NEWS & UPDATES
February 09, 2018
Local 0511/10/06 - Elections for Local Chair - BCGEU
Re: Elections for Local 0511/10/06 Chair
The BCGEU is holding elections for the following positions of the local 0511/10/06 executive. Candidate statements are attached for those candidates who provided them:
Local Chair:Stefanie CapletteEllen Nicholson
Ballots are available from your stewards and contacts at the worksite.
PLEASE NOTE: Packages are being mailed out to the stewards or contacts f...
February 09, 2018
Hard Rock Casino workers vote in favour of strike - BCGEU
Unionized workers at Coquitlam's Hard Rock Casino have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. The more than 400 casino employees, who joined the BC Government and Service Employees' Union in 2016, have been trying to negotiate a first collective agreement since January 2017. Read more.... UWU/MoveUP
February 08, 2018
Minimum Wage Announcement: Low Wage Workers Need $15 Now, Not in 2021 - BCGEU
Today's announcement by the provincial government that B.C.'s minimum wage will reach $15.20 per hour on June 1, 2021 is disappointing, both to the BCGEU and to the 20 per cent of B.C.'s workers who make less than $15 per hour. We think that the provincial government should take action to reduce poverty and inequality in our province by increasing the minimum wage to $15 immediately, as we stat...
February 08, 2018
BCGEU Welcomes Review of Labour Code - BCGEU
The BCGEU welcomes the provincial government's announcement earlier this week that they have appointed a committee of special advisers to review the provincial labour code. This review is a good first step in the process of restoring fairness to both the labour code and the BC Labour Relations Board.
The code review panel will be consulting with stakeholders around B.C. before reporting back to...
February 07, 2018
Elections for Local 503 Executive - BCGEU
The BCGEU is holding elections for the following positions of the local 503 executive.
Chairperson (1):Mark GuoloKeith Stone
1st Vice Chairperson (1):Kusam DoalHarbinder SinghPaul Brown
2nd Vice Chairperson (1):Andrew GeorgeKelly SmithKeith StoneSukhwinder ChibPaul Brown
Recording Secretary (1):Christina YouniePaul Brown
Treasurer (1):Kusam DoalPaul Brown
Member at Large (2): Sukhwinder ChibEr...
February 06, 2018
Local 507 Election Results - BCGEU
The call for nominations for the Local 507 Executive closed on February 4, 2018.
We confirm that your new Executive is as follows:
Margie Edmondson - Chairperson
Runjet Saran – 1st Vice Chairperson
Shawn Tozer – 2nd Vice Chairperson
Patti Lord – Recording Secretary
Marlene Lodermeier - Member-at-Large
Steve Graumann –Member-at-Large
Glenn Devlin – Member-at-Large
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE...
February 06, 2018
Hard Rock Casino workers vote to strike - BCGEU
Hard Rock Casino workers vote to strikeAn astounding 99.5% vote in favour of strike actionMembers of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working at Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action against their employer this week.In a vote held from February 1-4, over 90% of Hard Rock staff came out and voted 99.5% in favour of taking strik...
February 06, 2018
B.C. government marijuana stores will compete with private sellers - BCGEU
B.C.'s 'grey market' marijuana growers and retailers will be able to apply for licences to compete with a new chain of government pot stores run by the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has confirmed plans for a mixed public and private retail model for recreational cannabis, which the federal government has promised to legalize this year. Marijuana will not...
February 06, 2018
Pot rules: stand-alone stores only; cities get say - BCGEU
Recreational marijuana will be sold in a network of stand-alone stores overseen by the province's liquor regulator, according to rules announced Monday by the B.C. government. Public health officials had warned against selling cannabis and alcohol in the same place, which is advice the province took seriously, said Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety and solicitor general. Read more... ...
February 06, 2018
Safety Tip of the Month - February 2018 - BCGEU
Everyone should be familiar with the OHS regulations on "Working Alone" (Sections 4.20, 4.21 and 4.22). The "Working Alone" provisions require:
• the employer to identify, eliminate and/or minimize the risks and/or hazards associated with working alone;
• the employer to develop and implement a written procedure for checking the well-being of a worker assigned to work alone at regular intervals...
February 05, 2018
Today’s Announcement on Cannabis Retail - BCGEU
Today our provincial government announced how legal, non-medical cannabis will be retailed in British Columbia. We now know that there will be a "mixed" public/private retail model, with privately run retail stores, government-operated retail stores, and government online sales. There will also be rural stores, but details of those have not yet been announced.
Cannabis will not be sold at exist...
February 05, 2018
B.C.’s liquor stores well positioned under new cannabis retail regulations - ...
The new retail cannabis regulations announced by the B.C. government leaves B.C.'s liquor stores well-positioned to provide safe, secure, reliable access to non-medical cannabis products, the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of BC (RMRABC) said today. While the government chose not to allow the sale of alcohol and cannabis in the same store, because of federal recommendations against co-lo...
February 02, 2018
BCGEU presses budget priorities in letter to B.C. Finance Minister - BCGEU
As the new NDP government prepares to introduce their first full budget on February 20, the BCGEU used the opportunity to restate our union's budget priorities in a letter to B.C.
Finance Minister Carole James:
Dear Minister,
Re Priorities for the upcoming B.C. Budget 2018/2019
Thank you for the opportunity to share our members' observations and priorities in the lead-up to B.C. Budget 2018...
February 01, 2018
Area 07 2018 Free Skate - BCGEU
FREE PUBLIC SKATE
Every year, the Cross Component Committee (CCC) of the BCGEU is pleased to celebrate the BC Family Day with free public skates throughout the Okanagan.
Here are the locations, dates and times for this year:
Sunday, Feb. 11thHassen Memorial Arena3315 Pleasant Valley RdArmstrong3:45pm - 5:45pm
Sunday, Feb. 11thJim Lind Arena2760 Cameron RdWest Kelowna1:30pm – 4:00pm
Monday, Feb....
February 01, 2018
BCGEU remembers Lorraine Logan - BCGEU
On behalf of the members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union I offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lorraine Logan who passed away on January 23, 2018. An activist through and through, and right up until the end, she was a champion of workers' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights and seniors' rights.
Lorraine Logan grew up in Vancouver. Her family was smal...
January 31, 2018
Read the Winter 2018 issue of The Steward - BCGEU
In this issue, we look at a variety of topics to keep you up-to-date on issues that could affect your workplace, and the members you represent. Topics include the duty to accommodate and how it may arise through discrimination based on disability or family status; the employer's legal duty to protect members from harassment on the employer's social media platforms; the employee's duty to mitiga...
January 26, 2018
BCGEU Submission to Review of Professional Reliance - BCGEU
The government has initiated a review of the professional reliance model in the natural resource sector. The day-to-day work of thousands of BCGEU members is shaped by this regulatory model, and many of our members have raised the alarm about its shortcomings.
In its present form, the professional reliance model effectively lets the "fox guard the henhouse," leading in some cases to the misman...
January 24, 2018
Local 503 Meeting General Meeting Notice - BCGEU
COMPONENT: 5 – Retail Stores and WarehouseLOCAL: 503DATE: Sunday, February 18, 2018TIME: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm – General Meeting for Local 503 MembersPLACE: BCGEU Lower Mainland Area Office – Musqueam Room, Suite 130 – 2920 Virtual Way, Vancouver
AGENDA
· Public Service & Component Bargaining Proposals for 18th Public Service & Component Agreements
Please come and share your ideas for...
January 18, 2018
Nomination for Vacant Positions for Local 0512 Executive - BCGEU
Nominations are now open for the following positions on the local executive:
Chair
1st Vice Chair
2nd Vice Chair
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Member-At-Large (4 Positions)
Member-At-Large (Young Worker)
The term is three years. Information on the responsibilities and activities of each office is available from your area office.
The deadline for nominations is: 5:00 pm on Tuesday, Febr...
January 18, 2018
Nomination for Local 501 Executive - BCGEU
Nominations are now open for the following positions on the Local Executive:
Chairperson
1st Vice Chairperson
2nd Vice Chairperson
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Members at Large (3 positions)
Young Worker Member at Large (1 position for member under age 30)
The term is for three years. Information on the responsibilities and activities of each office is available from your Area Office. ...
January 18, 2018
Local 501 Meeting - BCGEU
COMPONENT: Retail Stores & WarehouseLOCAL: 501DATE: Monday, February 26, 2018TIME: 7:30 p.m.PLACE: Second Floor Boardroom, Victoria Area Office Burnside Road Entrance
AGENDA
Further consideration of Bargaining Proposals
General Business
In solidarity,Robbie Clarke, 501 ChairpersonKim Shelley, Staf...