B.C. Place workers on strike

The outstanding issues are job security, contracting out of bargaining unit work, scheduling and availability. Monetary issues also remain unresolved. UPDATED

Vancouver (31 Jan. 2013) —Members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) employed at B.C. Place went on strike on January 28 in support of reaching a fair collective agreement from PAVCO.

On January 30, the union went back to the talk with the employer to begin mediated talks. While at first picket lines were to remain up, on January 31, the bargaining committee reported that enough progress has been already made to warrant picket lines to be taken down. Members will be reporting back to work today.

The outstanding issues are job security, contracting out of bargaining unit work, scheduling and availability. Monetary issues also remain unresolved.

On January 22, the bargaining committeee returned to the negotiations table with a 96 per cent strike mandate in hand. The parties met for three long days. Good discussions occurred, however they were unable to reach a settlement.

BCGEU/NUPGE members at B.C. Place play a key role in the event experience at the stadium. Workers consist of full time, part time and event employees. They include skilled tradespersons, control room/building security, first aid, technicians (employees associated with the set up and removal of equipment and materials for set up of staging of an event), event security, event housekeeping and event hosting.

Members have been bargaining since August 2012.

Job action does not include food service workers, who are under the Servomation (Centerplate) collective agreement.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE