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New dates have been added to the bargaining schedule in order to reach a new contract.
Vancouver (26 March 2012) - With one week left before the expiration of the current master agreement for members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), the bargaining committee’s frustration is growing over the slow pace of negotiations and the government’s unwillingness to deal with job classification proposals.
Time is running out. In addition to the two weekdays we’ve scheduled for bargaining in Victoria next week, dates were added next on March 31 and April 1, in an effort to conclude a new master agreement before the existing one expires.
“We’ve got a lot of negotiating to do next week. The government is going to have to pick up the pace if we’re going to get a new deal. If we don’t, we’re going to have to make a decision on whether to seek a strike mandate from our members,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker.
Some minor progress was made this week. We gained improvements on STIIP (short-term illness and injury plan) denial processes.
As well, BCGEU/NUPGE signed an agreement that provides job security measures for members employed by the Liquor Distribution Branch and affected by the government’s decision to sell off operations. These members, roughly 600 in total, work in Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses and wholesale customer centres in Vancouver, Kamloops and Victoria. The agreement is effective April 1, 2012. Details of the agreement can be found here.
BCGEU/NUPGE members are seeking a fair and reasonable agreement. Wage increases, job security and improved benefits as the main contract priorities. Since 2010, during the term of the current agreement, members have suffered a real wage cut of five per cent. There has been no general wage increase since April 2009.
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