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Employment Insurance Board of Referees dismisses Bill 29 EI appeal.
Vancouver (15 March 2010) - The British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is looking at the possibility of a second appeal in a case involving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to 2,000 workers in the facilities and community subsector.
The union is reviewing its options after a decision by the Employment Insurance Board of Referees (EIBR) dismissing a group appeal brought by the BCGEU and the Health Employees Union (HEU) in relation to Bill 29 settlement payments received by the workers.
In 2008 and 2009, BCGEU and HEU members received payments under settlement agreements reached with the B.C. Government. The settlement agreements related to Bill 29.
Subsequently, some members were ordered to repay EI benefits that they had received several years ago. As a result, BCGEU and HEU appealed the order and the case was finally heard by the EIBR on March 2. Last week, the three-person board brought down a 2-1 decision rejecting the appeal.
The decision applies to all of the over 2,000 BCGEU and HEU members who consented to join the appeal. More information will be posted on this website as it becomes available.
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