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BCGEU/NUPGE members have not taken the decision to strike lightly. Members are seeking a fair and reasonable settlement. The main issues are wages and employer demands for concessions.
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Vancouver (31 Jan. 2013) — A tentative agreement has been reached between the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) and LifeLabs following several days of mediated talks.
The new agreement will expire on December 31, 2014.
Members will be notified of the ratification vote date.
Workers at LifeLabs have been negotiating since May 22, 2012, after the contract expired in December 2011. In November, members voted 98.5 per cent in favour of job action but have been committed to resolving the outstanding issues through mediation and at the bargaining table.
The three-year agreement includes:
- a one-time lump sum payment equal to two percent payable upon ratification of the collective agreement;
- a one percent increase effective January 1, 2013;
- a one percent increase effective July 1, 2013;
- a two percent increase effective July 1, 2014; and
- the long term disability and benefits remain unchanged.
There are approximately 706 members represented by BCGEU/NUPGE working at LifeLabs across the province.
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