Service Agency to protect employees with stronger ma...
BURNABY, Coast Salish Territories – With new cases of COVID-19 increasing across the province and surging in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) has called on the BC Public Service Agency to take immediate action to protect employees in their workplaces. In a conversation with Don Wright, Head of Public Service Agency (PSA), BCGEU pres...
November 08, 2020
Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley office closures - BCGEU
As COVID-19 cases rise in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, our union has been monitoring public health recommendations with regard to workplaces.
In accordance with the latest restrictions enacted for the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions on November 7 (click here to read the latest restrictions), our union has made the decision to close the following physical offices and ...
November 08, 2020
BC Public Service COVID-19 Update - Remote work and masks policy - BCGEU
With the dramatic increase of new COVID-19 cases that B.C. has seen over the last month – and the introduction of new regional restrictions to help stop the surge in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions – our union has urged the BC Public Service to re-evaluate their workplace safety protocols to decrease the potential spread of the virus.
In a phone call with Deputy Minister for the...
November 05, 2020
All Local 1203 & 2003 BCGEU Members at Product Services - Nominations for 4 ...
Nominations are now open for three (3) steward positions in Local 1203 and one (1) steward position in Local 2003 at your worksite and will close on Thursday, November 19, 2020.
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...
November 02, 2020
Remembering John Fryer, “a titan in the labour movement” - BCGEU
BCGEU is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of John Fryer. Fryer served as BCGEU's general secretary from 1969-1983 and president of NUPGE (National Union of Public and General Employees) from 1980-1990. Those who knew him characterize John Fryer as no-nonsense, gritty, brilliant and a larger than life personality. He will be best remembered for his role in securing collective bargaining ri...