BCGEU is seeking members who are interested in becoming member educators.

Member educators play a vital role in delivering our worker-centered union education programs and facilitating meaningful and inclusive learning experiences for our members. If you are interested in being considered for the role, please complete this Expression of Interest form by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17.

Member educators co-facilitate workshops offered through our BCGEU Learning, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), or Organizing departments. All member educators will receive facilitation skills training and are expected to make a commitment to stay active in the role for at least two - three years. This year we are recruiting member educators to deliver courses in our Learning and OHS departments only.

By completing the Expression of Interest form the selection committee will be able to find out more about your interests and your background so please provide as much information as possible. The selection committee includes the chair of the Education and Scholarship committee, two members of the Provincial Executive and staff.

All stewards and members who have taken STEP UP! and union appointed OHS reps who have completed the basic OHS training are welcome to apply. We strongly encourage applications from members who are Indigenous, Black and Workers of Colour as well as members from all equity groups, young workers, and workers with additional language skills.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

In solidarity,

BCGEU Learning & OHS

Ann Bradbury
Education Officer
BCGEU Learning & OHS

UWU/MoveUP

Over 40 delegates from communities across the province, representing the 33,000 BCGEU members who work for the BC Public Service, gathered in Burnaby last Friday to discuss priorities and strategies for bargaining our next collective agreement early next year.

BCGEU president and Public Service Bargaining committee chair Paul Finch welcomed delegates to the Public Service Bargaining Conference with opening remarks. 

"We're looking three rounds out in bargaining, and we're going to be coordinated. This is how we'll get all members to where they need to be in terms of wages and working conditions. This requires us all to understand past achievements and current challenges, and what our priorities will be this round," said Finch. "We are going to be bold, open, honest and forthright with members about our bargaining goals, and members want to be engaged in the process and ready to mobilize. This is how we are going to get the absolute best agreement that we possibly can."

Members have been incredibly engaged this round so far, through surveys, polls, small group discussions and nearly a record number of submitted proposals. It's clear that members know what they want and what they deserve. The Public Service Bargaining committee thanks each member who took the time to share their ideas and help the committee evaluate the top priorities for this round of bargaining. 

BCGEU research staff reviewed the high-level results from the bargaining survey that nearly 7,000 members completed. Members shared a variety of concerns, but their input underscored the same common theme: they want a fair and equitable collective agreement that reflects the importance of the work they do.

Well-known Vancouver pollster Mario Canseco presented delegates with a detailed summary and analysis of the recent poll of our union's public service members. Canseco walked through the benchmarks from polling from the last round of bargaining, including members' motivations and willingness to take job action. 

The Public Service Bargaining committee will continue to meet in the coming weeks to review proposals and ultimately finalize our bargaining package to bring to the table. We will keep members informed every step of the way.

See photos of the Public Service Bargaining Conference here.

In solidarity,

 
Paul Finch, President and Committee Chair
Maria Bennett, Treasurer
Dean Purdy, Component 1 Vice-President 
Kusam Doal, Component 5 Vice-President 
Judy Fox-McGuire, Component 6 Vice-President 
Mona Dykes, Component 6 Second Representative 
DJ Pohl, Component 12 Vice-President 
Faith Johnston, Component 12 1st Vice-President 
Robert Davis, Component 20 Vice-President
Douglas W. Dykens, Executive Director – Advocacy, Negotiations, Member
Benefits and Secretary to the PSBC
Sumiko Marshall, Support Staff

UWU/MoveUP

The BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) supports the coalition of former and current students who are opposing the closure of Surrey Learning Centres, also known as alternative education sites.

Learning centres provide a safe and supportive environment where students can meet their educational needs. These centres focus on building trust and creating a comfortable space, which is essential for vulnerable students who require a more tailored approach to their education. With the closure of learning centres, students are forced to consider increasingly distant centres.

Last year, the Guilford Learning Centre in Surrey closed. This year, Surrey School District has confirmed City Central Learning Centre will reopen as an elementary school and South Surrey White Rock Learning Centre will close. If this closure happens, only two learning centres will remain in Surrey. 

The BCGEU stands with the former and current students of Surrey Learning Centres opposing the closures of learning centres that are essential to our communities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2025
 
Urgent Action Needed to Protect CVSE Worker’s Safety

Burnaby, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) - Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) officers are concerned that their safety is at a tipping point. These workers – members of the BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) – ensure the safety of our roads and transportation systems by enforcing commercial traffic regulations, but they are increasingly being exposed to violence and danger on the job.

While an investigation into a December arson attack on a CVSE weigh scale facility in Prince George is still ongoing, last week a CVSE officer was assaulted on the job in Kamloops.

"The dangers CVSE officers face are no longer just a concern – they've become a crisis," said BCGEU President Paul Finch. "These workers are subjected to escalating violence and intimidation while simply trying to keep our roads safe for all users, and we need immediate action from the government to address this growing risk." 

Across the province, CVSE workers have consistently reported their vehicles and worksites being targets of violent actions. They also face a number of challenges that compound that risk: inadequate training, unreliable and outdated communication systems, working alone in isolated areas, and a lack of proper reporting protocols. These factors have led CVSE officers to fear for their safety while simply performing their basic job duties. 

"CVSE Workers are essential to the safety of our roads, but their own safety is being compromised," Paul Finch continued. "The government must act swiftly to ensure they are properly protected."

The BCGEU is calling on the provincial government to work together to improve safety for CVSE officers and provide them with the resources necessary to perform their jobs. Upgrading communications systems and improving training protocols are needed to establish a workplace with a focus on health and safety – where incidents can be actively reported and addressed rather than ignored. 

UWU/MoveUP

Today, we join together as a union to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day stands as reminder of one of history's darkest chapters, when six million Jewish men, women, and children, along with millions of other innocent victims targeted because of their religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality or political ideology, were systematically murdered during the Holocaust. 

Holocaust Remembrance Day matters because it reminds us of the responsibility we share to reject any denial of this dark chapter in history. 

It is also a call to action. It reminds us that we must combat antisemitism across Canada and in B.C. At the foundation of the labour movement lies the principles of liberty and solidarity. That's why we must reaffirm our commitment to apply the lessons of the Holocaust and defend human rights each and every day. 

Today, let us pause to remember the lives lost. May we never forget.

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 21, 2025

Negotiations to begin for collective agreements covering over 34,000 BCGEU members working in the public service

Burnaby, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) - The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the B.C. government’s Public Service Agency (PSA) will meet for the first time to exchange bargaining proposals on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Victoria. This round of bargaining is aimed at reaching a new collective agreement for more than 34,000 B.C. public service workers employed in every community across the province. The current collective agreement is set to expire March 31, 2025.

Through record participation in preparation, BCGEU public service members have given a clear mandate to their bargaining committee: negotiate a strong collective agreement that addresses the affordability crisis facing our members.

“BCGEU members in the public service are a key economic driver for our province and ensure the safety and security of all British Columbians. The current affordability crisis has exacerbated a decade of agreements that have fallen behind inflation, and we are committed to achieving an agreement that meets the needs of our members,” said Paul Finch, President of BCGEU and Chair of the Public Service Bargaining Committee. “Over the past fourteen years, government has contracted out key areas of service delivery and prioritized the growth of non-union management over front-line unionized workers, at almost double the percentage rate of growth. We need to change course and ensure public services are reliable and effective.”

Starting at the end of the summer, BCGEU members have been engaging in the bargaining process in record numbers. Tens of thousands have filled out bargaining surveys, and hundreds of bargaining proposals have been submitted at meetings across the province.

“Given the current economic situation, we anticipate it will take a difficult round of bargaining to reach that goal, but we are confident in our ability to reach an agreement that addresses the needs of our members.” said Finch.

From wildland firefighters forced to work unsustainable overtime just to support their families to courts regularly shut down because they can't fulfill staffing needs, there is an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the public service.

BCGEU members have put forth many ways to address that crisis, including wages that keep up with the rising cost of living and modernizing internal processes that hold workers back in their careers. Changes like those would respect the importance of their work and addresses critical ongoing issues that affect service delivery.

The main public service agreement is the first of the BCGEU’s sectoral agreements to begin negotiations and is one of six separate collective agreements that cover a total of approximately 71,000 of the union’s members.

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Paul Finch, president of the BCGEU and chair of the union’s public service bargaining committee, will be available for media interviews via phone or Zoom. In person interviews can be arranged in Victoria.

Visit our 2025 Public Service bargaining backgrounder for details on the overall process.

Contact:
Holly Reid, Communications
(604) 291-9611
[email protected]

MEDIA ADVISORY 

January 22, 2025 

BALFOUR, B.C. (Ktunaxa, Syilx, Sinixt, and Kinbasket (Secwepemc) territories) - The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) is holding a solidarity rally on January 22 at 3:30pm at the Balfour Ferry Terminal to support workers at Western Pacific Marine (WPM), who have been on strike for over two months.

“Our members live and work in these communities and deeply care about the impact this is having on everyone. The decision to take job action is never an easy one. Western Pacific Marine refuses to offer the same wages and working conditions as other ferry operators in the region, forcing a prolonged strike and hurting local residents who rely on these services,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch.

This rally aims to amplify the workers' voices and call attention to the critical importance of fair contracts in maintaining the quality of public services like ferry transportation. 

Media are invited to attend the solidarity rally:

WHAT: Solidarity Rally for BCGEU members on strike at Western Pacific Marine 
WHEN: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 3:30 p.m. PST 
WHERE: Balfour Ferry Terminal, Balfour, B.C. 
VISUALS: Workers on strike, union flags, rally signs, and union members showing solidarity with the workers at Western Pacific Marine 

CONTACT: Please send requests for interviews to [email protected]

The BCGEU is one of the largest unions in British Columbia, with over 85,000 members in almost every community and economic sector in the province. 

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For more information contact: BCGEU Communications at [email protected] or call 604-291-9611. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2025

BCGEU responds to ministers' mandate letters: Investing in public sector workers is vital as economic uncertainty looms 

Burnaby, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) - In response to the release of the executive council's mandate letters, B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) president Paul Finch released the following statement:

We're encouraged to see the government acknowledge that strong public services are vital during economic uncertainty. Delivering on that commitment starts with investing in frontline public sector workers who deliver the services B.C. residents rely on every day.

For the past two decades, public sector wages have fallen behind as the cost of living soars, making it difficult to retain skilled staff. Overall public service staffing levels are modest and in line with the national average – but serious staff shortages exist in many frontline roles including wildland firefighters, health care workers, court workers and others. 

At the same time, spending on management has increased significantly in recent years, with excluded management roles growing at nearly twice the rate of frontline BCGEU positions.

Redirecting funds from management to frontline workers is a common-sense step to improve efficiency while maintaining the public service B.C. residents rely on.

Let's be clear: despite what big business lobbyists may say, cuts to public services won't fix the deficit. The real budget pressures stem from other factors: massive infrastructure spending-which, while necessary, ends up costing taxpayers more due to inefficient procurement processes-and tax breaks on resource revenues that shortchange B.C. residents of their fair share of our province's wealth. 

The government must address the root causes of B.C.'s fiscal challenges, and invest in forward-looking measures to build economic resilience, including a robust economic development plan and comprehensive workforce strategy. 

We look forward to sharing our ideas for strong and efficient public services to support B.C. residents through the economic headwinds we're facing.
 

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For more information or to book an interview with BCGEU president Paul Finch, please contact Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications at [email protected] or (604) 291-9611.

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Jan 3, 2025

The BCGEU issued 24-hour strike notice for the cable ferries operated by Western Pacific Marine (WPM) at Glade and Harrop today, with job action set to begin on Monday, January 6th at 6:30am.
 
BCGEU President, Paul Finch says "Ferry workers are committed to reaching a fair agreement that supports a sustainable ferry service. Unfortunately, Western Pacific Marine continues to prolong this strike by refusing to meet the standard set by other inland ferry operators in B.C.
 
"Recruiting and retaining the local operators needed to run these ferries safely is crucial to keep them running for years to come. Unfortunately, Western Pacific Marine has chosen to prioritize their profits over the community's needs and not take the steps needed to staff the ferries adequately.
 
"Other ferry operators have recently agreed to wage increases that address our rising cost of living, and they operate on a day-for-day scheduling system that allows workers adequate rest to safely operate the ferries and would allow the expansion of service that the Kootenays community has been asking for."
 
"Ferry workers – who are members of the West Kootenays community – recognize the impact this situation has on their neighbours that rely on these ferry services. However, as WPM continues to delay coming to a fair agreement, workers are expanding the job action to hopefully bring an end to the dispute and ensure the long-term viability of these critical services."
 
During this job action, WPM has scheduled sailings in accordance with the Labour Board-defined essential service levels required to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of residents. Up to date sailing schedules for the cable ferries, as well as the Kootenay Lake ferry, can always be found on ferries.bcgeu.ca

 
For more information contact: Aaron Donovan, BCGEU Communications - [email protected]

UWU/MoveUP