Congratulations to the 2019 BCGEU Scholarship Winners. The BCGEU is pleased to support our 2019 scholarship recipients in their continuing education.

(Winners will receive a letter in the mail with instructions on how to claim their scholarship).

2019 Scholarship Winners List

This year, applicants were asked to write an essay on one of three topics:

1. How can unions lead the way on climate change
2. How can unions lead the way on reconciliation with Indigenous people and communities?
3. How can unions lead the way on affordable housing?

You can read some of the top winning essays below:

• Griffin Becker
• Jasdeep Diogan
• Madison Hoffos
• Trish Palichuk

UWU/MoveUP

STAFF REPRESENTATIVE

BENEFITS DEPARTMENT

(2 Positions)

INTERNAL POSTING

August 20, 2019

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union requires two (2) staff representatives to work in the Benefits Department, effective date to be determined. The staff representatives in benefits are currently located at the Fraser Valley Area Office and report to the Coordinator of Advocacy.

DUTIES:

The successful applicant will work as part of a team providing a wide range of services involving administering and maintaining benefit plans for members in various public sector and private sector agreements, including Early Intervention Programs in various sectors.

Duties include responding to first level appeals for denied long term disability (LTD) claims by reviewing and analyzing new information provided by claimants and/or physicians, seeking further interpretations from medical consultants, and when required, requesting review of information on the claim; preparing members claims for LTD appeals where the collective agreement provides for a Claims Review Committee (CRC). This includes but is not limited to the Provincial Public Service, Community Health and ​Community Social Services collective agreements as well as some highways, colleges and independent collective agreements. 

Involvement in rehabilitation programs and rehabilitation committee meetings; actively participating in regular meetings and/or conference calls with selected groups to advocate, as well as building trust with members and facilitating relationship building with stakeholders.

Providing input on claims, trends, and activities for use in negotiations of collective agreements.

Other responsibilities may include reviewing carrier booklets, plans, and collective agreements and identifying differences relative to expected; drafting benefit summaries; monitoring and evaluation of Employee and Family Assistance Plans; making presentations on benefit issues at hearings, conferences, and membership meetings; participating on Joint Rehabilitation Committee; approval of STIIP trials; participation on Joint STIIP Committee and approval of compassionate transfer requests.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge and experience with group benefits within a unionized environment, as it pertains to collective agreement negotiations, and implementation.

Experience in the group benefits industry an asset.

Recent experience in disability case management, with specific LTD case management an asset.

The successful candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills and an ability to analyze complex benefit plans, and negotiate creative strategies for individual members with benefit and rehabilitation needs.

The successful candidate will have strong advocacy and negotiation skills, the ability to work as a team member, and will have the capacity to help workers who find themselves in difficulties because of work related or personal health problems.

Travel is required, therefore, applicants must hold a valid B.C. Driver's licence.

The BCGEU supports employment equity. Workers of colour, women, aboriginal workers, LGBTQ+ workers, and workers with disabilities are encouraged to apply for positions with the BCGEU.

Submit applications no later than 5:00 pm, Monday, August 26, 2019.

Resumes will be accepted by e-mail to: human.resources@bcgeu.ca, attention to:

Stephanie Smith, President, c/o Lisa Trolland.

UWU/MoveUP

STAFF REPRESENTATIVE

LOWER MAINLAND AREA OFFICE

(2 Positions)

INTERNAL POSTING

AUGUST 19, 2019

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union requires two (2) staff representatives to work in the Lower Mainland area office, effective date to be determined.

DUTIES:  

• Assist officers, stewards and membership in the day-to-day administration of their union by attending membership meetings; assisting in union elections, preparing and conducting ratification votes;
• Advising union membership on union policy and procedures;
• Negotiating collective agreements and contract administration through the handling of grievances up to and including expedited arbitration;
• Teaching courses for stewards and local officers;
• Assisting in or leading organizing campaigns, both internal and external;
• Representing the union at local labour councils and conventions; and
• Will be required to develop grassroots campaign plans to advance the interests of the union's membership as well as engage members and recruit activists.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in the trade union movement is essential;
• Ability to deal with union leadership and employer representatives;
• Ability to prepare concise written reports and handle a large volume of correspondence and ability to speak in public;
• Must have an understanding of the goals and values of the labour movement;
• Must have a solid understanding of organizing principles. Proven experience in union organizing drives will be an asset; and
• Demonstrated ability to develop activist skills and maintain an effective working relationship with union and community activists.

Travel is required, therefore, applicants must hold a valid B.C. Driver's Licence.

The BCGEU supports employment equity. Workers of colour, women, aboriginal workers, LGBTQ+ workers, and workers with disabilities are encouraged to apply for positions with the BCGEU.

Submit applications no later than 5:00 pm, Monday, August 26, 2019.

Resumes will be accepted by e-mail to: human.resources@bcgeu.ca, attention to:

Stephanie Smith, President, c/o Lisa Trolland

UWU/MoveUP

BCGEU LOWER MAINLAND AREA OFFICE 

INTERNAL POSTING
August 19, 2019

POSITION: SECRETARY (Temporary)

GRADE: LEVEL 3 – MoveUP AGREEMENT 

A secretary is required to perform secretarial and word processing functions for staff representatives. This person will also be required to assist with switchboard and receptionist duties. The term of assignment is up to 6 months or return of incumbent.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Will include: processing a variety of documents such as letters, minutes, reports, bargaining preparation, bargaining proposals, bargaining material for strike/ratification votes, steward elections and communication, and general correspondence; calculating calendar deadlines for grievances; expedited arbitration and appeal preparation; responding to phone calls and walk-in visitors; assisting component/local executive; meeting coordination such as booking meeting rooms, travel and accommodation; prioritizing incoming mail; maintaining filing and bring forward system; and other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Applicant must have 2-4 years' secretarial experience; high school graduation supplemented by secretarial training; excellent keyboarding (60 - 70 wpm); switchboard experience; word processing skills essential; Word and database experience required; an aptitude for organization and detail; good telephone manner; and the ability to set priorities and work within time limits.

Hours of work are 32 per week, 4 days.

General aptitude tests will be administered to all applicants. Keyboarding tests will be administered to regular/temporary employees who are not presently working in or have not previously worked in a secretarial position.

The BCGEU supports employment equity. Workers of colour, women, aboriginal workers, LGBTQ+ workers and workers with disabilities are encouraged to apply for positions with the BCGEU.

Apply in writing with resume to Sharon Penner, Human Resources Administrator, Headquarters, by 5:00 pm, Monday, August 26, 2019.

Resumes will be accepted by e-mail to: human.resources@bcgeu.ca

cc: MoveUP

UWU/MoveUP

UWU/MoveUP

Cariboo Area 06 Members

Sunday, September 1, 2019
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
BCGEU Centennial BBQ Celebration
Boitanio Park, Williams Lake

Last month our union participated in the public consultation to offer input into next year's budget by submitting recommendations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services (more on this here). The Committee has now reported out on the results of this process and we are pleased to let you know that government listened to many of our positions and put a number of them into their recommendations released this week in Report on the Budget 2020 Consultation.

Some key recommendations that closely align with the BCGEU's submission include:

• Continuing to make comprehensive investments in child care to improve access and affordability.
• Ensuring investments in the continuum of services for mental health and addiction needs, including funding for integrated, wrap-around support services with housing.
• Ensuring stable, quality care in residential care facilities by reviewing and establishing minimum staffing levels, equalizing compensation, reviewing sub-contracting of care and services, and addressing recruitment and retention challenges.
• Ensuring adequate funding and staffing for the Employment Standards Branch and Labour Relations Board to enable them to effectively enforce employment law.
• Continued investment in prevention, mitigation, adaptation, response and recovery for wildfire, flood and climate-related natural disasters, with an emphasis on cooperating, collaborating and partnering with local and Indigenous communities.
• Increasing operational funding for BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC to support staffing, monitoring and enforcement, maintenance, public safety, and recreational infrastructure and services.
• Fully funding and supporting the CleanBC strategy and increasing investments in shifting to clean and renewable energy, including expanding electrification for energy use.

Our union is disappointed to see that our call for accelerated and expanded investment in affordable housing, and our call for improved staffing ratios and safety measures in the corrections sector were not included. However, we will continue to lobby government and increase public pressure in regard to these and other issues that are important to BCGEU members.

We hope to see the above recommendations included in the upcoming 2020 Budget to be presented in February. Once Budget 2020 has been released, we will present our analysis on our website and social media channels.

In solidarity,

Stephanie Smith
President

UWU/MoveUP

MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release

Affordability experts respond to announcement to build 1,100 housing units in Vancouver

WHAT: The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) will hold a press conference at its Vancouver Area Office Friday at 10:00AM in response to the federal government's announcement of $180M in loans and funding for affordable housing in Vancouver.

The federal money will help build a small portion of the housing needed in Vancouver, but it does not represent the kind of long-term funding required to address the housing crisis in a stable and responsible manner. The authors of the report Building an Affordable B.C., BCGEU Treasurer Paul Finch and Vice President of CUPE Local 1767 representing union members at BC Assessment Authority Harpinder Sandhu, will offer a critical analysis of the announcement. They will also discuss how local governments can use a land value capture tax to generate stable funding for the public build-out of affordable housing.

Paul Finch and Harpinder Sandhu will then respond to questions from the media. Individual interviews immediately after the conference will also be possible.

WHEN: Friday, August 9, 2019, 10:00AM

WHERE: BCGEU Lower Mainland Area Office, 130 - 2920 Virtual Way, Vancouver
(Please check in at reception.) 

View the report Building an Affordable B.C. here: https://www.affordablebc.ca/our-plan 
Opinion: Land Value Capture idea gaining traction as housing affordability crisis continues

UWU/MoveUP

The new 18th Main Public Service Agreement and Component Agreements are in effect as of April 1, 2019. BCGEU members who work in the B.C. public service ratified these agreements last year following five weeks of negotiations.

The agreements are for three years and expire on March 31, 2022. The main agreement features many improvements, such as:

• a two per cent general wage increase in each year of the agreement;
• improvements in benefits and the addition of dual coverage;
• addresses labour market pressures in specific occupations;
• expands bullying and harassment language;
• achieves special leave for members experiencing domestic violence.

We're finishing up the editing and other housekeeping on the agreements. Download the draft version of the main agreement here.

Download PDF files of draft component agreements:

• Draft Environmental, Technical and Operational Component 20 agreement
• Science, Information and Health Component 6 agreement

We will update you again when printing and distribution details are finalized.

-Your BCGEU public service bargaining committee

UWU/MoveUP