The BC Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) commends last week's extended apology from Deputy Minister to the Premier and head of the B.C. Public Service Kim Henderson to those affected by the terminations of Ministry of Health employees in 2012.

In the April 2017 report Misfire: The 2012 Ministry of Health Employment Terminations and Related Matters, the B.C. Ombudsperson documented in great detail the failures identified in the Ministry of Health terminations and made important recommendations to address these failures.

The BCGEU welcomed these recommendations and looks forward to a continued discussion aimed at addressing individual as well as systemic issues that will increase fairness for workers and improve public administration. This includes recommendations to review standards of conduct for public service employees to assist in assessing conflicts of interest, improve standards for human resource investigations, and update the Public Service Act.

In support of Justice Cromwell's work to develop a reparation process, the BCGEU has begun working with the Ministry of Health to develop and implement an organizational reconciliation program as recommended by the B.C. Ombudsperson. This program will address initiatives to support employee morale and engagement in the Ministry.

The BCGEU has retained legal counsel to protect the interests of Ramsay Hamdi, David Scott and Linda Kayfish (on behalf of Roderick MacIsaac), as well as all affected unionized employees. This will ensure that the implementation of the recommendations related to individuals named in the Ombudsperson's report are handled in a fair and expeditious manner.

Local 467/MoveUP

Today the BC Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) welcomes 47 teachers into its membership from the Vancouver Talmud Torah School, one of the largest Jewish Schools in Western Canada. The Vancouver Talmud Torah Teachers Association (VTTTA) voted to merge with the BCGEU in order to secure a more stable labour relations environment and increase leverage in negotiations with the employer.

"Through the strength of a large union, members of the VTTTA will now have the opportunity to bargain an improved agreement and have a stronger voice in the workplace through their new union's representation" says BCGEU president Stephanie Smith.

The BCGEU is one of the largest and most diverse unions in British Columbia with over 73,000 members.

For more information please call Bronwen Barnett, BCGEU Communications, 604-719-4713.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union requires a temporary Web Developer to work in the IT Services section of the Administration Department, effective date to be determined. The term of assignment is for six months.

DUTIES:

Website Development – Plan, develop and create websites to achieve the goals of the Union; work with development team to deliver state of the art websites that tie in with all the backend database systems; deliver mobile web interfaces; design and implement databases; conduct tests and perform security and quality controls; cross browser and OS compatibility testing; create and maintain software documentation; be responsible for maintaining, expanding, and scaling our websites.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Extensive understanding, knowledge and experience with HTML 5, CSS3, Javascript, JQUERY, GIT; have a strong understanding of PHP back-end development; knowledge of PHP frameworks (CodeIgniter, Symfony, Yii, Zend, etc); knowledge of how to interact with RESTful APIs and formats (JSON, XML); knowledge of responsive web design implementation; experienced in developing for Nation Builder, WordPress and Drupal is an asset; have strong knowledge of current and emerging UX/UI standards for mobile and web applications.

Ability to:

· breakdown complex problems and develop a software solution from system design to implementation;

· communicate well verbally and in writing;

· possess good time management skills;

· work in a team environment;

· accept constructive feedback;

· learn new languages and tools.

Experience with Ruby on Rails, Liquid Template Language (Part of Ruby), and SASS (CSS3 extension) is a plus.

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

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

Submit applications no later than 5:00 p.m., June 9, 2017:

Resumes will be accepted by e-mail to: [email protected]

Attention to: Stephanie Smith, President, c/o Lisa Trolland

We regret that we will only be responding to those candidates selected for an interview. Thank you for your interest in the BCGEU.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to begin construction on their new office in Terrace B.C. 

The new building will replace the existing office building and will serve over 2,100 members from across northwest B.C. Over 1,400 of BCGEU members in Northwest B.C. live within a two hour drive of the new office, making this office a key hub for union members in the region. 

In Terrace alone, there are 637 union members that will enjoy access to the new office. 

“Upgrading our facilities is part of a wider effort to better serve members in communities across the Northwest.” said Stephanie Smith, President of the BCGEU. “this is part of our ongoing commitment to members in the Northwest to provide the highest levels of service and to strengthen our presence in the communities they live and work in.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future site of the new building at 4602 Lazelle Avenue.

BCGEU President Stephanie Smith and Treasurer Paul Finch were joined at the ceremony and reception by local union members, the designers and architects of the new building, and Terrace Deputy Mayor Brian Downie. 

The ceremony was followed by a reception at the existing BCGEU office in downtown Terrace. It was an opportunity for members across the region to connect with BCGEU President Stephanie Smith and Treasurer Paul Finch and talk about the opportunities the new office can bring to the region. 

Building Information

The new 4,600ft2 office will boast the latest in sustainable materials and construction practices. The design includes a high efficiency heating and cooling system, recycled flooring materials, low VOC sealants and adhesives, low E glazing, low flush toilets and automated faucets. 

Recognizing the importance of accessibility and good health, the building will exceed all the minimum requirements for access, circulation and washrooms. Most interior spaces will also have daylight views to improve the work environment. 

“Our goal is to serve and represent members in the region.” said Paul Finch, Treasurer of the BCGEU. “To do this properly, we need state-of-the-art facilities that are accessible to all, welcoming, and add value to local communities.”

The building is expected to be completed by the fall of 2018. 

Photos of the ceremony and the reception can be found at the BCGEU Flickr page at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgeu/sets/72157684408625876 

For more information and interviews contact Bronwen Barnett at 604-473-5424.

"Joint OHS Committee Training" will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 and "Incident Investigations" will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. These courses will be held at the BCGEU office at 107A North First Avenue, Williams Lake 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:
 http://events.bcgeu.ca/labour_code_1_day_ohs_investigations_course 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.

VANCOUVER -

We welcome yesterday’s historic agreement between the BC NDP caucus and BC Green caucus.
 
“Three weeks after B.C. went to the polls we now finally have a clearer idea of what the next government’s priorities are going to be going forward.” said Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President. “The Green and NDP Confidence and Supply Agreement sets the stage for four years of stable government that is founded on transparency, collaboration and is rooted in the spirit of Reconciliation and the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
 
The agreement, a first of its kind in B.C. politics outlines a collaborative and open framework for decision making between two parties that together earned over 56% of the vote in the 2017 election. The BCGEU welcomes this approach, and is hopeful that through this framework major progress will be achieved on issues that BCGEU members have long been advocating for.
 
For years BCGEU members have been calling on the government to take decisive action on climate change, to implement a poverty reduction strategy, to strengthen the rights of workers and their safety on the job. Members have written, phoned, and talked to their elected representatives about improving home care for seniors, about investing in early childhood education and childcare, calling for a $15 per hour minimum wage, and investment in quality public transit. It is through their hard work and efforts that many of these issues became central to the political discourse, and ultimately found their way into this agreement.
 
On the whole, there is a lot in this agreement for working people to be hopeful about: a strong commitment to a revitalized forestry sector, a new credible Environmental Assessment process centered on safety and sustainability, investment in child protection and hiring more social workers, as well as funding Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language programs.
 
Smith noted that “It is encouraging to see strong agreement on so many important issues ahead of a new budget. In particular, the commitment on mental health supports stands out as important. This commitment elevates strategies that recognize the urgency around the opioid crisis, which we know is having a devastating effect on workers and the communities in which they live.”
 
If the NDP and Greens can work together over the next four years to deliver on the promises outlined in this document, it will be a major step forward for a British Columbia that lifts up all people, that provides a transparent and accountable government, and that protects our environment for future generations.
 
The BCGEU looks forward to the opportunity of meeting with MLAs of all parties once the legislature is recalled to discuss the timely implementation of these policies, and to offer the input of the more than 73, 000 BCGEU members who live, work, and vote in British Columbia.

On April 14, over 400 people packed the sold-out Rio Theatre to hear economist Michael Hudson talk about the Vancouver affordability crisis in an event organized by the BCGEU and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

His presentation and the following Q&A touched on the links between global financial systems and the real estate market. His talk explores the ways in which rising real estate prices are actually making the city poorer, not wealthier.

As a union representing workers across BC, the BCGEU is taking this issue seriously. That is why we brought Michael Hudson to start this important conversation within our communities.

You can watch the entire recording of his talk and two short clips below:

Full video

Michael Hudson on Debt Deflation

Michael Hudson on the Curse of Rising Real Estate Prices

Local 467/MoveUP

"Joint OHS Committee Training" will be held on Tuesday, July 18 and "Incident Investigations" will be held on Wednesday, July 19. These courses will be held at the BCGEU office at 2994 Douglas St, Victoria 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 to avoid disappointment at:

http://events.bcgeu.ca/labour_code_ohs_basic.

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.

Local 467/MoveUP

The B.C. Government has taken a step forward in its commitment to create an inventory of asbestos in government buildings built before 1990 by awarding the contract to Pinchin West.

There are over 750 government buildings that must be inspected as part of this initiative and it is estimated the inventory will take about 18 months to complete.

Until the inventory has been completed, there will be no renovations or improvements done on government buildings to protect the health and safety of government staff and the public.

Asbestos remains the number one cause of death for workers in the province. Just last year, 44% of work-related deaths were attributed to asbestos-related illness, according to WorkSafeBC. This number is expected to continue to grow over the next decade as workers exposed to asbestos in the past and into today see their health deteriorate.

“It is very encouraging to see the government is moving forward on this file, but there is still a lot of work to be done.” said Stephanie Smith, President of the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union. “Too many workers are still exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, and better regulation and enforcement is still needed.”

Asbestos is still found in building materials, auto parts and other industrial materials, putting workers and consumers at risk of exposure.

The B.C. Government made the commitment to create the asbestos inventory earlier this year following the lead of the Federal Government. The Federal Government is expected to introduce a ban on asbestos by 2018.

Quick Facts:

• Asbestos was declared a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1987
• According to WCB asbestos exposure has led to over 600 accepted worker related deaths between 2005 and 2016
• According to WCB asbestos related deaths accounted for 75% of all occupational disease deaths and about 44% of all accepted deaths in 2016
• Breathing of asbestos fibres can lead to health problems that include asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer), and pleural thickening (a lung disease)

Resources:

• The BCGEU applauds government building asbestos inventory, a step towards protecting worker health in the province
• WorkSafe BC - Asbestos
• WorkSafe BC - Asbestos: Be Aware program resources

Local 467/MoveUP