NEWS & UPDATES
May 17, 2018
Coquitlam casino still behind pickets - BCGEU
After five days of job action, a labour dispute at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam does not appear to be ending anytime soon.
Great Canadian Gaming Corp. said in a statement Monday that it has been granted an order by the B.C. Labour Relations Board prohibiting striking workers from blocking entry to the property.
Read more...
UWU/MoveUP
May 17, 2018
GATEWAY CASINOS NEGOTIATIONS REACH AN IMPASSE - BCGEU
Talks between Gateway Casinos and members of the BC Government and Service Employees Union have broken off. On Tuesday morning, over a hundred employees of Gateway Casinos from Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, and Kamloops rallied in Kelowna to push for higher wages. Read more... UWU/MoveUP
May 17, 2018
CASINO WORKERS RALLY IN KELOWNA - BCGEU
Employees of Gateway Casinos from Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, and Kamloops gathered in Kelowna Tuesday morning to push for higher wages.
Negotiations between the company and the bargaining committee began back in January, but stopped abruptly in March, prompting Tuesday’s demonstration.
Read more...
UWU/MoveUP
May 17, 2018
Casino workers nearing strike? - BCGEU
A vocal group of employees from four of the Okanagan's largest casinos rallied in Kelowna this morning as their union headed back to the bargaining table. Approximately 1,400 employees of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited (which operates Playtime Casino in Kelowna, Lake City Casino in Vernon, and Cascades Casinos in Penticton and Kamloops) are pressuring the company to pay them a living...
May 17, 2018
Casino workers press for wage hike - BCGEU
Gateway Casino workers will be rallying Tuesday for higher wages. Members of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union working at Gateway Casinos and Entertainment in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops are calling on their employer to improve wages, benefits and working conditions as contract negotiations resume Tuesday. Read more... UWU/MoveUP
May 15, 2018
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...
May 14, 2018
Local 603 Young Worker Representative - BCGEU
I am happy to inform you that Kayla Woodruff is the Local 603 young worker representative.
Congratulations Kayla,
Darryl Flasch Local 603, Chairperson
Download FYI new L603 Young Worker Representative.pdfUWU/MoveUP
May 14, 2018
Gateway casino workers to rally for industry-standard wages as they resume ne...
KELOWNA, B.C., May 14, 2018 – Members of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working at Gateway Casinos & Entertainment (Gateway) in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Kamloops will hold a rally and deliver a petition to their employer calling for improved wages, benefits and working conditions as contract negotiations resume tomorrow.
Contract negotiations broke off on Mar...
May 11, 2018
Hard Rock Casino workers strike for fairness - BCGEU
Strike kicks off with rally at Hard Rock
(Coquitlam, May 11, 2018) - Members of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working at Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam are walking off the job Friday morning, in their escalating efforts to get fair wages, benefits and respect at work.
Hundreds of workers and supporters will gather for a rally in front of the casino at 2073 Hartley Ave,...
May 10, 2018
BCGEU and BC Government exchange bargaining proposals - BCGEU
UPDATE #2:
The first week of public service bargaining wrapped up in Victoria after the BCGEU exchanged bargaining packages with the employer. Component agreement bargaining took place from April 23 – 27. Component agreements cover occupational terms and conditions. Issues unresolved at component bargaining tables were tabled at the main public service table, by agreement with the employer.
...
May 10, 2018
Who Decides for BC? - BCGEU
It's time to bring environmental decision-making back to the public interest.A Natural Resource Officer, tasked with stewarding our forests, without the tools needed to address forest practices until it is too late. An ecologist with serious concerns that an industry-paid biologist's plans will compromise the proper functioning of a stream's ecosystem, and no forum to stop it. These are just tw...
May 08, 2018
Public service bargaining commences in Victoria - BCGEU
UPDATE #1
Bargaining representatives from the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) and the B.C. Government Public Service Agency (BC PSA) are meeting today in Victoria to exchange bargaining proposals and begin four weeks of negotiations to achieve a new collective agreement.
"We're pleased to begin the bargaining process early," said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "It gives...
May 07, 2018
It's time to reinvest in the services that support British Columbians - BCGEU
BURNABY – Today, and in the weeks ahead, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) will begin negotiating new contracts for more than 53,000 members in the public service, health sectors and community social services.
"We're ready," says BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "Beginning negotiations today gives us the time we need to address long-standing issues we've been raising wit...
May 07, 2018
BCGEU observes North American Occupational Safety and Health Week - BCGEU
The BC Government and Service Employees' Union joins occupational health and safety advocates and governments across the continent in observing North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), which is observed from May 6-12 and will be commemorated in events across North America.
NAOSH Week was first launched in 1997, after the government of Canada, United States and Mexico signed a...
May 01, 2018
Pension Plan estimator now online, but doesn’t show the full picture - BCGEU
As of May 1, the Public Service Pension Plan's online pension estimator will be available to pension plan members. However, the Pension Plan web site says that "the estimator will not yet calculate the past service enhancement that comes into effect October 1, 2019." This means that when you log in to estimate your pension under the new rules, you won't be getting a complete estimate of your li...
April 30, 2018
Provincial Magazine – Spring 2018 - BCGEU
The digital version of the Spring 2018 issue of The Provincial is available to download online. In this issue:
BC Budget 2018
BC Cannabis retail program
Public Service Pension Plan changes
Community Social Services bargaining
Affordable BC campaign
Organizing news
Events and more…
Download the Spring 2018 issue (PDF)
UWU/MoveUP
April 26, 2018
New conservation officers provide greater protection for B.C. environment - B...
The swearing in of new conservation officers on the steps of the B.C. legislature demonstrates a commitment by the B.C. government to increase protection for our natural environment, the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) said today.
"The B.C. government's commitment to hire new conservation officers is good news that will ensure higher levels of compliance and enforcement with ...
April 25, 2018
Message from BCGEU vice president of administrative services component Maria ...
The best laid plans … often go awry. We administrative professionals are great organizers and planners, aren't we? That's why, as your vice president for administrative services at the BCGEU, Administrative Services Day is never far from my mind. This is the day we recognize the valuable and vital service we in the BCGEU's Administrative Services Component provide to British Columbians and thei...
April 24, 2018
BCGEU’s telephone town hall on Public Service Pension Plan changes - BCGEU
On Tuesday, April 10th we hosted a telephone town hall from the Victoria Area Office to talk with members about the changes to the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) that were implemented April 1, 2018. We were joined in the VAO by representatives from the BC Pension Corporation and the Pension Secretariat. This bulletin summarizes some of the key points that came up during the town hall and pr...
April 23, 2018
Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week: April 22-28 - BCGEU
Please join us this week in celebrating medical laboratory professionals!
Medical laboratory professionals are highly trained health care professionals who provide laboratory test results required for the prevention, detection and treatment of illness and disease. When physicians and other health care providers are looking for answers, they depend on laboratory test results to accurately diagn...
April 23, 2018
Family Event – Miner's Memorial in Cumberland - BCGEU
This year Miners Memorial at Cumberland is going to be a huge event for union members. It is unfortunate that we were unable to secure Miracle Beach for the annual family picnic and so in lieu of that, we are encouraging members and their families to attend the BBQ dinner and other festivities on Saturday June 23rd. Go to https://minersmemorial.ca/ to get a rundown of events. The best part is f...
April 20, 2018
MSDPR’s Acceptance of Ombudsperson’s Holding Pattern Report Is a Major Victor...
The BCGEU applauds the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction's (MSDPR) willingness to accept most of the recommendations of B.C.'s Ombudsperson Jay Chalke's special report Holding Pattern: Call Wait Times for Income and Disability Assistance.
"We're pleased that the new government has acknowledged the long-standing problems surrounding the MSDPR centralized phone line and is comm...
April 20, 2018
BCGEU partners with SumOfUs on improving corporate responsibility through inv...
The BCGEU is leading the way in the labour movement when it comes to responsible investing. Ahead of the 2015 global oil price crash, the union divested its strike fund and general reserves from fossil fuel equities and not only preserved, but increased the value of its holdings. Now, the BCGEU has partnered with non-profit organization SumOfUs to advocate for greater corporate responsibility a...
April 19, 2018
Welcome to Your Union: A New Resource Guide for BCGEU Members
Introducing BCGEU's brand-new member guide! Welcome to Your Union is a compact yet informative guide, written for all BCGEU members, whether new to the union or not.
The guide outlines key information members need to get the most out of union membership such as educational opportunities, ways to get more involved, the role of shop stewards and the right to workplace safety.
It also describes t...
April 19, 2018
ISM Members - Health Authority Service Delivery Units – NTT Data Update - BCGEU
As you are all aware, NTT DATA is the successful proponent to take over the Health Authority Services under JRFP (No. ON-002882).
We know that this process can cause uncertainty and be frustrating for everyone involved. The BCGEU and NTT DATA have met several times to discuss this transition and the surrounding questions including successorship and employment opportunity for our members.
We can...
April 16, 2018
Honouring killed and injured workers on Day of Mourning – April 28 - BCGEU
In 2017, 158 workers lost their lives to workplace injury or disease. Please join us in honouring their memory on the Day of Mourning, April 28.
Many BCGEU members will be attending Day of Mourning events in communities around our province. Some members will be there to honour and remember their co-workers and family members. Many will be there to show solidarity and empathy for those who have ...
April 13, 2018
Nominations for Local 603 Recording Secretary and Member-at-Large – Young Wor...
Nominations are now open for the following two (2) positions on the local executive:
Recording Secretary [1 position]
Member-at-Large – Young Worker (age 29 and younger) [1 position]
The term is three years. Information on the responsibilities is attached.
Nomination forms must be received at the Lower Mainland Area Office byMay 13, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Nomination forms can be submitted to the Low...
April 13, 2018
Government to Recognize PTSD & Mental Health Claims for First Responders: Cor...
The BCGEU welcomes the provincial government's announcement that first responders including Sheriffs and Correctional Officers will receive greater access to mental health support.
On Wednesday, BC Labour Minister Harry Bains announced amendments to the Workers Compensation Act. These amendments -- called a presumptive clause -- will be introduced this week and, if approved by the legislature,...
April 13, 2018
Government action for renters and tenants a welcome relief in middle of housi...
VANCOUVER –
This week the government of British Columbia announced new initiatives to strengthen protections for renters. BCGEU welcomes these long overdue changes, and applauds the government for continuing to take initiative on the housing file.
"Increasing protections for those facing eviction is an important step in making B.C. more affordable for renters," noted BCGEU president Stephanie S...
April 13, 2018
Call for Nominations – Two (2) Shop Steward Positions at Fernwood Lodge at Ri...
Two vacancies have become available for the position of shop steward. The nomination form is attached. Please fill out and return to the BCGEU – Lower Mainland Area Office no later than 30 days from April 13, 2018 at 4:00 pm. Nomination should be faxed, emailed or mailed to: Attention: David Noble Fax: 604-215-1410 BCGEU – Lower Mainland Area Office Email: area03@bcgeu.ca 130 – 2920 Vi...