FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
February 18, 2026 
 

BCGEU Opposes Elimination of Independent Merit Commissioner

The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) is raising serious concerns about legislation introduced in yesterday’s provincial budget that would abolish the independent Office of the Merit Commissioner and transfer its responsibilities to the BC Public Service Agency (PSA).

The union, which represents more than 95,000 members including nearly 35,000 public service workers, says it was not consulted on the proposed changes. 

The proposed amendments to the Public Service Act would discontinue the Office of the Merit Commissioner and return oversight of merit-based hiring and staffing reviews to the Deputy Minister of the PSA, the same agency responsible for administering hiring processes across the public service.

“You cannot effectively oversee yourself,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch. “Independent review exists for a reason: to ensure accountability, maintain public confidence, and protect from political or internal interference. Eliminating independent oversight undermines transparency and risks eroding trust in the fairness of public service staffing.”

The Office of the Merit Commissioner was established to provide independent review and public reporting on whether appointments and transfers in the B.C. Public Service are made on merit. While government states the merit principle itself will remain unchanged, the BCGEU argues that shifting oversight into the PSA creates a clear and unavoidable conflict of interest.

“Public service employees rely on and deserve confidence that staffing decisions – hiring, promotions, and transfers – are fair and impartial,” added Finch. “British Columbians deserve assurance that their public service is professional and non-partisan. Removing independent oversight sends the wrong message.”

The BCGEU is calling on government to reconsider the legislation, consult meaningfully with stakeholders, and maintain independent oversight of merit-based staffing.

“A strong, impartial public service is foundational to good governance,” Finch said. “Weakening independent accountability is the wrong direction for British Columbia.”

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Media Contact: 

Nadja Komnenic | BCGEU Communications | 604-442-2289 | [email protected]

UWU/MoveUP

BC's 'stability budget' continues cuts to the public sector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2026 

VICTORIA, B.C. 
Today, B.C. Budget 2026/27 was released. While the government is calling this budget a stabilizing budget that preserves public services, the reality is that the failure to make the necessary changes to revenue and invest in these public services will amount to cuts to how public services are delivered.

Government has indicated they will cut jobs in the public sector and BCGEU has been clear that these cuts must not come from core frontline workers. Reductions in the public service workforce of more than 2,500 people are promised as a way to reduce the budget deficit. Both Premier Eby and Finance Minister Bailey have made public commitments that this is about rightsizing the ratio of management to frontline service providers, but we are already seeing through attrition that frontline workers will be asked to do more with less.

BCGEU President Paul Finch attended this morning's budget lockup to advocate for the union's priorities on behalf of its more than 95,000 members. 

"We need to put this budget in context. The province needs to responsibly address the deficit, but this is not a financial crisis," said Finch. "What we need to see is strategic investment in the services that keep costs down for ordinary people. Instead, what we saw today was that more cuts are coming to the public sector workforce. Government has promised that this will be achieved by right-sizing the management-to-frontline service worker ratio, and we will hold them accountable for this promise."

Finch emphasized that current fiscal pressures stem from global uncertainty, inflation, cost overruns, and lost revenues – including the removal of the carbon tax without a replacement plan– not frontline public spending. 

"You cannot build a productive economy on a weakened public foundation," said Finch. "In difficult economic times, the people of B.C. rely on public services. Healthcare. Childcare. Public safety. Our members are not the cause of this deficit; they are essential to the solution." 

Importantly, this budget does make an effort to consider revenue generation and taxation. This is an important step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough to deliver fair value on our resources or to make strategic investments in our workforce.

The union is calling on government to take the right steps on the revenue generation side and to develop a fulsome economic development plan and a workforce development plan. 

-30- 

Media Contact: 
Nadja Komnenic | BCGEU Communications | 604-442-2289 | [email protected] 

UWU/MoveUP

Provincial Budget 2026 /27 – What's in Store

Dear BCGEU member,

The B.C. government tabled its annual budget today. A team of BCGEU staff and I attended the budget lockup to analyze its contents and advocate for our union's key priorities.

Faced with a mounting structural deficit, government has tabled what they are calling a "stabilizing" budget. While this budget does not dramatically reduce public services, it effectively cuts spending in important areas. As a result, we are left with cuts to public services at a time when they are most needed. 

Government has indicated they will cut jobs in the public sector and we have been clear that these cuts must not come from core, front-line workers and instead should address the increase in non-unionized management staff. We know that layoffs through attrition have already negatively impacted frontline services and we continue to advocate reversing this trend. 

We are glad to see a recommitment to universality in childcare. But universality without access is meaningless to those working families who cannot get affordable quality childcare spaces. We are also not seeing commitments to compensation for the early childhood educators who make this system work. There is also a concerning $1.4 billion deferral of housing investments that will further impact affordability. 

To put the government's numbers into context: We need to responsibly address the mounting deficit, but this is not a financial crisis. Government spending has been relatively consistent and B.C.'s debt-to-GDP ratio is already among the lowest in the country. Our province already has a lean public service that cannot absorb any cuts to core services.

So what should change?

It is encouraging to see that revenue generation is on the table because it is clear that government has a revenue problem. But government also has a governance problem. We need to ensure that investments in core infrastructure are done right – that means building with procurement strategies that get the best value for all people in B.C.

Inefficient procurement processes and tax breaks for resource extraction corporations line the pockets of a few wealthy shareholders but shortchange residents of B.C. of their fair share of our province's wealth. This wastefulness must end and the province should align infrastructure development with the people who depend on it.

We are calling on government to implement a robust economic development and workforce plan to thoroughly reevaluate its procurement and royalty revenue process in order to maximize the public good that comes from investments. Because those revenues belong to all residents of B.C.

We know that B.C.'s true economic power lies not only in our vast natural wealth, but in the expertise and dedication of our workers. As we have argued in the past, the profits of our natural and human resources should benefit the many, not the few. The revenue from resources that belong to all of us should be reinvested in our communities to solve the problems we face because the only path to progress is with robust and well-funded public services.

In solidarity,

Paul Finch, President
BCGEU 

UWU/MoveUP

The 2026/27 B.C. Budget is a test. 

It's a test of whether this government will lead during a storm with calm, responsible governance - or pass the cost of economic uncertainty onto working families. 

Let's be clear: the deficit must be addressed responsibly, but the path forward cannot come at the expense of the public services and workers that keep British Columbia running. 

Working people did not create today's economic pressures. Global instability, inflation, and government revenue decisions did. Cutting public services now would only make life more expensive for families and weaken our province's economic foundation. 

Public Services Are What Make the Economy Work 

Healthcare. Education. Child care. Public safety. Public services. 

These services allow our members to go to work, businesses to operate, and communities to thrive. They lower household costs and create stability in uncertain times. 

Weakening them doesn't solve a deficit - it shifts costs directly onto working families. 

When public services shrink: 

• Parents lose access to affordable child care. 
• Healthcare wait times grow. 
• Education supports erode. 
• Costs rise for families already struggling with housing, food, and transportation. 

You cannot build a productive economy on a crumbling public foundation. 

This Is About Revenue - Not Austerity 

This is not simply a spending problem. It's a revenue problem. 

Government decisions, including eliminating revenue sources without a replacement plan, and years of not getting fair value for our resources, have significantly contributed to the deficit. That's a policy choice. 

The real question isn't whether we can afford public services. It's whether government is willing to put in place a sustainable revenue plan to protect the services people depend on. Cuts alone are not a responsible economic strategy. 

Child Care: It's time to deliver

This government campaigned on universal, quality child care, fee caps, and professional compensation for the workers who care for our children. In the years since, we have fallen behind other provinces in delivering on that promise. 

Across B.C., families can't find affordable quality child care. Parents - disproportionately women - are being forced out of the workforce because spaces aren't available. Early childhood educators' compensation remains a problem for workers and for retaining these skilled providers. 

Child care isn't a luxury. It's economic infrastructure. 

If parents can't work, the economy doesn't work. 

If child care workers can't afford to stay in the sector, the system collapses. 

A budget for working families must include: 

• Real progress toward universal child care 
• Affordable, capped fees 
• Fair wages and respect for child care workers 

Our Members Are Not the Problem - We Are the Solution

When government talks about reducing the size of the public service, they are talking about cutting jobs. 

In a time of economic strain, cutting public sector workers doesn't strengthen the economy - it weakens it. 

BCGEU members deliver the services that make affordability possible. We are healthcare workers, child care workers, administrative professionals, frontline staff, and public safety workers. We are part of the economic engine of this province. 

A budget for working families protects the services that keep costs down and communities strong.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the Premier to Fix Child Care

The government needs to hear directly from working people. 

If you believe child care must be affordable, accessible, quality and properly funded - now is the time to speak up. 

Join our partners in the $10/day child care coalition and send an email to Premier David Eby today and demand a real plan for universal quality child care. 

Tell him: 

• Families can't afford higher child care costs. 
• Parents shouldn't be forced out of the workforce. 
• Child care workers deserve professional wages. 
• A budget for working families must protect and expand childcare. 

👉 [Click here to send your email now] 

When working people speak together, government listens. 

Let's make sure it's a budget that works for working families. 

In solidarity, 

Paul Finch, 
President, BCGEU 

UWU/MoveUP

It is with sadness that we share an update from the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting. We are grieving the profound loss of one of our union members, Shannda Aviugana-Durand, whose life was taken in this terrible event. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, coworkers, and all those whose lives she touched. Out of respect for her family, we will share further information when appropriate. We are in coordination with our members in the region and the employers in an ongoing response. 

We know this news will be difficult. Grief affects everyone differently, and no one should face it alone. Support resources are available for members who need them, and we encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out to available support services. Your union is here for you. 

Please take a moment to honour the memory of Shannda, check in on one another, offer support where you can, and keep the Tumbler Ridge community in your thoughts.  

Information about opportunities to commemorate Shannda and support the family will be shared as they are available. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know there is confidential help available. Here are just a few resources: 

• 310 Mental Health Support at 310‑6789 for emotional support, information, and local resources
• 9‑8‑8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (call or text) for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or worried about someone else 
• Kid’s Help Phone, available by texting CONNECT to 686868
• KUU‑US Crisis Response Service at 1‑800‑588‑8717 for culturally aware support for Indigenous peoples 

Download PDF of notice here

UWU/MoveUP

Dear members, 

On behalf of the BCGEU, we are heartbroken by the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge. We are grieving the profound loss of life, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families, students, educators, first responders, and everyone impacted by this devastating event. We are connecting to members and employers in the community and will provide more updates as we are able. 

We want to acknowledge that our members work at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, others were first responders to the incident, and more are now being called in to provide ongoing support for the community. In the face of danger and uncertainty, these members responded with courage, care, and professionalism to an unimaginable situation. Their actions represent the very best of our union and the values we stand for: solidarity, service, and care for our communities.

Our union stands firmly against hate and the use of violence in all its forms. We reject any attempt to use this moment to spread prejudice and harm to transgender people or the broader LGBTQ+ community. Hate and division only deepen the pain and cruelty of this tragedy and do not reflect our values. We stand committed to respect, dignity, and safety for all.

In moments like these, we learn the true meaning of solidarity. We stand with the Tumbler Ridge community in grief and resolve. As a union, we understand that we are stronger together. No one should shoulder this alone. Support resources are being coordinated for any member impacted by this tragedy, and we encourage anyone in need to reach out.

The Tumbler Ridge Parent Advisory Committee has established the official GoFundMe in support of families affected by the tragedy. The BCGEU will be donating in support. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know there is confidential help available. Here are just a few resources: 

• 310 Mental Health Support at 310‑6789 for emotional support, information, and local resources 

• 9‑8‑8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (call or text) for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or worried about someone else 

• Kid's Help Phone, available by texting CONNECT to 686868 

• KUU‑US Crisis Response Service at 1‑800‑588‑8717 for culturally aware support for Indigenous peoples 
  
  

Download PDF of notice here

UWU/MoveUP

This morning, our community is devasted by the news of the shooting at Tumbler Ridge High School. We are heartbroken by this act of violence and extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, students, educators, first responders, and everyone impacted.

To those of you who were working and who were first responders, we recognize the courage, care, and professionalism you showed in an unimaginable situation. Your actions reflect the very best of our union and our community. 

Right now, our priority is you: your safety, wellbeing, and support. Experiencing or responding to trauma can have lasting effects. Our Occupational Health and Safety Department is in contact with the employers to coordinate our support and assistance.

Please know that confidential help is available. Here are just a few resources:

Tumbler Ridge (RCMP) Victim Services - 250-242-5252
 
BC Health Crisis Line - 1-800-784-2422 / 9-8-8
 
Mental Health Support Line - 310-6789
 
211 via United Way -- https://bc.211.ca/
 
We encourage you to reach out, stay connected to your community, and take the time you need. No one should carry this alone. Your union is here for you. 

To the wider Tumbler Ridge community, we stand with you in grief and resolve. In moments like these, we learn the true meaning of solidarity. We will continue to support healing, care for those impacted, and work together to ensure that our workplaces and communities are safe for all.
 
In solidarity, 
Paul Finch

Download PDF of notice here

Black History Month in B.C.: Events, Film & Ways to Engage

February is Black History Month, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of its recognition in Canada. It’s a time to honour the histories, cultures, leadership, and ongoing contributions of Black communities — and to continue the work toward equity and justice beyond a single month.

This February, we encourage everyone to attend local events, support Black artists and organizers, and engage with resources that centre Black voices and experiences across British Columbia.

Events & Community Gatherings

1. Black History Month Showcase

What: A celebration of Black creativity, culture, and community featuring performances, speakers, and local talent.
When: February 2026
Where: Vancouver
Cost: Ticketed
More info:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-history-month-showcase-tickets-1980396591516

1. Black Brilliance in B.C.

What: An evening highlighting Black excellence, leadership, and community impact across British Columbia.
When: February 2026
Where: Vancouver
Cost: Ticketed
More info:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-brilliance-in-bc-2026-tickets-1978196017540

Learning, Talks & Institutional Programming

1. Black History Month at Royal Roads University

What: A series of talks, events, and learning opportunities exploring Black history, culture, and contemporary issues.
When: Throughout February
Where: Royal Roads University (in person and online)
More info:
https://www.royalroads.ca/BlackHistoryMonth

Film, Arts & Culture

1. Celebrating Black Futures – VIFF

What: A curated film series spotlighting Black filmmakers, stories, and visions of the future.
When: February
Where: VIFF Centre and online screenings
More info:
https://viff.org/series/celebrating-black-futures/

Watch & Learn: Labour & Black History

1. Beyond Black History Month – Canadian Labour Congress

What: A video series exploring Black workers’ histories, experiences, and leadership within the labour movement, with a focus on year-round action beyond February.
Watch here:
https://canadianlabour.ca/beyond-bhm-videos/

Books

• The Skin We’re In — Desmond Cole

• Freedom Is a Constant Struggle — Angela Y. Davis

• Policing Black Lives — Robyn Maynard (ed.)

• Subtle Acts of Exclusion — Tiffany Jana & Michael Baran

• Black Women Under State — Idil Abdillahi

• White Fragility — Robin DiAngelo

• They Said This Would Be Fun — Eternity Martis

• Caste — Isabel Wilkerson

• The Vanishing Half — Brit Bennett

• Biased — Jennifer L. Eberhardt

• Blind Spot — Mahzarin R. Banaji & Anthony G. Greenwald

• Bigger Than Bravery — Valerie Boyd, Alice Walker, Kiese Laymon

Resources

BC Black History Awareness Society
https://bcblackhistory.ca/

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
https://ccdi.ca/

Government of Canada – Black History Month (Canadian Heritage)
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html

Canadian Labour Congress – Equity & Anti-Racism
https://canadianlabour.ca/issues/equity/

Noteworthy Black Canadians
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/important-commemorative-days/black-history-month/noteworthy-canadians.html

African Descent Society BC
https://africandescentbc.ca/

UN International Decade for People of African Descent
https://www.un.org/en/observances/decade-people-african-descent

Government of British Columbia – Anti-Racism
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/multiculturalism-anti-racism/anti-racism

Massy Books – Black History Month Reading Lists
https://storestock.massybooks.com/book-lists/black-history-month

Amnesty International Canada – Rights Back at You Podcast
https://www.amnesty.ca/activism-guide/rights-back-at-you-podcast-is-here/

UWU/MoveUP

90% Yes: Members stand together for better health care

Specialized health professionals send strong message with strike vote 

90.1% of BC's health science professionals have voted in favour of taking job action in support of efforts to negotiate a fair contract.

This is a strong message that the government cannot ignore: your bargaining committee is not backing down in our fight for a contract that deals fairly with recruitment and retention so that we can fix BC's public health care system. 

We will be returning to the bargaining table in January with these results in hand. If the employer continues to refuse to engage in serious discussions to meet our priorities, we will be prepared to escalate to job action. 

While other public sector agreements struck in recent months have offered significant funding to tackle recruitment and retention, health science professionals have been offered much less - about $100 million less (when adjusted for membership) - even as workload and burnout are so severe that 1 in 3 health science professionals are thinking of quitting. Even the additional funding offered to other tables would be insufficient to solve the dire problems contributing to delays and gaps in B.C.'s health care system.

BCGEU members like you should know that this strong strike vote result does not mean that job action will be starting soon. The next step in this process is your bargaining committee meeting with the employer in mid-January. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for an update in the new year.

Priorities for a fair contract include:

• premiums – for regular workers, for evening/night/weekend shifts, for workers in student supervision and preceptor roles, and more

• retention incentives such as an add pay system and improvements to paid time off to reward workers who stay in the public system

• continued reimbursement for professional fees

• correcting outstanding issues with the classifications system

• maintaining our extended health and welfare benefits

• professional development funding for 2026 and beyond 

This strong mandate gives your bargaining committee the power to escalate job action if necessary-and ensures our employer knows we are not backing down. We will keep you updated on next steps. For now, know this: your vote has strengthened our hand and brought us one step closer to achieving the fair agreement we all deserve. 

In solidarity, 

Your BCGEU HSP Bargaining Committee 

Tim Little, Local 404 Bargaining Chairperson Matthew Cook, Local 401 
Virginie Fostroy, Local 407 
Michelle McAuley, Staff Representative, Negotiations 

P.S. Check that we have your personal email address here: https://my.bcgeu.ca/signup and forward this link to any colleagues not receiving updates.

UWU/MoveUP