NEWS & UPDATES
May 08, 2018
Public service bargaining commences in Victoria - BCGEU
UPDATE #1
Bargaining representatives from the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) and the B.C. Government Public Service Agency (BC PSA) are meeting today in Victoria to exchange bargaining proposals and begin four weeks of negotiations to achieve a new collective agreement.
"We're pleased to begin the bargaining process early," said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "It gives...
May 07, 2018
It's time to reinvest in the services that support British Columbians - BCGEU
BURNABY – Today, and in the weeks ahead, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) will begin negotiating new contracts for more than 53,000 members in the public service, health sectors and community social services.
"We're ready," says BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "Beginning negotiations today gives us the time we need to address long-standing issues we've been raising wit...
May 07, 2018
BCGEU observes North American Occupational Safety and Health Week - BCGEU
The BC Government and Service Employees' Union joins occupational health and safety advocates and governments across the continent in observing North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), which is observed from May 6-12 and will be commemorated in events across North America.
NAOSH Week was first launched in 1997, after the government of Canada, United States and Mexico signed a...
May 03, 2018
Final analysis into 2017 B.C wildfires and floods now in the hands of the pro...
A report into last summers wildfires and floods has now been submitted to the B.C government with a number of themes emerging including the inaccuracy of social media. "There are over one hundred recommendations." Read more... UWU/MoveUP
May 01, 2018
Pension Plan estimator now online, but doesn’t show the full picture - BCGEU
As of May 1, the Public Service Pension Plan's online pension estimator will be available to pension plan members. However, the Pension Plan web site says that "the estimator will not yet calculate the past service enhancement that comes into effect October 1, 2019." This means that when you log in to estimate your pension under the new rules, you won't be getting a complete estimate of your li...
April 30, 2018
Provincial Magazine – Spring 2018 - BCGEU
The digital version of the Spring 2018 issue of The Provincial is available to download online. In this issue:
BC Budget 2018
BC Cannabis retail program
Public Service Pension Plan changes
Community Social Services bargaining
Affordable BC campaign
Organizing news
Events and more…
Download the Spring 2018 issue (PDF)
UWU/MoveUP
April 30, 2018
Wildfire Season Preparation Begins - BCGEU
PRINCE GEORGE- Last year's wildfire season was unprecedented in the province. More than 1 million hectares burned, and more than 60 thousand people were displaced. Here in the city, it took hours to register more than 10 thousand evacuees. "There was no provincial program, and that was one of the learnings from last summer," said City Emergency Social Services director, Brad Beckett, "in Prince...
April 30, 2018
Honour Guards at Steveston's Day of Mourning ceremony - BCGEU
CVSE members were the Honour Guards at Steveston's Day of Mourning ceremony held at their Fishermen's Memorial.
UWU/MoveUP
April 26, 2018
New conservation officers provide greater protection for B.C. environment - B...
The swearing in of new conservation officers on the steps of the B.C. legislature demonstrates a commitment by the B.C. government to increase protection for our natural environment, the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) said today.
"The B.C. government's commitment to hire new conservation officers is good news that will ensure higher levels of compliance and enforcement with ...
April 25, 2018
Message from BCGEU vice president of administrative services component Maria ...
The best laid plans … often go awry. We administrative professionals are great organizers and planners, aren't we? That's why, as your vice president for administrative services at the BCGEU, Administrative Services Day is never far from my mind. This is the day we recognize the valuable and vital service we in the BCGEU's Administrative Services Component provide to British Columbians and thei...
April 24, 2018
BCGEU’s telephone town hall on Public Service Pension Plan changes - BCGEU
On Tuesday, April 10th we hosted a telephone town hall from the Victoria Area Office to talk with members about the changes to the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) that were implemented April 1, 2018. We were joined in the VAO by representatives from the BC Pension Corporation and the Pension Secretariat. This bulletin summarizes some of the key points that came up during the town hall and pr...
April 24, 2018
New Student Ranger Program to start this summer - BCGEU
A new program is being opened to youth to work as park rangers beginning this summer. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Ministry for Employment and Social Development Canada said in a statement it has opened the new program from the proceeds that were generated from the specialty B.C. Parks licence plate sales. Read more... UWU/MoveUP
April 23, 2018
Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week: April 22-28 - BCGEU
Please join us this week in celebrating medical laboratory professionals!
Medical laboratory professionals are highly trained health care professionals who provide laboratory test results required for the prevention, detection and treatment of illness and disease. When physicians and other health care providers are looking for answers, they depend on laboratory test results to accurately diagn...
April 23, 2018
Family Event – Miner's Memorial in Cumberland - BCGEU
This year Miners Memorial at Cumberland is going to be a huge event for union members. It is unfortunate that we were unable to secure Miracle Beach for the annual family picnic and so in lieu of that, we are encouraging members and their families to attend the BBQ dinner and other festivities on Saturday June 23rd. Go to https://minersmemorial.ca/ to get a rundown of events. The best part is f...
April 20, 2018
MSDPR’s Acceptance of Ombudsperson’s Holding Pattern Report Is a Major Victor...
The BCGEU applauds the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction's (MSDPR) willingness to accept most of the recommendations of B.C.'s Ombudsperson Jay Chalke's special report Holding Pattern: Call Wait Times for Income and Disability Assistance.
"We're pleased that the new government has acknowledged the long-standing problems surrounding the MSDPR centralized phone line and is comm...
April 20, 2018
BCGEU partners with SumOfUs on improving corporate responsibility through inv...
The BCGEU is leading the way in the labour movement when it comes to responsible investing. Ahead of the 2015 global oil price crash, the union divested its strike fund and general reserves from fossil fuel equities and not only preserved, but increased the value of its holdings. Now, the BCGEU has partnered with non-profit organization SumOfUs to advocate for greater corporate responsibility a...