VANCOUVER-Today Stephanie Smith, president of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU), and a group of BCGEU members, joined UNITE HERE Local 40 members on the picket line at the Westin Bayshore to announce that the BCGEU-one of BC's largest and fastest growing unions-is supporting the strike with a $3 million interest-free loan.

In September more than 1,200 UNITE HERE Local 40 members initiated the first strike at downtown Vancouver hotels in two decades. Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action after 14 months of bargaining with the Hyatt Regency, the Westin Bayshore and the Pinnacle Harbourfront and eight months of bargaining with the Rosewood Hotel Georgia failed to result in collective agreements that would address workplace safety, job security and fair compensation for hotel workers.

Since the beginning of the strike UNITE HERE Local 40's high energy, high visibility picket lines have attracted support from the general public, attention from the media and complaints from hotel management about the noise and disruption caused by striking members. But the union's contract demands remain unmet and their fight for a better future for all hotel workers continues.

With almost 80,000 members, the BCGEU is one of the largest and fastest growing unions in the province. The BCGEU's provincial executive-which is the union's governing body between policy conventions-voted unanimously in favour of making an interest-free loan in the amount of $3 million available for UNITE HERE Local 40 to access to support the hotel strike.

Quotes

Stephanie Smith, President, BCGEU
"Strikes are powerful tools-they disrupt employers' operations, they get the public engaged in workers' rights and they build solidarity-but they cost money. This loan will help make sure that UNITE HERE Local 40 members can afford to stay out on strike as long as it takes to achieve collective agreements that give them the safety, stability and fair compensation they deserve."

"The BCGEU, like other unions, has supported this strike from the beginning by joining the picket lines and by cancelling bookings and refusing to attend events at these four hotels. I'm proud to be here on behalf of 80,000 members of the BCGEU as the first union to offer financial support to UNITE HERE Local 40 as their fight for a better future continues. I know we won't be the last."

Zailda Chan, President, UNITE HERE Local 40
"We are overwhelmed by the level of support BCGEU is extending to our 1,200 striking hotel members. This will send a strong message to the real estate developers and U.S. corporations who own and operate the hotels our members work for in this city. We are determined to make change in the hospitality industry, and BCGEU's support will only redouble our fight to improve the lives of Vancouver's hotel workers." 

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Contact:
Danielle Marchand, BCGEU
Cell: 778-968-4509
 
Sharan Pawa, UNITE HERE Local 40
Cell: 604-725-0053

UWU/MoveUP

On Tuesday, October 8, members of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) working on the Francois Lake, Arrow Lake and Adams Lake ferries will resume bargaining with the ferries' operators-WaterBridge Ferries and Waterbridge Equipment.

The entity that owns both WaterBridge Ferries and Waterbridge Equipment has invited the union back to the bargaining table to present a proposal on behalf of both companies that it says will address the union's concerns. The negotiations will take place in Kelowna.

"I think this is a good sign that these employers have heard our members' concerns," says Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president. "I'm hoping the new proposal puts the sustainability of the ferry service and the needs of our members and ferry-dependent communities ahead of profits. That would set a new bar for other operators of inland ferry routes."

BCGEU inland ferry workers on routes operated by WaterBridge Ferries, Waterbridge Equipment and Western Pacific Marine have been without a contract since March 2019. Negotiations broke down on June 5 when all three employers rejected the union's proposal for industry standard compensation and investment in recruitment and succession planning.

"Our members' objective hasn't changed throughout this process. They want a collective agreement that ensures the long term sustainability of the ferry service through investments in the workforce," says Smith. "They have never wavered from that, and their solidarity is strong."

The invitation to resume negotiations with Waterbridge Equipment and WaterBridge Ferries comes just as the labour board is expected to issue a ruling to set essential service levels for the Francois Lake, Adams Lake and Arrow Lake ferries in the event of job action. Essential service hearings began in September and ended late Wednesday, October 2.

The BCGEU has not received an invitation to resume bargaining from Western Pacific Marine (WPM), which operates the ferries on Kootenay Lake. As with Waterbridge, the union seeks to establish a collective agreement through bargaining and not arbitration or mediation. 

All three employers maintain service contracts with the Ministry of Transportation. The inland ferry services were initially contracted out under the previous BC Liberal government. As operating costs have increased, the employers have failed to retain workers with industry standard compensation and adhere to guidelines around successorship and training that would ensure safety requirements are met and local knowledge of the lakes are passed down.

The BCGEU is one of the largest and fastest growing unions in B.C. with more than 79,000 members working in almost every community and economic sector in the province.

UWU/MoveUP

VANCOUVER-In September UNITE HERE Local 40 members initiated their first strike at downtown Vancouver hotels in 20 years as part of their ongoing fight with their employers-the Hyatt, the Westin Bayshore, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, and the Pinnacle-for collective agreements that would provide safety, stability and fair compensation.

Since the beginning of the strike UNITE HERE Local 40's picket lines have attracted support from the general public, attention from the media and complaints from hotel management. But their fight to transform the way the hotel industry treats its workers continues.

On Tuesday, October 8, BCGEU president Stephanie Smith-along with other members of the BCGEU-will join the picket line at the Westin Bayshore to make an announcement that demonstrates how one of BC's largest and fastest growing unions stands in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 40 members in their historic strike against the real estate developers and corporate giants who control some of the most profitable hotels in Metro Vancouver.

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Time: 9:00 am
Location: Westin Bayshore, 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver

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Contact:
Danielle Marchand, BCGEU
Cell: 778-968-4509

Sharan Pawa, UNITE HERE Local 40
Cell: 604-725-0053

UWU/MoveUP

October 3, 2019

BCGEU members working on the Kootenay Lake ferry will support a community rally to raise awareness for the unsustainability of the inland ferry service.

The "Unity Sailing & Rally" will take place on Friday, October 4 at 3 p.m. at the Kootenay Bay ferry landing. The organizers' goal, according to a media release posted on Facebook, is to "take a stand for a safe, reliable, sustainable ferry service over the long-term" by gathering ferry users to cross the lake together. Ferry workers will accommodate the rally by providing additional sailings as needed to ensure all rally participants are able to return home.

"I can't overstate how much our members appreciate this show of solidarity from the community," says Stephanie Smith, president of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union, the union representing the ferry workers. "Our goal is the same as it has always been-to get a fair collective agreement with the employer that addresses the long term sustainability of the ferry service. It's really gratifying to have the community supporting us. Together we can bring the employer back to the bargaining table."

Ferry workers implemented a restriction on overtime on September 16th to highlight the chronic staffing issues putting the service in crisis. Since then up to 70 per cent of regular sailings per day have been unable to run, negatively impacting ferry users. Community members have spoken out about the impacts by submitting letters to Western Pacific Marine through the BCGEU's website, ferries.bcgeu.ca, as well as by organizing OurFerryMatters.ca, the grassroots group organizing Friday's rally.

"The employer has spent years making profit their priority, refusing to invest in their workforce, and ultimately creating the current crisis where there is a lack of local, qualified staff to operate the Kootenay Lake ferry," says Smith. "That means the ferry is heavily reliant on extreme amounts of overtime and is at high risk of regular cancellations. Our members have had enough. And we're hearing the same from the community."

"Our members live in ferry dependent communities so they understand how their job action is affecting the daily lives of their friends, families and neighbours," says Smith. "This rally shows that the community understands why our job action is necessary so we want to say thank you by making sure all the participants can get home."

Ferry workers have been without a contract since March 2019. Negotiations ceased on June 5th when the employer, Western Pacific Marine, would not consider the union's proposal for industry standard compensation. Despite the restriction on overtime, ferry crews are committed to delivering the three essential service crossings on weekdays as ordered by the Labour Relations Board.

The BCGEU is one of the largest unions in B.C. with over 79,000 members in almost every community and economic sector in the province.

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UWU/MoveUP

It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the sudden loss of one of our members and good friends, CJ Conroy, to cancer this week.

CJ was a long-time workplace union activist. He served the membership at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (VIRCC) as a shop steward for 20 years and as the first vice-chairperson of Local 101 for 15 years. 

CJ was dedicated to supporting, representing and advocating on behalf of his fellow members in Corrections, as well as all members of the BCGEU, in the fight for fairness and healthy, safe workplaces. Through his work on political campaigns, he helped improve working conditions and wages, and make changes in his community and society.

On behalf of all our members in Component 1, we send our sincerest, heartfelt condolences to CJ's wife and daughter and to all his family, friends and fellow officers at VIRCC. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

We will miss CJ's gentle nature, good humour and the compassion he had for others.

A service for CJ will be held on: 

Date:           Thursday October 3, 2019
Location:    St. Anne's Church in Duncan at 1 pm followed by a reception at the Craig Street Brew Pub

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the union today to raise money for CJ's wife and young daughter.

Click here for the GoFundMe page

In solidarity and condolences,

Dean Purdy
Component 1 Vice-President & Local 101 Chair

UWU/MoveUP

This morning, the Cullen Commission announced its ruling on applications for Participant Standing. I'm very pleased to let you know that, out of 20 applicants, your union is one of 16 granted standing. This means that our members can continue to support the critical work of the Commission as it fulfills its mandate to look at the full scope of money laundering in B.C.

While the BCGEU has supported the current provincial government's efforts to investigate various facets of money laundering, we have always insisted that only a broadly-mandated, properly resourced public inquiry could really get to the bottom of the issue. 

Our submission for standing was centered on ensuring that our members in financial services, direct government and the casino sector-those whose working lives have been directly impacted by money laundering-have a forum to convey their firsthand experiences to the Commission.

The BCGEU has been granted standing to submit testimony on a broad range of topics covered by the Commission's mandate, including gaming and horse racing, real estate, financial institutions and money services, the corporate sector, luxury goods, and professional services. There are no timelines set at this point but we don't expect to be called to submit until early in 2020. In the meantime, your union will start working to ensure our members' lived experience on the frontlines of the money laundering crisis is front and center in the Commission's work.

We would not be here without the many BCGEU members who were among the first to raise the alarm on money laundering in the province, and who ensured our union was among the first voices call for a public inquiry. I want to thank you for your perseverance and solidarity on these important issues and I want to assure you that your voice will continue to be central to our work as we move forward.

You can read the news from the Cullen Commission here. If you have questions about the Commission or your union's participation please email inquiry@bcgeu.ca

In solidarity, 

Stephanie Smith
President 

UWU/MoveUP

Like many of you I'm inspired by the passion and perseverance of Greta Thunberg and student activists across the world who have worked so hard and so fast to put the climate crisis at the forefront of the public agenda and hold politicians accountable for their lack of action to prevent or mitigate it. 

I want you to know your union recognizes the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for decisive action to save our planet. You have told us through numerous convention resolutions and our recent survey on the issues that matter to you during this federal election, that the environment, global climate change and the sustainability of our planet are top priority. 

That's why I'm not surprised at the number of questions I've received about your union's support for our participation in Global Climate Strike events. As you probably know, from September 20-27 millions of people of all ages across the globe will walk out of classrooms, workplaces and homes to join Greta Thunberg and other young activists in protest events to support climate justice. 

I want to be clear that the BCGEU supports the push for climate justice and stands in solidarity with the young activists who are driving this movement. But I also want to be clear about two particular ways that Global Climate Strike events may impact members:

• Members who want to participate in protest events. Although the term "strike" is part of the movement's public relations, it's vital that union members understand these protest events are not considered legal strikes under the BC Labour Code; and, therefore, there is no legal mechanism to protect members who choose to participate during their regular work hours. If you intend to participate in a protest event during regular work hours, please advise your union.
• Members whose worksite is picketed as part of protest events. Members who encounter a picket line at their worksite are expected to exercise their collective agreement and Charter rights to respect that picket line. The only exception is picket lines that have been deemed illegal by the Labour Board and are subject to an injunction. Members who encounter picket lines at their worksite should immediately contact their steward or area office for accurate information about how to proceed.

I want to thank all of you who have contacted me, Paul or any other BCGEU member to express your support for the student-led protests and seek advice about participation. It's critical that members are fully informed when deciding how to act and react during these protests and your union is here to help!

In solidarity,

Stephanie Smith
President

UWU/MoveUP

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

WHAT: BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) inland ferry workers employed by Western Pacific Marine will kick off a three-day strike on Saturday August 31st. The move comes after several months of unsuccessful negotiations for a new collective agreement that will address long-standing issues with substandard wages, benefits and training that have created a staffing crisis for the ferry service.

The workers will be joined by BCGEU president Stephanie Smith and treasurer Paul Finch along with fellow BCGEU members and other members of the community.

The three-day strike will see the Kootenay Lake ferry shut down for routine travel over the long weekend but it will remain available for emergencies and disaster response. Full service will resume Tuesday September 3rd pending further announcements. 

WHEN: Saturday, August 31st, 2019, 2:30pm

WHERE: Balfour Terminal of the Kootenay Lake Ferry – Balfour, B.C.

View our media release: Kootenays inland ferry workers serve 72-hour strike notice

For more information visit: ferries.bcgeu.ca

UWU/MoveUP