FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2025 

VICTORIA, B.C.  – BCGEU president and public service bargaining committee chair Paul Finch will hold a press conference today to update media on recent developments in negotiations between the BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) and the provincial government's Public Service Agency (PSA). 

The BCGEU will also be releasing a new report, B.C.'s public service: An investment in public safety and a healthy economy, which explains how investing in public sector workers is both necessary and economically feasible. 

Date: July 18, 2025 

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. PST 

Location: B.C. Legislature lawn, 501 Belleville St., Victoria, B.C. 

Live stream available at www.instagram.com/bcgeu/

Who: The BCGEU public service bargaining committee and other BCGEU members. BCGEU president Paul Finch will be available for interviews. 

Visuals: Unionized workers of B.C.'s public service with colourful union flags. 

The BCGEU's public service bargaining unit is one of the largest in B.C., consisting of over 34,000 members. Negotiations began on January 22, 2025, and their collective agreement expired on March 31, 2025. 

For more information, contact BCGEU Communications via Jasleen Arora ([email protected]) or Jocelyn Wagner ([email protected]). 

Backgrounder: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service 

UWU/MoveUP

This July 12 marks four years since the devastating Brooklyn Tower crane collapse in downtown Kelowna-a tragedy that took the lives of five workers: Patrick Stemmer, Eric Stemmer, Cailen Vilness, Brad Zawislak, and Jared Zook. 

Each of them went to work that morning and didn't come home. And each of them deserves to be remembered-not just for how they died, but for who they were and the communities they helped build. 

This year, that remembrance takes on new meaning. Thanks to the efforts of the North Okanagan Labour Council (NOLC)-our regional labour council affiliate-and the Rise Memorial Foundation, the community will gather this Saturday to officially open a permanent memorial at Knowles Heritage Park in Kelowna. This space is a direct result of a grassroots campaign launched by workers and labour activists, including BCGEU members who pushed for a place of reflection and healing. 

The memorial stands as a solemn reminder of the risks workers face on the job every day and the irreplaceable value of their labour and their lives. It's also a tribute to what we can achieve when we act in solidarity. Unions and community allies from across B.C. helped bring this vision to life. That's the power of the labour movement. 

I want to invite BCGEU members in the Okanagan and surrounding areas to attend this important event. The unveiling will take place on: 

Saturday, July 12 at 10:00 a.m. 
Knowles Heritage Park – 865 Bernard Ave, Kelowna 

Website: https://risememorial.com/

Whether you knew the workers personally or not, this tragedy impacted the entire labour movement. When workers are lost on the job, it's a loss to all of us. Our solidarity demands that we show up, remember, and recommit ourselves to the fight for safer workplaces across every sector. 

Finally, this initiative underscores the critical role Labour Councils play in our movement, from fighting for workers' rights to building solidarity across unions and sectors. If you're interested in becoming more involved-whether it's with NOLC or your local Labour Council-reach out to your Local Executive or Staff Representative. We need more BCGEU voices at those tables.  

In solidarity and remembrance, 

Paul Finch 
President, BCGEU 

A Statement from BCGEU's Executive Vice-President and Chair of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Committee Tristen Wybou

“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us” ~ Marsha P. Johnson 

When you think Americana, you probably don’t think of the Stonewall Inn – the gay bar in Manhattan’s Greenwich village that was raided by police on this day in 1969, famously catalyzing a multi-day resistance to state-led violence that marked what most today consider the first Pride.

As the spark plug for what early gay rights activist Stormé DeLarverie called an uprising and an act of civil rights disobedience, Stonewall epitomized the fight for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," itself. But like so many popular demonstrations, Stonewall never fit neatly into the cultural imaginary that divisive politicians and corporations continue to sell as “western democracy” to fit their selfish needs. This is not unlike the cultural imaginary President Trump has stooped to appeal to in his anti-immigrant policies, or in his reactive deployment of the National Guard to quell anti-ICE protests in California.

For years, the real story of Stonewall — a rally-cry for equity in a working class neighbourhood — was stymied. A combination of limited media coverage and a narrative heavily controlled by the perpetrators of the violence that made the protest necessary, paved the way for Stonewall to be dismissed as a riot. Laden with homophobic rhetoric, a story was forged that painted a picture of unruly youth causing mayhem, rather than a community fighting for the right to exist, to live and to love to their fullest, and to work gainfully without discrimination.

In more recent years, another form of dangerous revision has creeped into the storytelling, where the trans women of color, such as Marsha P Johnson, who played a leading role in the Stonewall uprising, are getting scrubbed from the historical record. Erasure is violence, and it’s an extension of the larger attack on trans rights that’s unfolding in both the United States and here in Canada. These attacks — the rise in vitriol and the misinformation—have left trans workers fighting for their very right to exist, and the very principle of universal healthcare highly vulnerable.

With this in mind, to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising, we recommit to honouring all voices that were on the frontlines and exposing how this important story has been manipulated to erase, demonize and criminalize everyday people. And we commit to interrogating any exclusionary story of national identity that relies on using marginalized people as wedges — whether that’s trans people or immigrants. Just as we condemn the idea that anti-SOGI crusades protect children, we condemn the idea that security is won by tearing families apart and displacing people from communities where they’re woven themselves into the social and economic fabric of that place.

MEDIA STATEMENT 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

BCGEU Condemns Violent Incident at MLA Bowinn Ma's Constituency Office 

Burnaby, B.C. June 27, 2025 –

We are deeply disturbed by the violent incident that unfolded today in front of the constituency office of MLA Bowinn Ma. We are grateful to hear that no one was injured and that the BCGEU members working in this and other constituency offices across the province are now safe.

No one deserves to have their lives endangered when they show up to work. The BCGEU members in constituency offices all over B.C. show up every day to serve the public, providing vital services and support to their communities, and they deserve to be safe from workplace violence. We look forward to the individual(s) responsible being apprehended and brought to justice as soon as possible. 

MLA Ma is a strong and principled advocate for her community and, together with her constituency staff, has done excellent work supporting the people of North Vancouver-Lonsdale. She and her staff represent the best of what politics can be, and they deserve to continue doing their vital work without fearing for their safety. 

We are grateful to hear that government and Legislative Protective Services are taking these attacks seriously, and we urge them to continue supporting affected workers and to take steps to improve safety in political and public sector workplaces. We have seen the backsliding of democracy across the world and we cannot let this kind of violence take root in our communities.

BCGEU is in communication with members impacted by this incident and will continue to provide support as we navigate this difficult moment together.

For interviews, please contact BCGEU Communications at [email protected] or 604-291-9611. 

UWU/MoveUP

As we head into Pride, we are reminded that the first Pride was a collective uprising against injustice. It is in that spirit of solidarity and defiance that we mark this Pride season with our new theme: 
 

Our Pride, Our Right, Our Future, Our Fight.

 We hope you'll join us at one of the following Pride events in Area 01:

• Cowichan Pride on Sunday, June 22
• Victoria Pride on Sunday, July 6

To volunteer for marching and helping out at the Festival Booth please sign up at
 https://pride.bcgeu.ca/volunteer

Unions were also born out of the fight against injustice and offer a potent reminder in the power of collective, direct action, and solidarity.

We resolve to bolden our solidarity, strength, and joy. This is Our Pride. Our Right. Our Fight. And Our Future.
 
In solidarity,
Your Area 01 Cross Component Committee

Download PDF of notice here

UWU/MoveUP

🕊️ In-Person Grief Circle: Kwentuhan (Talking) Circle for Healing & Mourning 🕊️
 

In the wake of the April 26 tragedy at Lapu Lapu Day and with the 40th day of mourning approaching, BCGEU invites all affected to a grief circle-kwentuhan (Tagalog for "talking") circle-to grieve, reflect, and heal together in community. 

 
🗓️ Saturday, June 7, 2025 
🕚 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT 
📍 BCGEU Lower Mainland Area Office 
2920 Virtual Way #130, Vancouver, BC 
📝 RSVP: www.bcgeu.ca/lapu_lapu_day_grief_circle_in_person
 
🌿 Opening ceremony by 
Elder Jocelyn (Midnight Star) of the Driftpile Cree Nation 
 
‍⚕️ Healing support from
Two self-identifying Filipina/Filipinx licensed therapists 
 
 
This gathering is open to anyone impacted. Whether you come to speak, sit, cry, or simply be-you are welcome here. 

Please register as soon as possible.
 
🙏🏽 Maraming salamat. 

UWU/MoveUP

The Tragedy of April 26 at the Lapu Lapu Day event has had a profound impact on many members of the BCGEU Filipino community. To navigate the grief that ripped through the community from this devastating act of violence, the BCGEU will host a grief circle-or kwentuhan (Tagalog for 'talking') circle-to help those impacted process what happened.

In times like these, it is important to come together. This is an opportunity to talk, process, reflect, grieve, heal and support one another.

If you were directly impacted and affected by this tragedy, this space is for you.

Where: Online via Zoom 

Date: May 29, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

RSVP: https://www.bcgeu.ca/lapu_lapu_day_grief_circle 

About the event: 

Rachel Plamondon-Assu C̓aqqalaɫɫilaʔoǧʷ, an Indigenous consultant and practitioner, will be there to guide participants and open the space. BCGEU executive vice-presidents Tristen Wybou and Masoud Aminzavvar will share a few words of welcome. Five self-identifying Filipino, Filipina, Filipinx licensed therapists will provide a healing space in various breakout rooms.

Please register as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Maraming salamat.

UWU/MoveUP

Last month's Lapu Lapu Day tragedy has had a profound impact on many members of the BCGEU Filipino community. To navigate the grief that ripped through the community from this devastating act of violence, the BCGEU will host two grief circles-or kwentuhan (Tagalog for 'talking') circles-to help those impacted process what happened.

In times like these, it is important to come together. There will be a virtual option on May 29 as well as an in-person option on June 7. This is an opportunity to talk, process, reflect, grieve, heal and support one another. 

If you were directly impacted and affected by this tragedy, this space is for you.

Virtual option 
Where: Online via Zoom 
Date: May 29, 2025 
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
RSVP: https://www.bcgeu.ca/lapu_lapu_day_grief_circle 

In-person option
Where: BCGEU Lower Mainland Area Office
Date: June 7, 2025 
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
RSVP: https://www.bcgeu.ca/lapu_lapu_day_grief_circle_in_person

About the event: 
Rachel Plamondon-Assu C̓aqqalaɫɫilaʔoǧʷ, an Indigenous consultant and practitioner, will be there to guide participants and open the space. BCGEU executive vice-presidents Tristen Wybou and Masoud Aminzavvar will share a few words of welcome. Five self-identifying Filipino, Filipina, and Filipinx licensed therapists will provide a healing space in various breakout rooms.

Please register as soon as possible for the virtual or in-person options.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Maraming salamat.

UWU/MoveUP

MEDIA RELEASE

May 21, 2025

LifeLabs workers have new collective agreement 

BURNABY, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) – After 14 months of negotiations and 10 weeks on strike, mediator Mark Brown has given his binding recommendations for a settlement with the employer that will make up LifeLabs workers' new collective agreement, now in effect until March 31, 2027.

“LifeLabs workers have improved their collective agreement following mediation that imposed binding recommendations on their employer,” said Paul Finch, BCGEU president. “We thank Mark Brown for his work in helping to reach a resolution, however Quest and LifeLabs’ inability to reach an agreement at the bargaining table clearly reflects their prioritization of profit over the well-being of workers and patients. This underscores the need to transition B.C.’s diagnostic services into the public system.”

Workers won wage increases ranging from 11.3 to 20 per cent over three years. This puts them at parity in the second year of the new contract with the current wages of their counterparts in the public sector. Critical changes to address workload and overtime issues were also won, while concessions LifeLabs wanted workers to take for sick pay were taken off the table.

“LifeLabs workers stood strong for 10 weeks with public support from across the province in this fight for a fair deal and sustainable services,” said Mandy De Fields, Medical Laboratory Technologist and Chair of the Bargaining Committee. “During mediation at the end of April, we decided that accepting the mediator’s proposal would get us the best possible deal from a very difficult employer.”

This dispute has brought LifeLabs’ new American ownership and concerns about B.C.’s public health dollars going towards U.S. corporate profits into the spotlight. Government’s own study of B.C.’s privatized diagnostic services, commissioned by the BC NDP in 1993, found the system to have high per capita costs for services and a lack of oversight around access and quality. [1] The report made 44 recommendations to strengthen the public delivery of diagnostic services in B.C.

“Thirty years after the Kilshaw Report called for reform, our province continues to fund for-profit diagnostic services – paying LifeLabs $300 million a year – while workers are forced onto picket lines to fight for fair wages and better patient care,” said Finch. “It’s time to revisit this report, and for government to commission a new study into B.C.’s health system to assess health care delivery from an economic perspective, as well as what’s in the best interest of patients and workers.”

The BCGEU represents about 1,200 workers at LifeLabs throughout the province. Following mediation in April, the parties agreed to accept binding recommendations and signed a return-to-work agreement on April 25, 2025. Workers returned to work on April 26, 2025, and the binding recommendations were delivered May 14, 2025. The renewal agreement is now in effect April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027.

The BCGEU is one of the largest unions in British Columbia, with over 95,000 members in almost every community and economic sector.

For more information contact Bronwen Barnett, BCGEU Communications at [email protected] 

[1] Review of Diagnostic Services, 1993, Miles Kilshaw, et al. 

UWU/MoveUP