This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
The Public Service Bargaining Committee is recommending that members vote in favour of the agreement.
Vancouver (18 July 2018) — After 5 weeks of negotiations, the B.C.Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has reached a tentative 3-year agreement with the B.C. Government for members working in direct government service. The Public Service Bargaining Committee is recommending that members vote in favour of the agreement.
Bargaining team recommends ratification of new contract
On ratification, all changes to the tentative 18th Public Service Agreement will take effect after the expiry of the current agreement. At that time, the 18th Public Service Agreement and the 5 individual component agreements will replace the current agreements.
To help prepare for the ratification vote, the union has put together a ratification newsletter, which should be arriving in the mail and via email to all members. This newsletter includes important information about the ratification process. It also contains detailed information about the 18th Public Service Agreement as well as ithe ndividual component agreements.
In addition to negotiations at the main table, component negotiating committees worked hard to get sector-specific agreements for members, and all 5 of them are recommending acceptance and ratification of the component agreements.
Members can view more information click here, as well as download the tentative agreement:
Regional meetings
Information and voting meetings are being scheduled to take place at all 12 area offices around the province in July. A meeting schedule has been emailed to members, and is also included in the ratification newsletter.
Voting
Ballot packages are being printed and distributed to stewards. Shop stewards and mail contact members will be conducting votes on the tentative agreement at work sites across the province. Clause 2.6 of the collective agreement entitles stewards to undertake ratification vote duties on work time and without loss of pay.
Vote count
The ballot counting of all public service members' votes will take place on August 8, at BCGEU headquarters, in Burnaby. All ballots must be submitted to headquarters or any area office by the close of business (5:00 pm) August 7.