"2 Day Joint OHS Committee Training" will be held on Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8, 2017. "Incident Investigations" will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017. These courses will be held at the BCGEU area office, 158 Oriole Road, Kamloops from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm.

In the Joint OHS Committee Training course you will learn:

• Worker OHS rights, including the refusal of unsafe work procedure
• OHS legislation
• Roles and responsibilities of employers, workers, supervisors and committees
• Hazard identification and control measures
• How to conduct effective workplace inspections and incident investigations
• Resources available to the committee

In the Incident Investigations you will learn:

• The legislative requirements for conducting accident/incident investigations
• How to get to the contributing factors by conducting effective witness interviews and examining physical evidence
• How to assess the evidence in order to recommend effective corrective measures

These courses are limited to 22 seats so register early at https://gww.gov.bc.ca/ to avoid disappointment.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your ability to advocate for workers' health and safety rights - register today.

Note: If you have not taken your annual education leave, as mandated by the Workers' Compensation Act and your Collective Agreement - apply for this employer paid leave through your employer.

"Ergonomics" will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 and "Prevention of Workplace Violence" will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017. These courses will be held at the Learning Centre, 716 Courtney Street, Victoria from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm.]

In the Ergonomics course you will learn:

•    Requirements of the ergonomics regulation
•    How to identify ergonomic hazards, to assess the risk factors of tasks and to recommend appropriate solutions
•    Strategies for implementing an effective workplace ergonomics program
•    How to conduct a workstation assessment

In the Prevention of Workplace Violence you will learn:    

•    The legislative requirements for a violence prevention program
•    The definition of workplace violence
•    How to identify the hazards
•    The factors that contribute to the increased risk of workplace violence
•    The strategies for recommending corrective measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of violence

These courses are limited to 22 seats so register early at https://gww.gov.bc.ca/ to avoid disappointment.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your ability to advocate for workers' health and safety rights - register today.

Note: If you have not taken your annual education leave, as mandated by the Workers' Compensation Act and your Collective Agreement - apply for this employer paid leave through your employer.

COMPONENT:    Social, Information and Health

          LOCAL:    604

           DATE:    Thursday, February 23, 2017

           TIME:    Executive – 6:00 pm; General – 7:00 pm

         PLACE:    BCGEU Fraser Valley Union Centre
                        8555 – 198A Street, Langley Twp – Fraser Room

 
UPDATE - REMINDER

*CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS AND NOMINATIONS FOR THE 50TH BCGEU TRIENNIAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION being held June 14 – 17, 2017, in Vancouver*

Further to the meeting notice sent on January 19, 2017:
Election of delegates and alternates to convention

If you are interested in being a delegate to Convention, all nomination forms previously sent must be received at the Fraser Valley Area Office no later than 5:00  p.m. February 23, 2017. If there are more nominations received than positions available, the delegate election will be conducted at the local meeting. If you require additional nomination forms, please feel free to copy the form. Please note: only one nomination form is required per person.

If you are unable to attend, but wish to hear the proceedings, you may call in. Please note you will not be eligible to participate in the delegate selection, only those in attendance are able to vote.

Conference call-in tollfree:        1.866.562.0090
Access:                                       171249#

In solidarity

Chad Blackey
Local Chair

Download PDF of notice here.

Land Value Capture, a mechanism that taxes development speculation along proposed transit routes and puts those dollars into transit development is a solution the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has been advocating for since 2015 to address the Lower Mainland’s transit crisis. Now, BC TransLink Minister Peter Fassbender is proposing a provincial development tax which the BCGEU welcomes. However, the union would look forward to engaging with TransLink on the development of the tax to contribute its expertise on the mechanism, as well as to provide input on issues that affect union members such as having a broad transit system and protecting affordable housing.

The BCGEU was critical of the Metro Vancouver sales tax proposed as a transit funding option during the 2015 transit referendum. The union perceived the tax as a wealth transfer from working people to real estate developers and instead put forward Land Value Capture as an alternative solution. “We believe that existing transit projects are used as a subsidy for real estate speculators, and we want to see that value put back into developing a broad transit system,” said BCGEU Treasurer Paul Finch. “If done right, housing affordability is not negatively impacted, consumers aren’t overcharged for everyday items, businesses aren’t subjected to more downward pressure on their sales, and municipal governments don’t lose revenue.”

The BCGEU represents over 73,000 workers, many of whom rely on public transit, and some of whom work on the Canada Line. Through Land Value Capture, funding is made available for transit improvements that reduce congestion, create more housing options along transit routes, and ensure environmental sustainability, all without placing a regressive sales tax burden on British Columbians.

Read Paul Finch’s 2015 Vancouver Sun op-ed: Fund transit by taxing land speculators

For more information or to arrange an interview with BCGEU Treasurer Paul Finch, please contact Bronwen Barnett, BCGEU Communications, 604-719-4713

MPP

Dear Municipal employer,

We are excited to get the improved member education season under way. Please encourage your newer employees and those with optional enrolment in the plan to take the eLearning course Getting to Know Your Pension and your employees who are plan members to register for Making the Most of Your Pension and Approaching Retirement workshops.

How you benefit

Investing in your employees shows you’re dedicated to helping them plan for their future. From this support, you might notice:

• More engaged employees who understand the advantages of opting into the plan
• Educated employees who know the benefits of being in the plan and, in turn, an increase in staff retention

How your employees benefit

The eLearning course and workshops provide your employees with key pension information they need to make decisions for their future, wherever they are on their pension journey.

Please promote the eLearning course and workshops

1. Distribute the attached posters to your employees
2. Encourage new employees to take the eLearning course
3. Encourage mid-career and approaching retirement employees to register for a workshop

Hosting a workshop

Did you know we can come to you? There’s no cost to host a workshop—you will just need to provide a suitable workshop room with a projection screen.

To host a workshop, submit the Pension Workshop Request form available in the Forms section of the secure Employer site.

If you have questions, please contact us.

Client Education Program

Tel 250 356-2199 Fax 250 953-0439
Toll Free (BC) 1 877 558-5572
email [email protected]  
web www.pspp.pensionsbc.ca

PSPP

Dear Public Service employer,

We are excited to get the improved member education season under way. Please encourage your newer employees and those with optional enrolment in the plan to take the eLearning course Getting to Know Your Pension and your employees who are plan members to register for Making the Most of Your Pension and Approaching Retirement workshops.

How you benefit

Investing in your employees shows you’re dedicated to helping them plan for their future. From this support, you might notice:

• More engaged employees who understand the advantages of opting into the plan
• Educated employees who know the benefits of being in the plan and, in turn, an increase in staff retention

How your employees benefit

The eLearning course and workshops provide your employees with key pension information they need to make decisions for their future, wherever they are on their pension journey.

Please promote the eLearning course and workshops

1. Distribute the attached posters to your employees
2. Encourage new employees to take the eLearning course
3. Encourage mid-career and approaching retirement employees to register for a workshop

Hosting a workshop

Did you know we can come to you? There’s no cost to host a workshop—you will just need to provide a suitable workshop room with a projection screen.

To host a workshop, submit the Pension Workshop Request form available in the Forms section of the secure Employer site.

If you have questions, please contact us.

Thank you,

Client Education Program

Tel 250 356-2199 Fax 250 953-0439
Toll Free (BC) 1 877 558-5572
email [email protected]  
web www.pspp.pensionsbc.ca

Today the BCGEU provided its submission to the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly, in response to its regular statutory review of the Representative for Children and Youth Act (SBC, 2006, c. 29).

The Office of the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) provides an essential point of oversight and review for our province’s child and family welfare system. Our comments and suggestions to continue this work include retaining and protecting the RCY’s independence as an officer of the legislature, as well as two recommendations: that the Act provide improved protection and oversight for those transitioning out of government care, including the expansion of the age definition for “young adults;” and that the Act be amended to place an obligation on care facilities to inform children and youth placed with them of the role of the representative, and their right to have private contact with the representative without delay.

Click here to view the full submission (PDF)

VANCOUVER –

Yesterday Vancouver City council made important steps in bolstering their response to the fentanyl crisis by releasing the second wave of funding intended to provide support to affected communities.

“We are encouraged by City Council’s focus on providing the necessary relief to the hardest hit communities, and to hear about an additional focus on supporting front line workers.” said BCGEU President Stephanie Smith.

A motion approving over $350,000 towards harm reduction measures is a positive step towards addressing rising public health concerns. The funds will be used to fund initiatives addressing the impacts of the crisis on people living in single room occupancy (SRO) hotels and shelters, as well as supporting first responders’ mental health.

Trauma associated with saving lives is an incredibly heavy burden on workers, and society has a responsibility to take care of them in their time of need. Funding for proper debriefing, counselling, and support is essential to the healing process for anybody intervening in an overdose.

The reality of the situation is that people working within the affected communities are the first to respond to an overdose, keeping people alive until paramedics can arrive. Recognizing them as first responders means that they can get access to the counselling supports that they need.

Additional funding for partnerships with community organizations to hold peer-to-peer overdose training will help provide people living in SROs and shelters the tools to support each other in these trying times.  

This funding is a positive step in the right direction towards halting the exponential growth of the public health crisis. Hopefully this signals the start of similar initiatives in cities and municipalities across the province as other jurisdictions follow Vancouver’s lead.

The BCGEU represents 72,000 workers in B.C. including over 10,000 in community social services and many more in mental health and addictions.

467/MoveUP

Tell Us About Your Bad Job

Unpaid wages?
Unpaid overtime?
Employer taking your tips?
Unfair firings?

Unfair treatment of workers is all too common in British Columbia.

Few people know their rights, and getting justice from a bad boss can be nearly impossible.

The BC Employment Standards Coalition is campaigning for better employment laws and stronger enforcement for all workers.

Tell your story.
Join us to share your story. You can tell us about a current problem or even something that happened within the past 10 years.

You can also learn about your workplace rights under the Employment Standards Act and other BC laws. If your case involves a legal violation, we will offer advice and can help you to start a complaint.

Interviews will be done by experienced advocates. You can choose to tell us your name and the name of the employer, or choose to be anonymous.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO CHECK DATES, LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Can’t make it? Questions? Contact:
Murray Gore 604-671-9141 • David Fairey 604-430-6036 • Joey Hartman 604-254-0703

Please share this information with co-workers, friends, family and organizations BCEmploymentStandardsCoalition.com

As you may already know the Province of BC has announced that they will be changing the carrier for employee benefits from Pacific Blue Cross to Great West Life.

As benefit entitlements are set out in our negotiated collective agreement, this change should result in no substantive changes in benefits for members.

The change will take effect in April 2017, and BCGEU’s Public Service Bargaining Committee will continue to monitor the transition process.

If you encounter any complications with the change in benefits, please contact your steward.

467/MoveUP