NEWS & UPDATES
February 18, 2016
B.C. uncorks rules to licence VQA wineries in grocery stores
Grocery stores hoping to sell British Columbia’s high-quality wines, ciders and sake will have to bid against each other for the chance to apply for a licence. Read more...
February 17, 2016
Member Update - Budget 2016 Response
BCGEU president Stephanie Smith provides the union's response to the BC government's 2016 budget, which was introduced to the legislature on February 16, 2016.
February 17, 2016
BCGEU unionizes advocacy group Leadnow
Leadnow employees have organized to join the BCGEU.
The organization works to promote democracy and social justice in Canada. It describes itself as: ‘an independent advocacy organization that runs campaigns on the major issues of our time, engages people in participatory decision-making, and organizes in communities across Canada.’
“We’re delighted to welcome Leadnow into the BCGEU family. T...
February 16, 2016
Increased funding for MCFD welcome news, investment overdue in other ministries
“We welcome the increased funding for the Ministry for Children and Family Development announced in today’s budget. Our union, and especially our frontline members, have worked hard to convince government that a significant increase is crucial for the ministry. Their concerns were detailed in the BCGEU report Choose Children, and these efforts have paid off. Additional frontline social workers,...
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
February 2016 Safety Tip of the Month: Working Alone
Members often come to us with their concerns about working alone in their stores. This month we’ll take the opportunity to review the procedures for working alone and offer ideas to help you feel safe in these situations.
Everyone should be familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulati...
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
Substitution (relief) pay regarding retail clerks & supervisors in the BC Liq...
Article 27.4 of the Public Service Master Collective Agreement provides for substitution (or relief) pay to employees who are designated by the employer to:
perform the principal duties of a higher paying position; or
temporarily substitute in a higher paying position; or
perform duties of a higher paying position which would warrant a higher classification.
To assist in determining whe...
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 04, 2016
Update – Recognition of prior vacation year upon re-employment
Following negotiations between the BCGEU and the BC Public Service Agency, we are happy to report that an agreement has been reached on the application of the Memorandum of Agreement – Recognition of Prior Vacation Year Upon Re-Employment.
In the future the MOA will be applied in all cases where a qualified former regular employee initially re-employed as an auxiliary employee subsequently att...
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...