NEWS & UPDATES
January 28, 2016
National Survey on Seniors' Care - Work/Life Balance
The issue of elder care received next to no attention during the 2015 federal election. This is alarming as the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population is older Canadians (people 85 and older), most of whom are women. In 1900, the average life expectancy was 47 years of age; by 2000 that had increased to 76 years of age. The end result is the expansion of our population of older adul...
January 28, 2016
BCGEU Signs on to Petition to Free Chinese Labour Activists
On Thursday, January 28, the BCGEU signed on to a petition calling for the release of Chinese labour activists who were detained by the government.
Advanced by the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, the petition has now been signed by over 175 organizations.
Read more about the petition and sign as an individual
China Kidnappings in Spotlight as Canada Mulls New Trade Deal - The Tyee...
January 28, 2016
Liberal government right to repeal anti-union Bill-377
The BCGEU is welcoming news the federal government has introduced legislation to reverse anti-union laws introduced by the Stephen Harper government last year. In the House of Commons today, the Liberals introduced legislation that would reverse changes to laws under Bill-377, which placed vastly expanded requirements on unions to disclose how members’ dues are spent.
“This legislation had not...
January 27, 2016
Island Crisis Care Society strike registration scheduled
Your Employer remains unwilling to address your identified top priority issue, therefore the strike mandate will be actioned in the near future.
An all-day drop in strike registration has been scheduled as follows:
Date: Friday, February 5, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: BCGEU Nanaimo Area Office, 106-1650 N. Terminal Avenue, Nanaimo
In order to be scheduled for picket du...
January 26, 2016
Human rights ruling demands equal funding for First Nations children
The federal Human Rights Tribunal’s landmark ruling reveals that the Canadian government has engaged in systemic racial discrimination against First Nations children by failing to provide the same level of child welfare services as exist in the rest of Canada.
The human rights complaint was launched on behalf of 160,000 First Nations children by Cindy Blackstock and the First Nations and Famil...
January 25, 2016
BCGEU’s Occupational Health and Safety Networkers
The creation of the OHS Networking team comes from the BCGEU 2014 convention. Convention delegates were loud and clear with their OHS resolutions: they wanted an expansion in the OHS department. They wanted BCGEU OHS activists to play a larger role, and to see the creation of an OHS Task Force. The OHS Task Force, released their report in April of 2015, with strong and practical recommendations...
January 22, 2016
UNITE HERE! Local 40 Hilton Metrotown and Coast Hotels Bargaining Update
A message from Unite Here! Local 40
Thanks to all of you from BCFED Staff, CUPE, FPSE, GEU, HEU, HSA, MoveUp, TWU/SWA and Unifor who came out to support our members at the Hilton Metrotown on January 20. Management took notice of your support.
Many of you have asked for updates on the status of bargaining at both the Hilton and with Coast Hotels in Kelowna, Victoria, Nanaimo and Prince George...
January 21, 2016
Local 311 open of nominations for vacant executive position
Nominations are now open for Member-At-Large (Young Worker) position for your Local Executive.
Your Local Executive is as follows:
Chair: Chris Mikulasik (250-564-6408)
1st Vice Chair: Linda Black (250-564-6408)
2nd Vice Chair: Troy Knox (250-564-6408)
Treasurer: Karoline Doyle (250-564-6408)
Recording Secretary: Pat Westerlund (250-564-6408)
Member-At-Large:
Ken Riemer...
January 21, 2016
Local 301 - executive and general meeting - January 26, 2016
TIME: Executive – 5:30 pm, General – 6:30 pm
PLACE: BCGEU Victoria Area Office - Boardroom
AGENDA
Please join us for a meeting on January 26, 2016. On the agenda:
JOHS Training
M2M Worksite Visits Report
CLC Leadership Lab
C3E
Steward Networking/Meetings at Worksites
Enhanced JOHS and Steward Training
In solidarity
Ken Neal, Local 301 Chairperson
Cheryl Jones, BCGEU Staff Represen...
January 21, 2016
Statement on First Nations Supreme Court ruling
The BCGEU enthusiastically supports the January 13 B.C. Supreme Court decision in favour of the Gitga’at First Nation and Coastal First Nations. This decision ruled that the B.C. government has completely failed in its duty to consult with First Nations on the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project.
The court said it was not “reasonable or correct” for the province to sign over the enviro...
January 21, 2016
Union and ministry meet to discuss services to Aboriginal children and youth
Representatives of BCGEU met with Ministry of Children and Family Development representatives on Monday, January 18 to address systemic challenges in supporting Aboriginal children and youth. The meeting followed up on the union's report, Closing the circle: a case for reinvesting in Aboriginal child, youth and family services. The report, released in October, gave voice to members' concerns ab...
January 20, 2016
OHS Training in Kelowna Area
To all Labour Code OHS Committee Members in the Kelowna Area
"Joint OHS Committee Training" will be held on Wednesday, February 24 and "Incident Investigations" will be held on Thursday, February 25. These courses will be held at the BCGEU office at 1064 Borden Ave, Kelowna from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
In the Joint OHS Committee Training course you will learn:
Worker OHS rights, including the re...
January 20, 2016
OHS Committee Training in Vancouver
To all Direct Government OHS Committee Members in the Lower Mainland
"Ergonomics" will be held on Tueday, February 16 and "Joint OHS Committee Course" will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb 23-24. These courses will be held at the BCGEU office at #130-2920 Virtual Way, Vancouver from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
In the Ergonomics course you will learn:
Requirements of the ergonomics regulation
H...
January 20, 2016
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre stewards' meeting - February 10, 2016
TIME: 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; refreshments at 5:30 p.m.
PLACE: Vancouver Public Library, Morris J. Wosk Boardroom, 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver
AGENDA
This is an opportunity for members at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and Union representatives to meet and discuss issues.
collective agreement issues
workplace issues and concerns
union advocacy and activity
Please RSVP by ...
January 14, 2016
Just Film Festival coming up in February
The Just Film Festival features social justice and environmental documentaries that go to the heart of issues confronting communities here and around the planet. The focus of the festival is to motivate audiences to action by spotlighting issues both local and global. It will also include a Social Justice Bazaar, on Saturday February 13th.
Visit the festival website for more information about ...
January 12, 2016
Kelowna Women's Shelter meeting - January 15, 2016
Time: 5:00 pm -8:00 pm
Place: BCGEU Kelowna Area Office, 1064 Borden Avenue
AGENDA
There will be a meeting of all BCGEU members employed at Kelowna Women’s Shelter to discuss the results of the classification of jobs and the implementation of the monetary provisions of the collective agreement scheduled for February 9, 2016.
BCGEU Staff Representative Brent Camilleri will be there.
January 12, 2016
Go green and help BCGEU members support people with developmental disabilities
The Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) provides community-based programs and services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in Vancouver and Richmond. Workers at DDA, members of BCGEU Local 303, create extended networks of support, invest in individual needs, and strive for an inclusive and safe community. Over 1,600 individuals and families in the ...
January 11, 2016
Area 04 stewards' training
COURSE: Stewards' Training
WHEN: February 16-18, 2016
WHERE: BCGEU Fraser Valley Area Office, 8555 198A Street, Langley
TIME: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm - Please note: our gate and office do not open until 8:30 am
REGISTRATION: Please call our office at 604-882-0111 or toll free at 1-888-991-6062 or respond by email to [email protected] as soon as possible to register for t...
BCGEU Headquarters is on the unceded and shared traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skxwú7mesh (Squamish) & Səlí̓ lwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.