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Video message from Paul Finch, chair of your bargaining committee - Component 1-BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU)


Today marks the end of the first week of public service bargaining.

Please check out this important video message from BCGEU President and Chair of the Public Service Bargaining Committee Paul Finch. 

In the video, Paul provides an update from the bargaining table, explains where we are in the bargaining process, and elaborates on some of the key issues for members this round, such as the removal of the job classification system and the development of a rapid grievance tribunal system.

Component Bargaining

Last Friday, negotiations for the five component bargaining tables with the provincial government (Public Service Agency) concluded, after a week of contract negotiations.

Component agreements cover specific, mostly non-monetary, items that apply only to employees in a specific occupational group. These items primarily focus on working conditions, including the structure and hours of work.

The main public service agreement – for which negotiations kicked off on Wednesday – outlines the wages, terms and conditions of employment of all members covered under the main agreement.

Component agreements can cover issues that have some monetary implications, however – in a change from previous rounds of bargaining – at no component table would the PSA agree to discuss any items that were remotely monetary, insisting on referring them to the main table.

The negotiations were respectful but not highly productive: we went to the table very prepared but were disappointed the employer was not willing to engage on most proposals, including those that were not explicitly monetary.

We will make sure that important component issues are followed through upon at the main agreement table in the coming weeks.

Below is a summary of significant negotiated changes at your component bargaining table.
 

Component 1

The component 1 bargaining committee made some progress and reached agreement on several issues for both Corrections and Sheriffs. However, out of the 33 proposals our union tabled, 19 of those proposals were considered monetary were referred to the main table.  Some of our agreed to bargaining proposals include:

  • Corrections:
    • 3.1 Joint Committees - Youth Uniform/Locker/Change Room Corrections
    • Article 4 - Seniority List
    • CO 5.1 Uniform Issue
    • CO 5.4 Maintenance of Work Apparel - Add "Youth"
  • Sheriffs:
    • DS Article 3.5 Uniform

DS Article 4.2/4.3 Vacation

In solidarity,   

Your Public Service Bargaining Committee  

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 
Larisa Mills, Staff Representative 
Sumiko Marshall, Support Staff 

UWU/MoveUP