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“Credit for this agreement also goes to our members who backed the bargaining committee with a strike vote and strike action. We could not have achieved this collective agreement without them,” said Walker. UPDATED
Vancouver (01 Oct. 2012) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has reached a tentative agreement with the B.C. government that sees gains for more than 25,000 members who work in direct government service province-wide.
“We knew this round of bargaining would be tough and it was,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “Our members gave us a mandate and we fought hard during nine months to achieve this deal. We struck four times and implemented an overtime ban to back our proposals. We’re pleased we’ve been able to work productively with the government in recent days to reach this tentative agreement.”
The BCGEU/NUPGE bargaining committee is recommending members accept the agreement.
Included in the agreement is a wage increase larger than originally offered by the government. The proposed wage increase includes:
• A one per cent increase retroactive to April 1, 2012;
• A one per cent increase retroactive to August 15, 2012;
• A one percent increase in April 2013; and
• A one per cent increase in December 2013.
As part of the agreement, the sale of Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses and the negotiated request for proposals (NRFP) for privatization were cancelled. Both sides agree the move was needed to get the deal done.
“Credit for this agreement also goes to our members who backed the bargaining committee with a strike vote and strike action. We could not have achieved this collective agreement without them,” said Walker.
Details of the tentative agreement will be posted on the union's website as soon as possible.
Stewards will conduct voting at the worksite. Members are encouraged to keep watching the union website for more information about ratification.
As a result of this deal, the overtime ban implemented on September 17, 2012 is cancelled effective immediately.
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