As negotiations between the Province and BC Government workers appear to be going nowhere, the BC Government and Service Employees' Union is planning a strike for September 5th. The job action will affect all government work sites. This comes after job action over the summer. Workers staged a one-day strike at liquor distribution branch centres in … [Read more...]
New Westminster workers have a deal
August 28, 2012 by
They have a deal! Civic workers in New Westminster become the first in the region to get a collective agreement. The four year collective agreement, which took effect January 1st was ratified by CUPE local 387 with 97-percent support, and has been approved by city council and the police board. Details of the new deal aren't readily available, … [Read more...]
Health care workers ordered to get flu shots, or wear masks
August 23, 2012 by
Health care workers in BC will be required to get a flu shot or wear a mask during the coming flu season in order to protect patients from the virus. That announcement from Provincial Health Officer Doctor Perry Kendall today. Kendall says the new policy will apply to health authority staff, doctors and residents, volunteers, students, … [Read more...]
More walkouts coming from public-sector workers
July 26, 2012 by
We'll see more job action by the BC Government Services Employees Union by month’s end. BCGEU boss Darryl Walker won't share any details, but says the escalating job action comes after no talks or movement at the bargaining table. Walker says the union has put forward several ideas, including opening government liquor stores on Sundays, or … [Read more...]
Tensions rise in contract dispute between ICBC and unionized workers
July 18, 2012 by
Things are getting nasty in the contract dispute between Canadian Office and Professional Employees union and ICBC. COPE 378 President David Black says they have added a strike slogan and link to the unions website to email signatures. So he says ICBC responded.. "They are attempting to block the union from sending emails to our … [Read more...]
Workers identified
July 14, 2012 by
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identities of two men killed in seperate workplace accidents in Metro Vancouver.40-year-old Hardial Ssingh from Surrey was killed while working at the lafarge cement plant in Vancouver.48-year-old David William Leon, also of Surrey was struck and killed by a construction vehicle on the perimetre road … [Read more...]
Human Rights Tribunal upholds shipyard worker’s complaint
July 9, 2012 by
A former worker's complaint of racial discrimination against the operators of the Victoria shipyards has been partially upheld by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. Austin Francis filed the complaint against Seaspan Marine which is now considering an appeal. In 2009, the black man was working in Esquimalt when he found a white rag with two eye holes … [Read more...]
ICBC workers take more job action
July 6, 2012 by
Unionized ICBC workers are taking job action starting Friday as they bring in an overtime ban. The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 3-78 Vice President Jeff Gillies calls it phase one of job action, "So we want to see what they have to say next week. If there is no movement then our position is we have to escalate … [Read more...]
Where to put the shipyard workers when they arrive
July 4, 2012 by
With North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto expressing concerns this week about whether his municipality has the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the influx of workers moving to work at Seaspan Shipyards, Liberal MLA Ida Chong says the answer may lie in opening the door for more private development. "You may recall a number of years ago … [Read more...]
ICBC workers issue 72-hour strike notice
June 28, 2012 by
The union representing ICBC workers has issued 72-strike notice, but drivers shouldn't have to worry. "We're not interested in getting drivers in the middle of our dispute. Our intent is to take job action to put some pressure on government and also put some pressure on ICBC to get back to the table and negotiate a fair agreement." COPE 378 … [Read more...]
