Your Bargaining Committee and the employer met with Mediator Mark Brown, November 26 – 29. Progress was made with some outstanding non-monetary items, but at the end of the four days, the following priority issues remain unresolved: 

• No wage parity with same jobs in the public sector 
• 20% reduction in sick pay tied to the wage increase for laboratory assistants 
• No parity for shift premiums 
• Mileage increases not at prescribed CRA levels 
• No benefit improvements other than expanding the list of current mental health professionals and adding access to inpatient addiction treatment (rehabilitation program) 
• No relief from paying 100% LTD premiums 
• No agreement to fixed shift schedules 
• No resolution to workload problems and forced overtime in the PSCs 

Your Bargaining Committee cannot recommend settlement on the employer's miserable offer. We deserve more. Our employer has a lot more to share. 

Our aim remains focused on securing a fair and reasonable settlement, but you have given us a 98.2% strike vote and we are not afraid to use it! First, we must reach agreement on essential services. 

Essential Services mediation at the Labour Relations Board continued on December 11 in preparation for job action. A settlement has not been reached between the parties and further dates with the mediator have been scheduled for January 15 – 17, 2025. 

To help ensure you receive a copy of future bargaining updates, please provide a personal email address to the BCGEU at https://my.bcgeu.ca/signup. 

In solidarity, 

Your LifeLabs Bargaining Committee 

Mandy De Fields, Bargaining Committee Chairperson 
Kelly Jeffs, Bargaining Committee Vice-Chairperson
Maryam Baghalha, Bargaining Committee member 
Tony Ly, Bargaining Committee member 
Rosario Viray, Bargaining Committee member 
Wendy Cummer, Bargaining Committee member 
Linsay Buss, Staff Representative - Negotiations 

UWU/MoveUP