NEWS & UPDATES
February 15, 2016
Strong mandate for a strike at Well Being Services - Comox Valley Seniors Vil...
Emotions ran high in the room on February 11, when your union representatives met with over 80 members from Well Being Services to talk about strike action. The BCGEU heard the message loud and clear: our workers deserve more than what they're being offered. Your union will be with you every step of the way.
As of today, Monday February 15, the employer is offering about a quarter of a percent...
February 12, 2016
Congratulations David Vipond!
Today is a day many thought would never happen: it is BCGEU Director David Vipond’s last day on the job before retirement.
For those that don’t know David, he’s been one of the behind the scenes heroes of the BCGEU throughout the last 35 years, and it’s hard to imagine what the BCGEU will be like without him.
David’s history with the BCGEU began as an member, working at the B.C. Liquor Dist...
February 11, 2016
inSite Housing, Hospitality and Health Services talks break down
Your bargaining committee met with the Employer for five days on January 25th through January 29th. A number of non monetary and housekeeping changes were agreed, and agreement was reached on a revision of the PTO language. The Union tabled our monetary package on Thursday and the parties exchanged counter-proposals throughout the remainder of the week in person and via email on February 2nd an...
February 10, 2016
Amica at Beechwood Village meeting
COMPONENT: Amica at Beechwood Village
LOCAL: 401
DATE: Monday, February 22, 2016
TIME: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
PLACE: BCGEU - Auditorium (2994 Douglas Street)
AGENDA
As per the Bargaining Notice on January 6, 2016, we have received five nominations for three positions on the bargaining committee.
Andrea Haftner
Chris Popejoy
Ron Hamilton
Sa...
February 10, 2016
SafeCare BC announces a new policy template for violence prevention in contin...
Last week, employers and BCGEU Component 4 members working in continuing care were introduced to a new tool for helping to prevent violence in the workplace. SafeCare BC published a resource for worksites that either don't have a violence prevention policy or would like to improve on what they have.
You can find an explanation and a link to the full policy by clicking here: http://safecarebc....
February 10, 2016
Information on bullying and harassment
On Wednesday, February 24, 2016, we stand together to say no to bullying. The Workers Compensation Board approved three Occupational Health and Safety policies under sections 115, 116, and 117 of the Workers Compensation Act. These policies deal with workplace bullying and harassment. The policies define bullying and harassment, and explain the duties of employers, workers, and supervisors to p...
February 09, 2016
Throne speech: province to expand on Plecas’ recommendations, modernize commu...
The BCGEU is welcoming news the provincial government plans to implement and expand on the recommendations contained in the Plecas report on the Ministry for Children and Family Development. The news was announced in the throne speech this afternoon. Plecas’ report corroborated most of the findings and recommendations from BCGEU’s 2014 Choose Children report and concerns raised by B.C.'s Repres...
February 05, 2016
Well Being Services (CVSV) Ltd mediation stalled
Your bargaining committee met with the employer on February 4, 2016 to try to reach an agreement with the assistance of a mediator. Unfortunately, no agreement could be reached.
We have given the employer until end of day Tuesday, February 9, to provide an acceptable offer. If no response is forthcoming at that time, we will take the necessary steps to achieve a satisfactory tentative agreemen...
February 05, 2016
Promising practices in residential care
How can residential care be provided in ways that respect the needs of seniors, families, workers and managers? Join the BC Health Coalition and the CCPA at this free public forum to hear about ideas and concrete examples of promising practices found in Canada and other countries.
Monday February 22, 2016
Vancouver Public Library
Central Branch – Alice MacKay Room
350 W. Georgia St, Vancouver...
February 05, 2016
Important Information regarding Integrated Health for Northern Health Authori...
1. The employer served the union with notice this past summer of their intent to restructure the leadership within Northern Health and begin the transition to Integrated Health. Since that time, the union has continuously met with the employer regarding this transition. Although the employer has the right to make these changes, your union has challenged the implementation process at each ...
February 04, 2016
Join us on February 14 for the 26th annual Women's Memorial March – "Their Sp...
The annual February 14 Women's Memorial March was started in 1991 in Vancouver in response to the murder of a Coast Salish woman on Powell Street. Since then, marches have been held every year to honour the lives of missing and murdered women. Please join BCGEU president Stephanie Smith and fellow activists in supporting this women-organized, women-led event, to come together to grieve, to rem...
February 04, 2016
BCGEU signs First Nations Solidarity Accord opposing oil sands pipelines and...
First Nations/union alliance emerges in wake of Supreme Court ruling requiring BC government to make a decision on Northern Gateway pipeline and to consult with First Nations.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, COAST SALISH TERRITORY – (February 4, 2016) – The BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) signed a Solidarity Accord today, affirming its support of the Save the Fraser Declaratio...
February 04, 2016
BCGEU wishes members a happy Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year starts on Monday February 8. This marks the start of a fifteen day festival and holiday. Celebrations have started around the world as we say goodbye to the Year of the Sheep and hello to the year of the Fire Monkey.
"We wish our members and their families a very happy and prosperous Lunar New Year," says BCGEU President Stephanie Smith. "We wish you luck, good health and g...
February 04, 2016
BCGEU celebrates the 20th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada
The BCGEU joins Canadians to celebrate Black History Month this February, which marks the event’s 20th anniversary. Our federal government officially recognized Black History Month after passing a parliamentary motion introduced by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
"This February, take some time to learn about black Canadians’ tremendous cont...
February 03, 2016
Submission to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and ...
On January 27 our union presented a submission to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
The foundation of public trust in government is transparency, accountability, and a consistently demonstrated respect for the rights of individuals. FIPPA is designed to protect and uphold these values; yet, public practice in information managemen...
January 29, 2016
To all Direct Government OHS Committee Members in the Victoria Area
"Incident Investigations" will be held on Wednesday, March 2 and "Ergonomics" will be held on Thursday, March 3. The Incident Investigations course will be held at the BCGEU area office, 2994 Douglas St., Victoria and the Ergonomics course will be held at Harbour Towers, 345 Quebec St, Victoria.
In the Incident Investigations course you will learn:
The legislative requirements for conductin...
January 29, 2016
Labour Code OHS Committee Members in the Langley Area
"Ergonomics" will be held on Tuesday, March 1 and "Incident Investigations" will be held on Thursday, March 3. These courses will be held at the BCGEU office at 8555 198A Street, Langley from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
In the Ergonomics you will learn:
Requirements of the ergonomics regulation
How to identify ergonomic hazards, to assess the risk factors of tasks and to recommend appropriate soluti...
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 28, 2016
Forensic Psychiatric Hospital - Join the BCGEU for a winter barbecue!
What: BCGEU Winter Barbecue
When: Friday February 5, 11am – 3pm
Where: Forensic Psychiatric Hospital parking lot
A bit of summer in February - BCGEU members at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital are invited to join us for a hot dog or a grilled hamburger/ veggie burger and all the fixings on Friday, February 5. Look for the BCGEU RV in the parking lot at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital from ...
January 27, 2016
Well-Being Services (Renfrew Care Centre) bargaining committee election results
We are pleased to announce that the following members have been elected as your Bargaining Committee:
Vince Lu, CHAIR
Ymelda Castillo
Carmelita Harnum
Your Committee will be convening shortly to develop proposals prior to meeting with the Employer.
We will continue to communicate with you as developments arise. Please feel free to direct any comments or questions to any member of the Ba...
BCGEU Headquarters is on the unceded and shared traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skxwú7mesh (Squamish) & Səlí̓ lwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.