Every year, on April 28, BCGEU members across the province come together to honour and remember co-workers and family members who were injured, made sick or killed because of something that happened at work. 

Because of COVID-19, our coming together this year will once again look different but will be no less important. In 2020, 173 workers died due to work, and with many jurisdictions concerned with an emerging third wave, the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to have tremendous impact on workers, including continued lack of protection. It is critical that we all remember those workers and reiterate our commitment to fight for the living to prevent further tragedies. 

Here are a few ways you can acknowledge Day of Mourning on April 28:

• Attend the BC Federation of Labour's virtual gathering at 10:30 a.m. 
• Download and post at your worksite the BCGEU's Day of Mourning poster. To receive a hard copy of the poster, please submit a request here by Tuesday, April 6, 2021, 5 p.m.
• Observe a moment of silence. 
• Share the following statement in your email signature or on social media:
  • On April 28, we honour the lives of those that have been injured or lost their lives to workplace injury or disease in B.C. Visit dayofmourning.bc.ca for more information.
  • In 2020, 173 workers in B.C. lost their lives to workplace injury or disease. Join us in honouring their memory on April 28. Visit dayofmourning.bc.ca for more information.
• Call on your employer to:
  • work with health and safety committees and representatives to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, whatever work is taking place; and 
  • ensure all workers have access to free personal protective equipment, training and paid sick days so they can stay home when they are ill and not risk exposing co-workers and their community.
• Call on our provincial government to:
  • Ensure every worker has seamless access to universal, permanent and adequate paid sick leave, so no one has to choose between going to work sick and getting a paycheque. Being able to stay home when you are sick is fundamental to reducing workplace exposures and illness;
  • Enforce workplace health and safety provisions, including the right to refuse unsafe work; and
  • Deliver on the promise that workplace health and safety is recognized as a fundamental right at work at the International Labour Organization (ILO) this year

Please respond to this email with any questions.

UWU/MoveUP

For months the BCGEU has been working hard to make sure frontline essential workers would be offered vaccines as soon as possible. This week's announcement that more than 300,000 front-line workers will be eligible for immunization starting in April is great news-especially for thousands of BCGEU members in child-care and corrections who are among the priority groups listed. 

However, thousands of BCGEU members who have also worked on the front lines throughout the pandemic still don't know where they stand. These members-including wildfire fighters, Liquor Distribution Branch workers, social workers and Special Provincial Constables-deserve to know when they will be offered a vaccine.

The bottom line is essential workers deserve clarity and I am pushing government to get it. I will update you with any new information as soon as I receive it. 

Whether you are an essential worker who is directly impacted by this week's announcement or whether you are one of millions of British Columbians-myself included-eagerly awaiting their opportunity to get vaccinated as part of the mass population program, please make sure you have the most up-to-date information on BC's vaccine plan. Visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/plan to find out about approved vaccines, eligibility, and how to book appointments for your or your loved ones to get vaccinated.

In solidarity, 

Stephanie Smith

President

Applications for the 2021 BCGEU Scholarship program are now closed.

Our annual scholarship program of $60,000 offers awards of $2,000 for full-time students and $1,000 for part-time students. Scholarships are funded by the dues of our 80,000 members.

Eligibility

• A BCGEU member in good standing, or related to a current, retired or deceased BCGEU member or staff; and
• A student or prospective post-secondary or higher learning student enrolled, registered or planning to attend an eligible educational institution in 2021.

Eligible relatives include spouses, parents, and children or grandchildren (including foster, adopted and stepchildren and grandchildren).

Eligible educational institutions must be designated by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Find a list of eligible institutions here.

Previous BCGEU scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply.

Essay

In addition to providing personal information, applicants must submit a short essay of 450 - 500 words in response to one of the following topics for their essay:

1. The coronavirus pandemic has deemed frontline workers – like grocery store cashiers, retail shop clerks, security guards, health and social care workers, food delivery and taxi drivers, early childhood educators - 'essential' yet these workers continue to be poorly paid and are often forced to put their health and safety at risk. Many low-wage and racialized workers have been disproportionately impacted during the pandemic highlighting the critical role of robust public services in tackling major health and social crises. How do we build a post-pandemic world that is caring, sustainable and equitable?
   
   
2. The earth is in the midst of a man-made climate emergency. Addressing this emergency requires system change and collective – not just individual – action. What can the BCGEU and unions do to mobilize this collective action?
   
   
3. In 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded, BC saw a surge in anti-Asian racism. There was also an intense focus on anti-Black racism and institutional violence toward Black and Indigenous people. What should the BCGEU do to challenge racism and build a union and province that is just, equitable and inclusive?
   
   
4. The BCGEU is active in many communities where our members live and work. What are the benefits of the union's presence at community events and why is it important?

We encourage applicants to interview a BCGEU member, or to use personal experience or original research for this essay.

Click here for a copy of our scholarships brochure

Click here for a copy of our scholarships poster

The deadline for applications is Sunday, May 9 at midnight.

You may also be eligible for one of the scholarships offered by NUPGE, our National Union of Public and General Employees. Find details and apply directly here.

NUPGE scholarship for Black students

NUPGE scholarship for Indigenous students

NUPGE scholarship for 2SLGBTQI+ students

NUPGE Terry Fox Memorial scholarship for students with a disAbility

NUPGE scholarship for students of colour

NUPGE scholarship for young workers

NUPGE Tommy Douglas scholarship

UWU/MoveUP

Event: Snow Valley Winter Wonderland
Location: Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club, Terrace-Kitimat
Date: March 15 to End of Season

 
The Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club is a non-profit organization for outdoor winter enthusiasts! The Club is located at the Onion Lake Ski Trails between Terrace and Kitimat on Highway 37, and features:
 
• Groomed Trails for Classic Cross Country or Skate Skiing
• NEW! Snowshoe & Fatbike Trails
• Groomed Designated Dog XC Ski Loop
• User-Operated Night Skiing
 
The club is run entirely by volunteers and through the support of local governments, businesses, and pass sales. Covid safety plan is in effect: https://www.snowvalleynordics.com/
 
Your BCGEU Cross Component Committee is offering members in Area 12 the chance to experience this amazing winter wonderland by providing one adult day pass FREE to members. Limit of one ticket per member. Enjoy this opportunity to spend a little time in our great outdoors, fresh air and exercise!
 
To reserve your ticket, contact:

[email protected]
Seth Downs
BCGEU Local 712 Coast Mountain College Instructors

Download PDF of notice here

UWU/MoveUP

A majority of the 180 Canada Line workers represented by the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) voted on Sunday in favour of ratifying their collective agreement with their employer, Protrans BC Operations Ltd., after reaching a tentative agreement on February 2, 2021.

The agreement was ratified after 13 months without a contract, more than 40 bargaining sessions and is the result of the hard work and dedication of the bargaining committee.

The agreement term is four-years – from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023 – and includes wage and sick leave improvements, a significant increase in benefits coverage and more. These gains represent meaningful advancements in the agreement between these members and their employer, and the respect Canada Line workers deserve for the vital services they provide to our communities.

For more details read the media release announcing the tentative deal

UWU/MoveUP

Online pension seminars are available at any time for the Public Service Plans at:

MPP: https://mpp.pensionsbc.ca/online-courses-and-webinars
PSPP: https://pspp.pensionsbc.ca/online-courses-and-webinars
College: https://college.pensionsbc.ca/online-courses-and-webinars

UWU/MoveUP

No disruption to Canada Line as BCGEU reaches tentative agreement with Protrans BC

BURNABY - After 13 months without a contract and more than 40 bargaining sessions-including close to 40 hours since Sunday morning-members of the B.C. Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working on the Canada Line have reached a tentative deal with their employer. 

"Our members' goal has always been to get a fair contract at the bargaining table," says BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "Bargaining isn't easy at the best of times and bargaining during a pandemic is definitely not the best of times. Our members showed incredible solidarity under extremely challenging circumstances and they got it done."

Details of the tentative agreement will not be released until members of the bargaining unit have reviewed and voted to ratify the terms.

The union's last contract with Protrans expired in December 2019 and contract talks started in February 2020. In November 2020 union members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action. The union served strike notice on Friday, January 29th and was in a legal strike position as of 4 p.m. Monday, February 1st but chose to delay job action and as an act of good faith during negotiations.

The BCGEU represents about 180 workers at the Canada Line. The Canada Line of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain system is operated by Protrans BC Operations Ltd.-a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin.

For more information please contact [email protected]
 
BCGEU, Protrans BC to continue Canada Line talks
BCGEU members on Canada Line back at the table Monday morning
Canada Line workers issue 72-hour strike notice

UWU/MoveUP

BURNABY, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES - Members of the B.C. Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working for Protrans BC, operator of the Canada Line, are in a legal strike position as of 4 p.m. today. However, talks are scheduled into the evening and the union is holding off on job action while negotiations continue.
 
The current contract expired in December 2019 and contract talks started in February 2020. In November 2020 union members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action - that mandate would have expired on February 3rd.
 
The BCGEU represents about 180 workers at the Canada Line which is privately operated by Protrans BC Operations Ltd. and owned by the multinational SNC-Lavalin.

For more information please contact Bronwen Barnett, BCGEU Communications, at 604-719-4713 or [email protected]
 
BCGEU members on Canada Line back at the table Monday morning
Canada Line workers issue 72-hour strike notice

UWU/MoveUP

BURNABY, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES - Members of the B.C. Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working for Protrans BC, operator of the Canada Line, are in a legal strike position as of 4 p.m. Monday afternoon. Seventeen hours of talks over the weekend brought the sides closer together, but did not result in a deal. 
 
The two sides will resume bargaining Monday morning with the hopes of resolving outstanding issues.
 
The current contract expired in December 2019 and contract talks started in February 2020. In November 2020 union members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action-that mandate would have expired on February 3^rd.
 
The BCGEU represents about 180 workers at the Canada Line which is privately operated by Protrans BC Operations Ltd. and owned by the multinational SNC-Lavalin.

For more information please contact Bronwen Barnett, BCGEU Communications, at 604-719-4713 or [email protected]

Canada Line workers issue 72-hour strike notice

UWU/MoveUP