NEWS & UPDATES
May 01, 2020
A May Day message from President Stephanie Smith - BCGEU
May 1st is International Workers Day. Historically, it is a commemoration of the Haymarket affair, a rally that took place in Chicago on May 4, 1886 in support of a general strike for an 8 hour workday that had happened in communities across the United States three days prior. At the time workdays of up to 16 hours were normal-as were six-day workweeks, child labour, and workplace deaths and in...
May 01, 2020
Wage lifts for some, but not for others! - Douglas Care & Craigdarroch Care H...
Recently your employer has given temporary wage increases to Care Aides. Your Union applauds them for doing so, especially in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
That's the good news!
… What's the bad news?
Your employer just advised the Union that it "will not contemplate" paying housekeeping, laundry, and food service workers a temporary increase. The employer says they value these workers as ...
April 30, 2020
COVID-19 pay allowance application and instructions – COVID-19 update, Compon...
COVID-19 pay allowance application and instructionsAs noted in the bulletin on Monday (see bulletin here), there is a fund for Health Sciences Professionals (HSPs) to pay for a COVID-19 pay allowance equivalent to $4 per straight time hour worked to a maximum of $300 per pay period for frontline workers who are most directly impacted by COVID-19 due to their job. The previous bulletin included ...
April 30, 2020
16% of Loblaw Independent Shareholders Vote for Greater Human Rights Oversigh...
16% of Loblaw Independent Shareholders Vote for Greater Human Rights Oversight at Canada's Largest Food Retailer
Today, Loblaw's independent shareholders voted 16% in favour of a human rights shareholder proposal filed by B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU). The proposal asks Canada's largest food retailer to assign board-level responsibility for human rights.
Loblaw scores ...
April 29, 2020
Union Shareholder Proposal Highlights Human Rights Risk at Canada’s Largest F...
Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
Union Shareholder Proposal Highlights Human Rights Risk at Canada’s Largest Food Retailer
On April 30, 2020, BCGEU will present a human rights shareholder proposal at Loblaw's annual general meeting. According to international reports, Loblaw is a human rights laggard behind global peers.
WHO: B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU)
WHAT: Sha...
April 29, 2020
Lifelabs - Demand for incentive pay for unionized workers - BCGEU
As LifeLabs workers, you deliver vital services and supports to British Columbians as our province navigates an unprecedented crisis.
We have received many emails and phone calls from our members at LifeLabs asking about "danger pay" or "incentive pay" in addition to your regular pay. You are working on the front lines during this COVID-19 pandemic. You have seen other essential workers receive...
April 27, 2020
$5M allowance fund for health science professionals – COVID-19 update, Compon...
HSPBA negotiates $5mn allowance fund for health science professionalsHealth science professionals on the front lines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia will be paid a daily allowance on top of straight time earnings retroactive to April 1 under an agreement negotiated by the Health Sciences Professional Bargaining Association (HSPBA) with the Ministry of Health."Our members o...
April 27, 2020
Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week - BCGEU
April 16 – May 2 is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in Canada, a time to celebrate and raise awareness of their critical role in health care.
Lab workers are a vital part of B.C.'s health care team, and BCGEU proudly represents hundreds of them in all corners of the province. They include phlebotomists, lab technicians, cardiology technologists and medical lab couriers. These health ca...
April 24, 2020
Single Site Order for Long Term Care, Assisted Living, and Provincial Mental ...
We are writing with important information about the Provincial Health Officer's Single Site Order for health care worksites, which should be fully implemented in the next two weeks. The Order applies to: Long Term Care, Assisted Living, and Provincial Mental Health Facilities. If you work at more than one of these types of facilities, you will be restricted to working at only one of your worksi...
April 23, 2020
JOHS committees must continue meeting during COVID-19 pandemic - BCGEU
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) Committees to meet and discuss COVID-19-related health and safety issues they are dealing with in their workplace.Your union has heard that some employers are telling JOHS committees to cancel or suspend their meetings until further notice. This violates the requirements of the Workers C...
April 20, 2020
VCH Mental Health members - Remember your Right to Refuse Unsafe Work - BCGEU
The BCGEU OHS department would like to remind our members of their right to refuse unsafe work.
Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
All workers in our province are entitled to exercise their four basic rights when it comes to Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace. BCGEU members all need to be aware of their rights when performing the tasks and duties of their occupation. Knowing these rights...
April 20, 2020
Remember your Right to Refuse Unsafe Work - VCH Mental Health - BCGEU
The BCGEU OHS department would like to remind our members of their right to refuse unsafe work. Right to Refuse Unsafe Work All workers in our province are entitled to exercise their four basic rights when it comes to Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace. BCGEU members all need to be aware of their rights when performing the tasks and duties of their occupation. Knowing these rights...
April 20, 2020
Message to Health Services members for administrative services week - BCGEU
We never could have imagined celebrating administrative services day in this fashion. But, here we are.
Normally, your union's local chairs and executive would be out and about this week - visiting worksites around B.C. to celebrate the important work you all do. But, in the name of safety and everyone's well-being, we're postponing celebrations until it's safe to visit. Please know you are app...
April 17, 2020
BC union’s shareholder proposal questions Thomson Reuters on human rights rec...
Burnaby, Canada – The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) – a major Canadian labour union with an innovative and aggressive capital stewardship strategy – has filed a shareholder proposal raising concerns about human rights impacts at the $8-billion software and media company Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI)."Like many unions, the BCGEU invests members' dues to grow our union," sa...
April 16, 2020
Acknowledging the frontline workers of two health care crises
April 15, 2020 marks the fourth anniversary of the declaration of the overdose crisis as a public health emergency in British Columbia.
In a statement recognizing the date this week, Judy Darcy, B.C.’s first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said “In this unprecedented time of two public health emergencies, we must work together to both flatten the curve and stop overdose deaths. We can...
April 15, 2020
Fair pay for health care workers - BCGEU
Your union recently learned that a salary supplement has been implemented for excluded staff (non-union managers) in the health care sector. Last Thursday, we sent a letter to the Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC) to address these pay inequities, specifically seeking an explanation of why they have chosen to provide excluded staff with additional compensation. We have not yet had any ...
April 15, 2020
Lifelabs - Non-union employees at unionized worksites - BCGEU
The bulletin is for BCGEU members who work at Lifelabs.
We are writing regarding the employer's decision to employ non-union Lifelabs employees at unionized sites. To be clear, that decision was made exclusively by the employer; your union did not agree to that decision. We are in the process of gathering information on the impact this has across the province and will communicate further on thi...
April 08, 2020
Negotiations Update - BCGEU
The bargaining committee would like to provide you with an update regarding the bargaining of a renewed collective agreement. The current pandemic and the resulting orders from the Provincial Health Officer have meant that the bargaining has been put on hold until further notice. We are in an unprecedented situation and it is not business as normal. We will be moving forward with the bargaining...
April 08, 2020
HCN – REVERA LESSEE (Fleetwood Villa) - Negotiations update - BCGEU
The bargaining committee would like to provide you with an update regarding the bargaining of a renewed collective agreement.
The current pandemic and the resulting orders from the Provincial Health Officer have meant that the bargaining has been put on hold until further notice.
We are in an unprecedented situation and it is not business as normal.
We will be moving forward with the bargaining...
April 03, 2020
It’s time to support essential workers – COVID-19 update - BCGEU
It's time to support essential workers – COVID-19 updateFrom the moment Coronavirus was declared a public health crisis several weeks ago through the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic last month, thousands of you have raised concerns to your Stewards, Local Chairs and Component VPs about how your work and your workplaces have been impacted. Your union has been working hard with your ...
April 02, 2020
Component 4 - Health Care Worker Update-BCGEU
To: All component 4 members
The last couple of weeks have been extraordinarily challenging times for all British Columbians, but especially for those working in health care.You can be confident that your union is working on your behalf, and is here to support you during these unprecedented, turbulent times.We hear your concerns, and we are advocating for what you have been calling for. Your uni...
April 02, 2020
Royale Peninsula bargaining committee announcement - BCGEU
The nomination period has closed and we have received three nominations for the three positions on your bargaining committee.Please join me in congratulating:Tereasa GrecoErlinda FrijasDarlene ThomasThey have been acclaimed as members of the bargaining committee and will represent you in negotiating a renewal of your collective agreement.The committee will be meeting when the current pandemic a...
April 01, 2020
Child care for essential service designated workers – COVID-19: All members -...
Province helps essential service workers find child care
In response to concerns expressed by the BCGEU since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased that the B.C. government has launched a process to provide child care to parents who are essential service workers. This process will match parents who are working on the front lines of B.C.'s COVID-19 response with child care in th...
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