Friends,

Your current collective agreement expires on December 31, 2023. A new bargaining committee is therefore required to represent members for negotiating the renewal of the collective agreement.

Call for Nominations

Nominations are now open for a bargaining committee to negotiate the renewal of the collective agreement with the Employer. Members elect a bargaining committee to work with the Union staff representative and other elected leaders to help ensure their voices are heard and interests are protected and advanced through the bargaining process.

The collective agreement mandates the make-up of your bargaining committee which is:

• Two members from Community Member Services (CMS),
• Two members from the Member Services Centre (MSC),
• One member from the Centre Administration Payment Systems (CAPS), and
• One member from VISA.
  

For a total of six bargaining committee members.

The bargaining committee chair will be elected from amongst the elected bargaining committee members.

If there are more than two nominees for each of CMS or MSC, or more than one nominee for each of CAPS or VISA, voting will occur.

A nomination form is attached here for CMS, here for MSC, here for CAPS and here for VISA. Note that the form requires the signatures of both the nominee and their nominator.

Nominations close on Monday, August 21, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.Nominations received after this time will not be considered.

Nominees may submit one page of biographical information, endorsements, or other campaign information (8 ½" x 11", black and white, single-sided) that will be distributed to members with ballots and posted on the BCGEU website if voting is required. The deadline for submitting candidate information is Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Candidate information sheets will be sent out as submitted (except that sheets submitted in colour will be distributed in black and white).

Completed nomination forms and candidate information sheets may be returned by fax to 604-294-5092, by email to [email protected] or by mail to:

BCGEU
Attn. Negotiations Department
4911 Canada Way
Burnaby BC V5G 3W3

Duties of Committee Members and Chair

All committee members are expected to:

• Attend caucus meetings and assist in the development of proposals for collective bargaining
• Liaise between members at the worksite and the Union regarding priorities
• Assist in gathering and distributing information from and to members at the worksite
• Attend collective bargaining sessions with the Employer
• Take notes related to the bargaining process and provide copies of same to the Staff Representative at the conclusion of bargaining
• Provide feedback and information to the Staff Representative during the bargaining process
• Participate in discussions related to the Employer's proposals, and assist in developing counter proposals
• Assist with ratification or other votes or meetings that may be held related to bargaining

The bargaining committee chair is normally the main liaison between members, the bargaining committee and the staff negotiator. They are expected to participate fully as a committee member and to take a leadership role within the committee and bargaining unit during and following negotiations.

No prior negotiations experience is required, and training will be provided.

Leaves of absence are provided to members to allow attendance at all meetings without loss of pay or benefits.

Important Deadlines

Members are reminded that:

• The deadline to submit nominations is: Monday, August 21, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.; and

• The deadline for nominees to submit a page of candidate information is: Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

Nominees may contact Staff Representative Zoe Towle for additional information on candidate rights and responsibilities, by phone at 604-291-9611 or toll-free 1-800-663-1674 or by email [email protected]

In Solidarity,

Zoe Towle, Staff Representative, Negotiations
 
Download a PDF of this notice 

Download a PDF of the CMS nomination form

Download a PDF of the MSC nomination form

Download a PDF of the CAPS nomination form

Download a PDF of the VISA nomination form

UWU/MoveUP