NEWS & UPDATES
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
Forensic Psychiatric Hospital WCB investigation completed for June 13 assault...
On June 13, 2017 a BCGEU health care worker was assaulted by a patient that had been in seclusion for the past 3 years. A WCB prevention officer has now investigated the incident and has written an order that the employer failed to conduct a proper risk assessment because "previous experience in the workplace" was not properly considered in their risk assessment. The inspection report will be...
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 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
WATCH: Stephanie Smith’s update following PHSA meeting - BCGEU
BCGEU president Stephanie Smith delivered a presentation to the Provincial Health Services Authority's (PHSA) board of directors this morning.
President Smith read anonymous stories to the board from members at Forensics that described the increasingly dangerous working conditions at the facility, including one member's quote: "each day I wonder, will this be the day I get hurt at work?"
As par...
June 28, 2017
Bargaining Update for Members at Sherwood House - BCGEU
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Employer on June 13th to continue the bargaining process.
We were able to make some further progress and will be meeting with the employer again on July 4th, 2017. We will keep you informed of any further advances.
Thank you for your continued support and patience.
In solidarity
Karen Simmons – Committee Chairperson
Ashley VIgar – Committee Member
Kim Sh...
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
Douglas Care Community - Ratification Results - BCGEU
We are pleased to inform you that at the close of balloting on June 16, 2017, the membership ratified the tentative Collective Agreement by a very strong margin. We will now proceed to prepare the Collective Agreement for publication, and we will ensure that all members are provided with a copy once it's finalized. The BCGEU extends our sincere appreciation to the Bargaining Committee for their...
June 27, 2017
Stephanie Smith to present to PHSA board about violence at Forensic Psychiatr...
BCGEU president Stephanie Smith will be making a presentation to the Provincial Health Services Authority's (PHSA) board of directors on Thursday, June 29th. President Smith has been working closely with BCGEU members at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) to identify immediate actions that must be taken in order to ensure a safer environment for staff and patients alike.
Your union has been r...
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 22, 2017
Mediator's Recommendations and Tentative Collective Agreement for The Salvati...
As you know, your Bargaining Committee spent a full day in mediation on June 8, 2017. Mediator McArthur has now released his recommendation for settlement. Attached is a copy of the Mediator's recommendations for your review.
The recommendations can be summarized as follows:
All items tentatively agreed to up to June 8, 2017, which include some housekeeping and improvements to language regard...
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...
June 19, 2017
New team elected to lead BCGEU to 2020 - BCGEU
Delegates at the 2017 BCGEU Constitutional Convention have elected our new leadership team. As expected, Stephanie Smith was acclaimed as BCGEU president. This will be her second term as president after serving one term as treasurer between 2011 and 2014. Smith is the union's first elected woman president. Paul Finch was also acclaimed for a second term as treasurer. Elected or re-elected to th...
June 15, 2017
Response to media statement by executive director with the Forensic Psychiatr...
In response to a media release the BCGEU issued yesterday – Chronic failure by PHSA to protect staff at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) leads to another assault on health care worker – we were disappointed that Angela Draude, provincial executive director with the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, said she "hasn't personally heard a request for protective equipment from the BCGEU" i...
June 15, 2017
Global News: ‘Violent’ attack on Colony Farm psychiatric hospital staffer pro...
The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) is calling on the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) to protect workers after a staff member was allegedly assaulted by a patient at a high-security Coquitlam psychiatric hospital. BCGEU president Stephanie Smith described as "violent" the attack that she said happened Tuesday afternoon at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital - better...
June 14, 2017
Chronic failure by PHSA to protect staff at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital lea...
A violent incident at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) in Coquitlam put another staff member in harm's way yesterday afternoon because of the ongoing failure of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) to adequately resource and protect workers at the facility.
Following his release from long-time seclusion, a patient assaulted a staff member whose colleagues were unable to immediat...
June 13, 2017
Mediation for The Salvation Army Harbour Light Arc - BCGEU
Your bargaining committee was in mediation with the employer at the BC Labour Relations Board (the Board) on Thursday, June 8, 2017. The mediator is going to make recommendations to settle all outstanding issues. We expect to receive the recommendations on June 22, 2017. We will advise you of the details of the mediator's recommendations as soon as we have them. Thank you for your continued pat...
June 13, 2017
Tentative Agreement Reached for Douglas Care Community - BCGEU
With a 100% strike vote in hand, the parties attended an all-day mediation session with the assistance of the Labour Relations Board on June 12th. We are pleased to report that at the end of the day, we were able to reach a tentative renewed collective agreement. Your Bargaining Committee unanimously recommends acceptance of the tentative agreement.
We will be holding a drop-in ratification mee...
June 12, 2017
WRSV Bargaining Update – Bulletin #3 Election of Bargaining Committee and Ba...
As a result of the expression of interest process, the Union is pleased to announce Jenny Joly and Janice Prasad have been acclaimed to the vacant bargaining committee positions as follows: Jenny Joly – Bargaining Committee Chairperson Janice Prasad – Bargaining Committee Member Your committee will be meeting soon to review issues and develop proposals prior to meeting with the Employer. T...
June 07, 2017
National Aboriginal Day - June 21st - BCGEU
The BCGEU Area 01 Cross Component Committee Invites all BCGEU members and their families to participate in the National Aboriginal Day - June 21st A number of events are being hosted in Victoria commencing June 10th. Members are encouraged to review, and in some cases register to attend. June 10th – Victoria Native Friendship Centre Library & The Greater Victoria Public Library - Mu...
June 07, 2017
BCGEU starts construction on new office in Terrace - BCGEU
PG DAILY NEWS - The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to begin construction on their new office in Terrace. The new building will replace the existing office building and will serve over 2,100 members from across northwest B.C. Over 1,400 of BCGEU members in northwest B.C. live within a two-hour drive of the new office, making this o...
BCGEU Headquarters is on the unceded and shared traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skxwú7mesh (Squamish) & Səlí̓ lwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.