M I N U T E S of the 48TH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION B.C...

M I N U T E S

of the

48TH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

of the

B.C. GOVERNMENT AND SERVICE

EMPLOYEES’ UNION (BCGEU)

held at the

Westin Bayshore

Vancouver, B.C.

June 15 to 18, 2011

(i)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROCEEDINGS – 1ST

SESSION ....................................................................................................... 1

Call to Order ............................................................................................................................. 1

Elder Greeting .......................................................................................................................... 1

O Canada .................................................................................................................................. 1

Solidarity Forever ..................................................................................................................... 1

Mayor’s Welcome .................................................................................................................... 1

Moment of Silence ................................................................................................................... 1

Talking Stick ............................................................................................................................. 1

Video Presentation ................................................................................................................... 1

Report of the Credentials Committee ...................................................................................... 2

Introductions ............................................................................................................................. 2

Introduction of Solidarity Guests ............................................................................................. 2

Rules of Order .......................................................................................................................... 2

Policies – Harassment, Code of Conduct, Scent Free Environment ....................................... 2

Sessional Hours ........................................................................................................................ 3

Guest Speaker ........................................................................................................................... 3

Announcements ........................................................................................................................ 3

PROCEEDINGS – 2ND

SESSION ...................................................................................................... 3

Point of Privilege ...................................................................................................................... 3

Call to Order ............................................................................................................................. 3

Video Presentation ................................................................................................................... 3

Guest Presentation .................................................................................................................... 4

Keynote Address ...................................................................................................................... 4

Resolutions Committee ............................................................................................................ 4

Solidarity Guests ...................................................................................................................... 4

Report of the Credentials Committee ...................................................................................... 4

Convention Committees ........................................................................................................... 5


Allocation of Resolutions ......................................................................................................... 5

Spirit of Leadership Award ...................................................................................................... 5


Announcements ........................................................................................................................ 6

PROCEEDINGS – 3RD

SESSION ...................................................................................................... 6


Special Presentation ................................................................................................................. 6

Constitution and Structure Committee .................................................................................... 6


Point of Information ................................................................................................................. 7

Point of Information ................................................................................................................. 7

Announcements ........................................................................................................................ 7

PROCEEDINGS – 4TH

SESSION ...................................................................................................... 7

Report of the Credential Committee ........................................................................................ 7

Point of Order ........................................................................................................................... 8


Finance Committee ................................................................................................................... 8



Life Member Resolutions ......................................................................................................... 8

Honour Roll .............................................................................................................................. 8

(ii)

Announcements ........................................................................................................................ 9


PROCEEDINGS – 5TH

SESSION ...................................................................................................... 9

Guest Speaker ........................................................................................................................... 9


Resolutions Committee .......................................................................................................... 10

Committee Reports ................................................................................................................. 10

Introduction of Solidarity Guests ........................................................................................... 10

Guest Speaker ......................................................................................................................... 10


Announcements ...................................................................................................................... 10

PROCEEDINGS – 6TH

SESSION .................................................................................................... 10

Report of the Credentials Committee .................................................................................... 11

Election of Officers ................................................................................................................ 11

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 11

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 11

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 12

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 12

Election for Position of President .......................................................................................... 12

Point of privilege .................................................................................................................... 12

Election for Position of Treasurer .......................................................................................... 12

point of privilege .................................................................................................................... 12

Election for Positions of Vice President (4) .......................................................................... 13

Oath of Office ......................................................................................................................... 13

President Elect Address .......................................................................................................... 13

Announcements ...................................................................................................................... 14

PROCEEDINGS – 7TH

SESSION .................................................................................................... 14

Video Presentation ................................................................................................................. 14

Guest Speaker ......................................................................................................................... 14


Point of Information ............................................................................................................... 14

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 14

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 15

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 15

Point of Order ......................................................................................................................... 15

Good and Welfare .................................................................................................................. 15

Announcements ...................................................................................................................... 15

Adjournment ........................................................................................................................... 15

APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Registered Delegates, Observers, Guests, Visitors and Staff................................................ 16

APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................................... 22

Convention Committees ......................................................................................................... 22

Reports Presented to the 48th Constitutional Convention and Financial Statements………….. 102

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2011 BCGEU Convention Page 1

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MINUTES of the 2011 48th Constitutional Convention of the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union held at the Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver, BC on June 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2011.

PROCEEDINGS – 1st SESSION

3:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2011

CALL TO ORDER

President Darryl Walker called the 48th Constitutional Convention of the B.C. Government and Service

Employees’ Union to order at 3:36 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.

ELDER GREETING

President Walker introduced Squamish First Nations Elder Audrey Rivers who opened the convention

with a greeting from the Squamish Nation. Brother Walker thanked her and gave her a token of

appreciation from the BCGEU.

O CANADA

Brother Walker called upon Sister Patti Turner and Brother David Vipond to lead the delegates in the

singing of O Canada.

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

Sister Patti Turner and Brother David Vipond led delegates in the singing of Solidarity Forever.

MAYOR’S WELCOME

Brother Walker introduced Vancouver City Councillor Geoff Meggs who brought best wishes from

Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vancouver City Council. He also thanked the BCGEU for its ongoing

efforts on behalf of public and private sectors.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

The delegates were asked to stand and observe a moment of silence in memory of our brothers and sisters

who died since our last Convention.

TALKING STICK

Brother Walker explained the symbolism of the Talking Stick, which represents open and honest

discussion and gives the speaker confidence, strength and courage to express his or her viewpoint.

VIDEO PRESENTATION

Sister Judi Filion introduced to the delegates the video produced by the BCGEU celebrating the women

of the union and International Women's Day 100th Anniversary.

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REPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

Sister Sandi McLean and Brother Stu Seifert gave the report of the Credentials Committee as follows:

June 15, 2011, 3:30 p.m.

20 Provincial Executive

368 Registered Delegates

388 Subtotal of voting delegates

98 Staff

5 Solidarity Guests

17 Visitors

9 Component Observers

12 Life Members

141 Subtotal

Total Number 529

It was M/S/C to adopt the first report of the Credentials Committee.

INTRODUCTIONS

Brother Walker introduced the Provincial Executive and Directors to the delegates. He also introduced

President Emeritus John Shields, President Emeritus George Heyman and past Treasurer Diane Wood.

INTRODUCTION OF SOLIDARITY GUESTS

Brother Walker introduced the solidarity guests, visitors and affiliates from both British Columbia and

across the country.

RULES OF ORDER

Sister Filion was called upon to review the Rules of Order with the delegates. She clarified with the

delegates the rule of order regarding the treatment of resolutions on concurrence and non-concurrence.

It was M/S/C to adopt the Rules of Order.

POLICIES – HARASSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, SCENT FREE ENVIRONMENT

Sister Filion also directed the delegates to the Provincial Executive policies (Harassment, Code of

Conduct, and Scent Free Environment) contained in their Convention Handbook. She announced that

Sister Holly Page and Brother Ken Curry were appointed by the Provincial Executive as administrators

of these policies. The delegates were asked to familiarize themselves with the policies and govern

themselves accordingly.

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SESSIONAL HOURS

It was M/S/C that the Sessional Hours of 2011 48th Constitutional Convention be:

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 16, 2011 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, June 17, 2011 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 18, 2011 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

GUEST SPEAKER

Brother Walker introduced Irene Lanzinger, Secretary-Treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour.

Sister Lanzinger thanked the BCGEU for its work on the minimum wage campaign and the many positive

effects this will have on workers. She also urged delegates to be politically engaged and stay active

within the union.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sister Filion informed delegates of a rally in support of Community Social Services. Also, to fill the

bags provided with the toiletries provided by the hotel for the Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter.

Convention adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

PROCEEDINGS – 2ND

SESSION 9:00 a.m., Thursday, June 16, 2011

POINT OF PRIVILEGE

Sister Stephanie Smith thanked all of the delegates who came out to support the Community Social

Services rally but the decision was made to cancel the rally due to the riots the previous evening.

CALL TO ORDER

President Walker called the Convention to order at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

VIDEO PRESENTATION

Brother Walker introduced the presentation of the video Unions Matter to the delegates.

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GUEST PRESENTATION

The Drum Café led delegates in a drumming session.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

President Walker delivered his keynote address to delegates. He began with a thank you to delegates,

senior leadership and all staff for the work they do on behalf of the membership of the BCGEU.

He told delegates that the union will demand wage increases for the membership in upcoming

negotiations. The Union will keep the membership engaged in the bargaining process through member

outreach and a bargaining conference. Bargaining will be a team approach by working with outside

organizations and unions.

Also, he spoke to delegates on being politically engaged so as to bring about change at the ballot box.

For delegates to be active in the municipal elections and be ready for the next provincial election.

Brother Walker finished by stating that the Union will be successful at bargaining if we stay on track,

remain united and strong.

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Brother Walker called on the Resolutions Committee to deal with resolutions.

SOLIDARITY GUESTS

Brother Walker introduced the solidarity guests, visitors and affiliates attending convention who arrived

since the last introduction.


It was M/S/C to seat Fay Acton, Local 1204 as she had lost her credential.


June 16, 2011, 9:00 a.m.




101 Staff

7 Solidarity Guests

32 Visitors


22 Life Members

173 Subtotal

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Total Number 578

It was M/S/C to adopt the second report of the Credentials Committee.

CONVENTION COMMITTEES

Sister Colleen Jones made the motion that the Provincial Executive recommends adoption of the

committees as follows:

� Resolutions

� Convention Finance

� Constitution & Structure

� Sergeant-at-Arms

� Credentials

It was M/S/C to adopt the convention committees as listed. (see Appendix B – Convention Committees)


Co-chairpersons Sister Colleen Jones, Brother Dan Bradford and Resolutions Committee were called

upon to deal with resolutions.

ALLOCATION OF RESOLUTIONS

Sister Colleen Jones read out the allocation of the resolutions to convention.

A-1 to A-27, A-30 to A-40 Finance

B-41 to B-68, D-160, A-28,1-1 Constitution & Structure

C-69 to C-151 Public Policy

D-152 to D-159, D-161 to D-213,

A-29, A-37 Internal Union

E-214 to E-236 OH&S

F-237 to F-239 Pensions

G-240 to G-252 Bargaining

H-253 to H-278 Life Memberships

Brother Craig MacKay, Local 503 made a motion that the resolutions allocated to Bargaining (G-240 to

G-252) be returned to the Resolutions Committee and return to the delegates as resolutions and not be

referred to the various bargaining committees. Seconded/Carried

It was M/S/C to accept this allocation of the resolutions to the 48th Constitutional Convention.

SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP AWARD

Brother Walker discussed the significance of the Spirit of Leadership award and the history of this

convention’s recipients, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ BC Office. It was awarded in

recognition of the organization’s exceptional work on critical social issues such as poverty, climate

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change and social justice. Director Seth Klein and Public Interest Researcher Iglika Ivanova accepted the

award on behalf of the CCPA.


Sister Filion introduced the solidarity guests, visitors and affiliates from both British Columbia and

across the country.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sister Filion called upon delegates to sing Happy Birthday to Sister Sandy Fellers, Local 1010. Also

announced a meeting for the Whips at the front of the hall, a Component 3 caucus at microphone 3 and a

Component 6 caucus at 1 pm. The Sheriffs’ rally was cancelled. A tentative deal was announced for Air

Canada.

PROCEEDINGS – 3rd

SESSION 1:30 p.m., Thursday June 16, 2011

Sister Filion called the Convention to order at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2011.


Sister Filion called upon the Resolutions Committee to deal with resolutions.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

While Brother Walker informed the delegates NUPGE President James Clancy would not be attending

convention due to the airline strike a flash mob entered the convention hall to the song Stand Up

(NUPGE champions for change). In this campaign BC has collected more names etc. than any other

province.

CONSTITUTION AND STRUCTURE COMMITTEE

Brother Walker called upon the Constitution and Structure Committee to deal with resolutions.

Co-chairperson Mike Clarke introduced the Committee to the delegates.

Because Resolutions B-42 and B-43, changing the titles of Component Chairperson and Provincial Vice-

Presidents, did not pass Sister Lorene Oikawa, Local 604 made a motion that any of the following

resolutions that make reference to the proposed language of "executive" vice presidents returns to the

original language and any subsequent language that refers to "vice presidents" returns to component

chairperson. Seconded/Carried


Brother Walker called upon the Resolutions Committee to deal with resolutions.

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POINT OF INFORMATION

Brother Mark Ferley, Local 703 asked if he could have information on Bill 29. President Walker asked

Sister Brenda Brown, Local 406 to explain. She explained that Bill 29 was introduced in 2002 and

removed language to stop contracting out from collective agreements. It stripped about 1/2 of the

BCGEU’s collective agreements.


Sister Loanne Pickard, Local 307 informed delegates this Bill also affected Community Social Services.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sister Filion informed delegates Music that Matters is an online library of music and free cards will be

handed out as they leave the convention hall. Meetings for the Young Worker caucus upon adjournment

and the Equity Caucus at 8 a.m. tomorrow. She reminded delegates to be in the convention hall for 7 pm

for the All Candidates Meeting.

Convention adjourned at 5 p.m.

PROCEEDINGS – 4TH

SESSION 9:00 a.m., Friday, June 17, 2011

President Walker called the Convention to order at 9:17 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2011.

REPORT OF THE CREDENTIAL COMMITTEE


June 17, 2011, 9:00 a.m.




108 Staff

13 Solidarity Guests

48 Visitors


40 Life Members

220 Subtotal

Total Number 629

It was M/S/C to adopt the third report of the Credentials Committee.

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POINT OF ORDER

Brother Craig MacKay, Local 503 wanted to know when the resolutions originally allocated to

bargaining and referred back to the Resolutions Committee would be returning to the convention floor.



across the country.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Brother Walker called upon the Convention Finance Committee to deal with the resolutions allocated to

this committee.

Treasurer Judi Filion introduced the committee and thanked them for their hard work. She presented the

audited-financial statements report to the delegates by power point. As there were no questions

regarding the statements the committee moved on to the resolutions.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Brother Doug Kinna made a motion to refer back Resolution A-34 amended to the Provincial Executive

so they could develop a policy on this issue. Seconded/Carried

Sister Filion brought forth the recommendation to increase the Honorarium paid to Provincial Executive

members, not including the President or Treasurer. The annual $3200 to be increased to $3400 for the

next three years. Discussion was suspended until after lunch.

POINT OF PRIVILEGE

Sister Sandi McLean, Local 1201 clarified statement made previously by a member regarding Telus

workers that the government is who we should go after not the workers.

LIFE MEMBER RESOLUTIONS

Brother Mike Clarke chaired the presentations and called upon Sister Colleen Jones, Co-chair of the

Resolutions Committee to read out the names of those receiving life membership.

It was M/S/C that the BCGEU bestow the union’s highest honour of life membership to those named.

Life Member Resolutions are H-253 to H-278. (These resolutions can be found on pages 97 – 101.)

HONOUR ROLL

The Honour Roll is for those members who met the criteria for Life Membership but Life Membership

recognition had not been bestowed before they passed away while in service or following their

retirement. The Honour Roll was awarded to Brother Don Philpott, Local 612.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sister Filion informed delegates that anyone whose flight was cancelled due to the labour dispute to see

Anna Johnson or Kinder Mottus to rebook their flight.

POINT OF PRIVILEGE

Sister Colleen Jones reminded delegates the auction table for the International Solidarity draw is outside

the convention hall door and the winners will be announced at 5 p.m.

Convention to reconvene at 1:30 p.m.

PROCEEDINGS – 5TH

SESSION 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2011

President Walker called the Convention to order at 1:33 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2011.

GUEST SPEAKER

Brother Walker introduced Libby Davies, NDP MP for Vancouver East. She promised delegates the

NDP would continue to fight the Conservative government in its attempts to do things such as

privatization and the elimination of workers’ rights. She concluded by telling delegates that when we

work together we can make change.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Discussion resumed on the recommendation put forth to increase the Honorarium to the Provincial

Executive.

The Honorarium paid to Provincial Executive members, not including the President or Treasurer, the

annual $3200 to be increased to $3400 for the next three years. This recommendation was defeated by

the delegates.

The Finance Committee must come back with an amended recommendation.

The Finance Committee put forth an amended recommendation regarding the Honorarium to the

Provincial Executive.

The Honorarium paid to Provincial Executive members, not including the President or Treasurer, remain

at the present $3200 for the next three years. Sister Filion seconded the recommendation. The

recommendation was carried by the delegates.

Resolutions A-38 and A-17 were referred back to the committee for more research but the committee was

unable to provide the answers requested.

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Sister Sandi McLean, Local 1201 made a motion that the two resolutions (A-38 & A-17) be referred back

to the Provincial Executive so the requested information can be obtained. Seconded/Carried



COMMITTEE REPORTS

Brother Walker requested the Resolutions Committee step down and called the Executive and

Administrative Committees to the stage.

Brother Walker referred the delegates to the Executive Committee and Administrative Committee

Reports. (These reports are attached to the minutes).

It was M/S/C to accept the Executive Committee Report.

It was M/S/C to accept the Administrative Committee Report.



across the country.

GUEST SPEAKER

Brother Walker introduced Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. He urged

delegates to continue to work with their union and communities to protect their rights and ward off the

government’s attempts to strip workers of their wages and benefits.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sister Filion announced Component 4 to meet for group photo. Component 8 Table Officers to meet in

the Marine Room. The Resolutions Committee to meet in Coquitlam Room on Level 2. A rally in

support of the postal workers to be held at 5:15 p.m.

PROCEEDINGS – 6th

SESSION 9:00 a.m., Saturday, June 18, 2011

President Walker called the Convention to order at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2011.

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June 18, 2011, 9:00 a.m.




115 Staff

18 Solidarity Guests

98 Visitors


42 Life Members

284 Subtotal

Total Number 693

It was M/S/C to adopt the fourth report of the Credentials Committee.

President Walker thanked the Credentials Committee for all of their hard work during Convention.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Brother Walker introduced President Emeritus John Shields to conduct the Election of Officers.

For the first time the voting will be conducted by an electronic voting system. Brother Shields showed

the delegates how the electronic voting system worked. A couple of practice elections were conducted.

POINT OF ORDER

Brother Matt Salli, Local 604 mentioned the BCGEU is always saying we want to accommodate people

with disabilities. So when implementing new systems such as this they need to take into consideration

accessibility.

Brother Shields told Brother Salli he was entitled to have someone assist him with the voting system.

POINT OF ORDER

Sister Kathy Bergman, Local 303 asked if there was enough available battery in the electronic device she

had as it was down to one cell.

Mr. Dean Franchero from Mediaco assured delegates that there would be enough battery remaining to

conduct the voting.

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POINT OF ORDER

Sister Pam St. Thomas, Local 1209 said that delegates were concerned because in the test run there were

more votes than delegates.

Brother Shields answered that there were 409 delegates eligible to vote and the number that actually

voted was less than that.

POINT OF ORDER

Sister Sandi McLean, Local 1201 mentioned that new delegates may not be aware that there are a total of

409 delegates who are eligible to vote but not all of these delegates may be in the convention hall when

voting takes place.

ELECTION FOR POSITION OF PRESIDENT

Nominations were made and voting proceeded for the position of President. The following delegates

were nominated:

Darryl Walker, Local 203 (accepted)

Craig MacKay, Local 503 (accepted)

Each candidate was invited to address the delegates. Electronic voting took place.

Brother Shields announced Brother Darryl Walker was elected to the position of President.

POINT OF PRIVILEGE

Brother Craig MacKay congratulated Brother Walker and looked forward to continuing to work with

him.

ELECTION FOR POSITION OF TREASURER

Brother Shields conducted nominations and voting proceeded for the position of Treasurer.

Judi Filion, Local 707 (accepted)

Stephanie Smith, Local 303 (accepted)


Brother Shields announced Sister Stephanie Smith was elected to the position of Treasurer.

POINT OF PRIVILEGE

Sister Smith thanked Sister Filion for a well fought election and for all of the past work she had done on

behalf of the BCGEU.

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ELECTION FOR POSITIONS OF VICE PRESIDENT (4)

Brother Shields conducted nominations and voting proceeded for the positions of Vice President (2

positions – female)

Lorene Oikawa, Local 604 (accepted)

Colleen Jones, Local 509 (accepted)

Brenda Brown, Local 406 (accepted)

Sandi McLean, Local 1201 (declined)


Brother Shields announced Sister Oikawa and Sister Brown were elected to the two Vice President

positions.

Brother Shields conducted nominations and voting proceeded for the positions of Vice President (2

positions – male)

Jack Etkin, Local 301 (accepted)

Mike Nuyens, Local 1007 (accepted)

Mike Clarke, Local 306 (accepted)

Richard Schaeffer, Local 703 (accepted)

Paul Finch, Local 1201 (accepted)


Brother Shields announced Brother Clarke and Brother Finch were elected to the two Vice President

positions.

OATH OF OFFICE

President Emeritus George Heyman congratulated the newly elected Executive and thanked those who

put their name forward and their nominators. Brother Heyman administered the Oath of Office to the

newly-elected officers.

PRESIDENT ELECT ADDRESS

President re-elect Darryl Walker addressed the delegates and thanked them for their participation in the

process and to all the candidates who had put their name forward. Brother Walker extended

congratulations to the new members of the executive. He thanked Sister Colleen Jones and Sister Judi

Filion for all they had done for the BCGEU and knows they will continue to be involved. He thanked

Brother Dan Bradford for all of his work on the executive as he is retiring. Finally, he thanked President

Emeritus John Shields and President Emeritus George Heyman for their assistance with the elections.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Delegates were reminded to drop off expense forms at the registration desk. The electronic voting

devices were to be left on the tables for collection by the Sergeant at Arms. Sister Patty Turner, Local

605 is retiring so this was her last convention. Delegates raised nearly $1,000 for the International

Solidarity Committee.

Convention to reconvene at 1:30 pm.

PROCEEDINGS – 7th

SESSION 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2011

President Walker called the Convention to order at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2011.

VIDEO PRESENTATION

The music video of the song commissioned by the BCGEU “We Make the Union Strong” debuted to the

delegates.

GUEST SPEAKER

Brother Walker introduced Adrian Dix, Leader, British Columbia New Democratic Party.

Adrian Dix spoke on how this has been a year like no other in politics with a national election, municipal

elections and soon a provincial election. He discussed the need to return to reinvesting in public

education and training, the forest industry and BC Hydro. The direction the province needs to take is a

focus on public education, public healthcare and the environment. He concluded by mentioning these are

all investments in the future of British Columbia.




Brother Craig MacKay, Local 503 requested to know when resolution G-248 would be dealt with.

Brother Dan Bradford replied in about seven resolutions.

POINT OF ORDER

Sister Victoria Zalamea, Local 707 made a motion to reduce the speaking time to two minutes so

everyone would have a chance to speak on the resolutions. Seconded/Carried

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POINT OF ORDER

Brother Craig MacKay, Local 503 made a motion to refer resolution D-189 amended back to the

Resolutions Committee or Provincial Executive for review. Seconded/Carried

POINT OF ORDER

Brother Ron Storm, Local 601 made a motion to refer resolution D-248 so the wording could be modified

so it is not binding a bargaining committee in negotiating a contract but still would support the goal of

the resolution. Seconded/Carried

POINT OF ORDER

Brother Byron Goerz, Local 2011 made a motion to refer all the remaining convention resolutions back

to the Provincial Executive. Seconded/Carried

GOOD AND WELFARE

Brother Walker thanked all of the staff who worked on the convention.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sister Filion reminded delegates that June 21st is Aboriginal Day. She announced upon exiting the

convention hall delegates would be given an honorary feather. These feathers were provided by Mona

Moreno, a former BCGEU steward and activist.

ADJOURNMENT

Brother Aaron Eckman and Sister Patti Turner led the delegates in the singing of Solidarity Forever.

President Walker declared the 48th Constitutional Convention of the B.C. Government and Service

Employees’ Union adjourned at 3:30 pm.

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APPENDIX A

REGISTERED DELEGATES, OBSERVERS, GUESTS, VISITORS AND STAFF

Provincial Executive

Table Officers:

President Darryl Walker

Treasurer Judi Filion

Vice President Dan Bradford

Vice President Mike Clarke

Vice President Colleen Jones

Vice President Lorene Oikawa

Component Representatives:

1 Correctional and Sheriff Services Dean Purdy

2 Hospital & Allied Services Susanne Francoeur

3 Community Social Services James Cavalluzzo

Stephanie Smith

4 Health Services Brenda Brown

5 Retail Stores and Warehouse Craig MacKay

6 Social, Information and Health Doug Kinna

7 Education, Scientific, Technical & Administrative Stu Seifert

8 Community Health Carla Dempsey

Louise Hood

10 Operational Services Mike Nuyens

12 Administrative Services Sandi McLean

Lori Joaquin

17 General Services David MacDonald

20 Environmental, Technical & Operational Byron Goerz

Correctional and Sheriff Services

Local 101 CJ Conroy, Tony Guarascio

Local 102 Mike Scott

Local 103 Peter Clegg, Derrick Goodwin, Mike Singh

Local 104 John Silvester, Chris Jack, Jan Wilson

Local 105 Tony Tessari, Kelly Hunter

Local 111 Robin Lajeunesse, Mike Matheson

Observers Mike Fowler, Craig Tott

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Hospital & Allied Services

Local 201 Cindy Ingram, Joel Blanco, Bhajan Tathgar

Local 203 Kim Keys, Audrey Todd, Mahen Ramdharry

Observers Richard Ziamianski, Neil MacPherson, Kulvir Sidhu,

Lynn Meskas

Community Social Services

Local 301 Susanne Bessette, Jessie Jim, Lois Hawkes, Karen Wickham,

David Zunker, Jack Etkin

Local 302 Cherie Dobbie, Dennis Bailey, Christine Mitchell

Local 303 Amber Keane, Anita Couvrette, Andrea Duncan, John Kydd,

Caroline Kent, Jodi Beaton, Paul Bains, Juliana Buitenhuis,

Kathy Bergman, Deborah Doyon, Gillian Rutherford,

Pamela Pye, John Zhang, Myra Reyes, Kim Looi,

Katrina McGee, Maggie Fidler, Indu Chauhan

Local 304 Cam Gerard, Atifa Jaghory, Molly Hynds, Dianne Black,

Kiran Kang, Marie McNally, Larry Jandu, Jeff Powell,

Christine Gacser, Jackie Ward, Everett Douglas

Local 305 Joanne Dyck, Kari Bepple

Local 306 Gale Engstrom

Local 307 Loanne Pickard, Wynn Hartfelder, Tara Healey, Colleen Hoople

Local 308 Erin Pan

Local 309 Patsy Harmston

Local 310 Roy Scafe, Melody Carleton

Local 311 Chris Mikulasik, Rob Keddie, Dawn Dreher

Local 312 Dorothy Bartsoff, Davy Dosanjh

Health Services

Local 401 Mandy DeFields, Debra Vucko, Jordie Allen-Newman,

Ryan Richard

Local 402 Stephen Morgan, Corrine Cherry, Dave Cherry

Local 403 Diane Carter, Navdeep Chahil, Carrie Lusztig, Billy Smith,

Thomas Chang, Jeffry Banks, Angela Williams, Des Burke,

Cindy Heatherington

Local 404 Joni Pauls, Tom McMahon, Brent Scheirer, Tony Jillings,

Shelly Cutting, Helen Bosch, Kirstin Hauge, Carol Yarrow

Local 405 Michele Lamontagne, Clare Audet

Local 406 Cindy Gale

Local 407 Bernadette Bigattini, Pat Burnett, Maria Castro,

Erica Sutherland

Bonnie McEwan

Local 408 Paul Komer

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Local 409 Joanne Jordan

Local 410/411 Sherry Ogasawara

Local 412 Bobbi Pettett, Carmen Letawski

Retail Stores & Warehouse

Local 501 Jackie Eckstein, Lisa Lafrenier

Local 502 Diane Droski, Ken Gourlay

Local 503 Lance Scott, Kristi Boucher, Keith Stone, Chris Younie,

Kusam Doal, Manny Pereira, Mark Guolo

Local 504 Kimberlee MacGregor, Sherry Goldade, Robin Rutherford

Local 505 Valorie Ellis-Peet

Local 507 Betty Reid, Margie Edmondson

Local 508 Tanya Fralick

Local 509 Jean-Paul Vaucrossan

Local 506/10/11 Stefanie Caplette

Local 512 Diane Hamilton

Observers Kelly Smith, Brenda Vallaincourt

Social, Information & Health

Local 601 Ron Storm, Denis O’Brien, Stephen Hill, Ann Batchelar, Shirley

Kay, Kelly McNulty, Susan Bird, Daniel Huang,

Claudine Fletcher, Malcolm Crockett, Sonya Foote

Local 602 Sue Powell, Darryl Marceau, Leanne Salter

Local 603 Dustin Tennant, Chris Dabrowski, Brad Irons, Mark Perry,

Darryl Flasch, Alex Fedyk, Lelaine Muir, Robyn Hill,

Janice Johnson

Local 604 Matt Salli, Elias Hilal, Rainu Sanghera, Ravinder Thandi,

Sheila Veller

Local 605 Patty Turner, Gina Rowe

Local 606 Andy Johnson

Local 607 Roxanne Round, Kiri Adams

Local 608 *no delegate

Local 609 Sandy Terlecki

Local 610 Judy Fox-McGuire

Local 611 Sonja Haigh, Leslie Currie

Local 612 Mona Dykes

Education, Scientific, Technical & Administrative

Local 701 Steve Kitcher, Janice Cochran

Local 702 Jeannie Maltesen, Glenda Hunter

Local 703 Larry Dea, Joe Cosh, Mark Ferley, Tom Jones, Melanie Keller,

Cory Langford, Cindy Miraftab, Nancy Naylor, Lori Pederson,

Rick Schaeffer, Sam Susanthan, Annette Taylor,

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Ronda Urquhart

Local 704 Monica Wyllie, Jeff Brown, Lynda Devalera

Local 705 LaVerne Bernier

Local 707 Greg Fjetland, Dianne Crommer, Cam McRobb, Valerie

Tuhkala, Karen Whitehouse, Victoria Zalamea, Cindy Battersby

Local 709 Ian McAlpine

Local 710 Jane Spenst, Angie Panoulias, Kathy Fossum

Local 712 John Ross, Lynn Nordstrom

Observers Marsha Dufresne, Diane Mikalishen

Community Health

Local 801 Lynda Willson, Meghan Marchand, David Fox, Scott DeLong,

Anderson, John Sherber, Rhonda Barnes, Gary Foster

Local 802 Shelly Lightfoot, Michelle Whyte

Local 803 Sandy Didiuk, Roxanne Martel, Pat Davidson, Chris Head,

Sunny Au, Maureen Topping, Shannon Starrs, Masoud

Aminzavvar, Seyran Enveri, Tina Pederson, Gabriel Nolte,

Ho Ying Kui, Sheila Messier, Delia Anderson,

Gordon Koshowski, Teresa Collins, Carmelita Vardeh,

Guerlines Simeon

Local 804 MJ Colquhoun, Mary Anne Morgan, Mona Morgan,

Tamara Weber, Bryce Walker, Karen Reeves-Mitchell,

Phyllis Minks, Zina Khan, Deb Beveridge, Keith Rowlands

Local 805 Shawna Tolhurst, Michael Connolly

Local 806 Bev Anderson

Local 807 Donna Stubbe, Colleen Sworak

Local 808 Doris Erickson

Local 809 Laurie Proudfoot

Local 810 Kathy Thorbergson

Local 811 Karen Unger

Local 812 Susanne Bellefontaine, Anita Cote

Operational Services

Local 1001 Scott Bumphrey

Local 1002 Dan Cross

Local 1003 Dave Cumming, Tyler Dhensaw

Local 1004 Rory Smith, Orlando Bokor

Local 1005 Fred Street, Karen Davenport

Local 1006 Kelly McDonald, Brett Wagner

Local 1007 Keith Jansons, Bill Dieno

Local 1008 Kevin Staneland

Local 1009 Mike Prystae

Local 1010 Sandra Fellers

Local 1011 *no delegate

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Local 1012 Earl Haward

Observers Jim Manson, John Cantlon

Administrative Services

Local 1201 Rhonda Campbell, Susan Chaytor, Pam Desjardine, Paul Finch,

Ron Jetko, Russell Katzer, Jessica Kennedy,

Christine McCarthy, Sheila Knight, Suzy Labelle,

Valorie Laronde, Dallas Mangnell, Zorya Plaskin,

Tony Sprackett, Lois Stewart, Natasha Townsend, Paul Staples,

Liana Worsfold, Liam Smith, Saloumeh Pourmalek,

Kelly South, Linda Greenman, Peter March, Allan Atkinson,

Nadine Hambley, Peter Murray

Local 1202 Barb Peters, Leslie Schulze, Jeff Morgan

Local 1203 Pobhinder Mann, Satinder Dhani, Matt Damario, Joanna Drake,

Colette Fauchon, Leona Birchard, Diane Winkler,

Phil Campeau, Rosanna Dahl, Dawna Cousens, Sandra Havard,

Anna Morris

Local 1204 Linda Sonmor, Pamela Willingshofer, Fay Acton, Susan Frith

Local 1205 Joanne Harder, Bernadine Covey, Eileen Corea

Local 1206 Faith Johnston

Local 1207 Helen Repole

Local 1208 Bob Kary

Local 1209 Pam St. Thomas

Local 1210 Marlene Pickering

Local 1211 Elizabeth Sharp, Lisa Brunn

Local 1212 Connie Randrup-Wheatley

General Services

Local 1701 Sue Stroud

Local 1702 Carol Schmitz

Local 1703 Judy Steele, Jackson Wright, James Swank, Candace Imada,

Lea Oliver-Cross, Edward Oleksiuk, Cindy Brown,

Jamie Michael, Michael Calla, Steve Bouchard, Rhonda Forster

Local 1704 Philip West

Local 1705 Mike Schmidt, Bill Shannon

Local 1706 Arnold Jenner

Local 1707 Gayle Furgala, Michelle Morrison, David Mungall

Local 1710 Mark Gaehring, Laurie Johnstone

Local 1712 Rob Siverston

Observers Bev Beaurone

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Environmental, Technical & Operational

Local 2001 George Butcher, Kelly Grohs, Gary Norris

Local 2002 Richard Gerstmar, Thierry Rouget, Crispin Greenwell

Local 2003 Rick Barnett, Chris Fenemore

Local 2004 Rob Davis, David Gill

Local 2005 George Buis, Rick Wagner, Bob Trudeau

Local 2006 James Moe, Ryan Robertson

Local 2007 Richard Frick

Local 2008 Don Ballard

Local 2009 Keith Roenspiess, Paul Moreau

Local 2010 Hank Glover, Mike D’Aloia

Local 2011 Brad Kope, Larry Taylor

Local 2012 Ken MacKenzie, Lorne MacNab

Equity Delegates

Area 01 Seneca Ambers (301)

Area 02 Rosalind Humphreys (602)

Area 03 Sharon Bard (803)

Area 04 Ron Anganu (1204)

Area 05 Kristi Lee Ardell (605)

Area 06 Cheryl Gilbert (2006)

Area 07 Gilly Alook (607)

Area 08 Sharon Ferguson (1208)

Area 09 Della McLeod (709)

Area 10 *no delegate

Area 11 Susanne Skidmore (1211)

Area 12 Christine Jang (712)

Affiliates

BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union

Richard Goode Brett Joyce

Robert Downey Nelson Vega

Brewery, Winery & Distillery Workers Union, Local 300

*unable to attend

Grain Workers Union, Local 333

Gerry Gault Howard Huntley

Compensation Employees’ Union

Sandra Wright Adele Peters

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APPENDIX B

CONVENTION COMMITTEES

Resolutions Committee Sergeant-At-Arms Committee

Colleen Jones, Co-Chair Carla Dempsey, Co-Chair

Dan Bradford, Co-Chair Dean Purdy, Co-Chair

Tony Tessari Robin LaJeunesse

Susanne Francoeur Kim Keys

Patsy Harmston Melody Carleton

Brenda Brown Billy Smith

Robin Rutherford Valorie Ellis-Peet

Judy Fox-McGuire Alex Fedyk

Richard Schaeffer Greg Fjetland

Scott DeLong Laurie Proudfoot

Rory Smith Fred Street

Ron Jetko Marlene Pickering

Gayle Furgala Arnold Jenner

Rob Davis Don Ballard

Mary Rowles, Secretary Catherine Sullivan, Secretary

Lynn Bueckert, Secretary Lloyd Glibbery, Secretary

Constitution & Structure Convention Finance Committee

Mike Clarke, Co-Chair Judi Filion, Chair

Lorene Oikawa, Co-Chair Byron Goerz, Vice-Chair

Mike Scott Derrick Goodwin

Audrey Todd Bhajan Tathgar

Chris Mikulasik Stephanie Smith

Bobbi Pettett Cindy Gale

Jean-Paul Vaucrosson Diane Droski

Roxanne Round Doug Kinna

Jean Maltesen John Ross

Susanne Bellefontaine Louise Hood

Mike Prystae Kelly McDonald

Sussanne Skidmore-Hewlitt Barb Peters

Dave MacDonald Judy Steele

George Butcher Jaynie Clark, Secretary

David Vipond, Secretary Peter Mehling, Secretary

Nicola Firstner, Secretary

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Credentials Committee

Sandi McLean, Co-Chair

Stu Seifert, Co-Chair

Peter Clegg LaVerne Bernier

Mahen Ramdharry Kathy Thorbergson

Davy Dosanjh Sandy Fellers

Paul Komer Faith Johston

Sonja Haigh Janet Seccia, Secretary

Wiho Papenbrock, Secretary

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DISPOSITION OF RESOLUTIONS

THAT WERE PRESENTED TO

THE 2011 48TH

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

A-1 amended PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the contribution to our BCGEU Diane L. Wood International Solidarity and Humanity

Fund to $0.15 for each member every month from dues revenue; and

� Continue to support international development and solidarity projects through our BCGEU Diane

L. Wood International Solidarity and Humanity Fund; and

� Continue to encourage bargaining committees to table proposals for an employer paid

contribution to our BCGEU Diane L. Wood Solidarity and Humanity Fund;

M/S/C Concurrence

Composite Finance Resolution 3 to cover A-2, A-19, A-18, D-192

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE, LOCALS 601, 609, 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review financial policies to make changes to ensure they are allowing for health and safety of

travelling activists;

� Review to include but not limited to:

� Issuing loa’s for travel

� Allowing additional resources for driving

� Considering activist preference on travel

� Considering the environmental impacts

Review to be completed prior to December 31, 2011. M/S/C Concurrence

A-2 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review financial policies to make changes to ensure they are allowing for the health and safety

of travelling activists;

Covered by Composite Finance Resolution 3 to cover A-2, A-19, A-18, D-192

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A-3 amended LOCAL 102

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend the BCGEU Financial Manual at Article 8.7(d) to read:

“Gifts or flowers may be given to members who are absent from work on a medical

related leave for a period longer than seven (7) days up to a maximum allowable amount

per gift, per time.”

M/S/C Concurrence


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Research a policy that gives incentive to members or staff to choose “greener” alternative

transportation over using a single occupant motor vehicle. Alternative transportation includes

ridesharing, car pooling, bicycling and public transportation.

M/S/C Concurrence

A-5 LOCAL 104

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the honorarium for Component Executive from $500 per year to $600 per year;

M/S/C Non-Concurrence

A-6 LOCAL 111

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the rates (maximum) of meal allowances:

"In Province” current rates:

Breakfast $13.00 increase to $14.00

Lunch $15.00 increase to $17.00

Dinner $26.50 increase to $30.00

Totals $54.50 increase to $61.00

and annual thereafter.


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A-7 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the meal allowance rates by $1.00 effective June 1, 2011, to:

Breakfast $14.00

Lunch $16.00

Dinner $29.50

TOTAL $59.50

and annually thereafter.


A-8 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the mileage expense to 55 cents per kilometre; and

� Add a line for fuel surcharge expense, to be reviewed quarterly by the PE Finance Committee

and a rate set to help offset the fuel cost of the day; and

� Increase the meal allowance and set the incremental rates for the next three years; and

� Increase the private dwelling rate to $60.00 per day;


A-9 to cover A-10 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adjust the mileage rate annually to the maximum non-taxable rate published by the Canada

Revenue Agency published in December of each year for the following year;


A-10 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adjust the mileage rate annually to the maximum non-taxable rate published by the Canada

Revenue Agency in December of each year for the following year; Covered by A-9

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A-11 LOCAL 104

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Afford Local Executives one additional Union paid leave day to ensure their attendance at

Executive and general membership meetings;


A-12 LOCAL 512

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Allow Local Executive and Stewards to have paid leaves and expenses up to 4 times per year to

attend meetings.


Composite Finance Resolution 2 to cover A-13, A-14 and A-15 LOCALS 201, 601, 1206, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Encourage Components to provide support and resources to local labour council delegates; and

� Where delegates to labour councils have been elected as labour council president or treasurer or

as a representative to the BC Federation of Labour executive representing the labour council,

reasonable expenses and leaves enabling them to fulfill their functions will be paid and provided

by Headquarters, should the labour council be unable to fund.

M/S/C Concurrence

A-13 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Recognize the important role of BCGEU members who are elected labour council delegates and

executive members by providing HQ-paid leave of absence and travel expenses for members who

are conducting the business of the labour council;

Covered by Composite Finance Resolution 2 to cover A-13, A-14 and A-15

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A-14 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide support and resources to our Labour Council delegates in the form of paid leave, travel

expenses, per diems and accommodation to do the business of labour councils; and

� Will provide the support and resources as an HQ expense;


A-15 LOCALS 1206, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that components provide support and resources to our delegates to local labour councils

in the form of paid leave, travel expenses, per diems and accommodations to do the business of

labour council delegates as required by current policy; and

� Where delegates to local labour councils have been elected either as table officers of the local

labour council, or representatives to the BC Federation of Labour executive representing labour

councils, the expenses and leave enabling them to do so will be paid and provided by

Headquarters;



THE BCGEU WILL:

� Recognize the important role that Cross Component Committee Chairpersons and Treasurers

play in our union by providing two days' HQ-paid union leave annually to these positions;

M/S/C Concurrence

A-17 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide union leave for a member who is conducting union business while on a day of rest.

M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

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A-18 LOCAL 609

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Consider issuing LOAs for member travel instead of insisting members travel on their own time;


A-19 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Pay for any extra LOA’s, accommodations, and meal allowances when people choose to drive to

Union events/functions instead of flying;


A-20 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Maintain the union dues at the current rate as per Article 10.6 – Union Dues in the BCGEU

Constitution; M/S/C Concurrence

A-21 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the maximum expenditure for Good and Welfare to $75.00 from $60.00;


A-22 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 307

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Article 8.7 of the Financial Policy Manual to read:

“8.7 Committees (Good & Welfare)

(f) A Local or Component may provide extraordinary assistance for a member

experiencing unusual or extreme hardship due to illness, accident or other serious

incidents. The amount will not exceed three times current rate in Schedule A for

Article 8.7 (d). M/S/C Non-Concurrence

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A-23 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 311

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Direct savings from the elimination of the BC Federation of Labour policy convention to

supporting activists to attend the BC Federation of Labour’s alternate regional conferences and

forums. M/S/C Concurrence

A-24 amended COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Section 8.5 (Emergency Financial Assistance) of the Financial Policy Manual to read:

“8.5 Emergency Financial Assistance

In the event of the death of a BCGEU member or an associate member or a member’s

spouse/partner as recognized by other benefit plans or the loss of a member's or an associate

member’s home by fire, flood, or other natural disaster, payment(s) may be made to the member

or their survivor.

M/S/C Concurrence

A-25 to cover A-26 LOCAL 403

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Compensate members who ride a bike to union meetings at the same rate as vehicle mileage as

per Financial Manual; M/S/C Non-Concurrence

A-26 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Compensate members who ride a bike to union meetings at the same rate as vehicle mileage as

per Financial Manual;

Covered by A-25

A-27 LOCAL 408

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Authorize one additional staff representative at each area office to have signing authority for

issued cross component cheques;


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A-28 LOCALS 1201, 1202, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Change the Constitution [Article 5.4 (b)(ii)] to allow any two of the signatories to sign the

cheques;

M/S/C Concurrence

Composite Resolution 7 to cover A-29, D-173, D-174, D-175

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Annually review and report to the Provincial Executive on workplace leadership initiatives in all

areas, and will annually report on Member to Member campaigns by components or locals; and

� Work to increase participation in all areas in workplace leadership programs that can strengthen

locals and ensure Local activities are meaningful to members; and

� Work to encourage more locals in all areas to use M2M annually to recruit stewards, local

officers and OHS committee members; and

� Increase resources at all levels to promote workplace leadership; and

� Increase internal communications about workplace leadership;


A-29 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase resources to all levels to promote workplace leadership. Resources to include but not be

limited to:

- increased funding for training of local activists;

- increased funding for staff coverage and staffing levels in all areas;

- increased funding for LOAs and other expenses for member contact and for local

activists to work on local issues/campaigns;

- increased production and distribution of materials, manuals and instructional aids for

local activists.

Covered by Composite Resolution 7 to cover A-29, D-173, D-174, D-175

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A-30 LOCAL 704

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide reimbursement to members, including other sources of lost income;


A-31 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Remove the maximum restrictions in Part 6 – Strike Assistance of the BCGEU Strike Manual;


A-32 LOCAL 1002

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the amount of monies allocated to each component for the purpose of education; and

� Increase the amount of monies allocated to each area office for the purpose of education; and

� Publicize heavily the educational advancement throughout the BCGEU;


A-33 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review purchasing an acceptable building for the membership, or review purchasing land and

build an office for the membership in the Kelowna area;



THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that all future BCGEU appointees to any outside boards, agencies or committees, will

remit any stipend, honoraria or attendance per diems to the Union and not retain it themselves;


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A-35 LOCAL 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop and provide a full outline of allowable expenses that Cross Component Committees are

able to incur;

M/S/C Concurrence

A-36 LOCAL 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Reduce the dues of stewards and local officers by 25%;


Composite #8 to cover A-37, D-177, D-179, D-180, D-181, D-182, D-183

LOCALS 302, 502, 602, 1201, 1202, 1206 and 2012

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review allocation of Admin Representatives and Staff Representatives and bargaining workload

in area offices; and

� Consider a formula for allocation of staff representatives that includes but is not limited to

1. The number of members served

2. The number of collective agreements and components serviced

3. The area served considering travel times; and

� Not reduce the current staffing levels in any area office because of this review; and

� Ensure that our area offices are properly and consistently staffed with backfill to meet the

workload and the need for adequate representation; and

� Review the need for staff or sub-offices in isolated areas;

M/S/C Concurrence

A-37 LOCALS 1201, 1202, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to provide temporary backfill budgets for all area offices and these budgets will be

fully utilized each year;

Covered by Composite #8 to cover A-37, D-177, D-179, D-180, D-181, D-182, D-183

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A-38 LOCAL 2001

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Acquire a "travel" medical/accident policy to cover BCGEU activists providing unpaid

voluntary service to the BCGEU and such policy to not require prior use of extended

health/dental benefits;


Composite Finance Resolution 1 to cover A-39, A-40 LOCAL 601, LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase from 6% to 6.20% that portion of dues revenue that is allocated to components; and

� Make this increase effective January 1, 2012;

M/S/C Concurrence

A-39 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase from 6% to 6.15% that portion of dues revenue that is allocated to components; and

� Make this increase effective January 1, 2011;

Covered by Composite Finance Resolution 1 to cover A-39, A-40

A-40 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase to 6.25 percent from 6 percent the portion of dues revenue that is allocated to

components, effective June 1, 2011.

Covered by Composite Finance Resolution 1 to cover A-39, A-40

1-1 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Formally adopt the current clear language version of the Constitution and Bylaws.

M/S/C Concurrence

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B-41 to cover B-47 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE, LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend the Constitution as follows:

10.18 Use of defence fund

The defence fund is spent in the following ways:

(a) strike pay

(i) The union pays strike pay if the provincial executive decides there is a legitimate

labour dispute.

(ii) The union must strictly follow policy regarding withdrawal of services.

(iii) Strike pay starts the first day of a labour dispute but only after the provincial

executive has decided it is a legitimate dispute. To receive strike pay, members must first

register for and do picket or other related duties as determined by the provincial

executive.

(iv) Basic strike pay is $225 $250 a week. Strike pay for workers scheduled to work

part-time is according to a formula set by provincial executive policy.

(v) Members are paid another $50 $60 a week for each of their dependents.

(vi) The provincial executive may pay more money to members where appropriate.

(vii) The union has a good and welfare fund for each authorized dispute funded by

the component(s) involved in the dispute. Funding can come from the defence fund but

only when component funds are all spent. The union must follow policy when helping

members with money from this fund.

(b) The finance committee can authorize payment of legal costs of a dispute from the

defence fund.

(c) legal fees - All requests for assistance with legal fees or court costs go to the provincial

executive through the president. The provincial executive’s decisions in these matters

are final and binding.

M/S/C Concurrence

B-42 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

• Amend the Constitution as follows:

All references to "component chairpersons" will hereinafter be referred to as "vice-presidents", reflecting

the prevailing standard when referring to executive union officers elected to represent occupational

groups and avoiding the confusion which commonly occurs when introducing those officers to external

groups or parties who are completely unfamiliar with the term "component chairperson".

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5.8 Negotiations

(a) Negotiating committees in the public service are established on the following basis:

(i) The public service master bargaining committee represents and negotiates on behalf of

members in the provincial public service. This committee consists of:

• president (chairperson);

• component chairpersons vice-presidents (or designates) of each public service

component. Public service components with more than 7,500 members who have a

second representative on the provincial executive can have a second representative (or

designate) on the committee with full voice and vote;

• member(s) of the executive committee as assigned by the president and with the

agreement of the bargaining committee; and

• union staff as assigned.

(ii) Sub-committees may be established consisting of the president (or designate) with

additional members elected by the committee. They report back to the committee.

(iii) (iii) Component bargaining committees represent and negotiate on behalf of

members of their component. The president is a member of each component bargaining

committee.

7.4 Procedure

(f) If the local chairperson is the respondent, the complainant directs the written statement to the

complainant’s component chairperson vice-president who names someone else to carry out the functions

of the local chairperson under this section. If the local chairperson is the component chairperson vice-

president, the complaint may be directed to the president who has the authority to appoint another

elected officer to carry out the functions of this section.

7.5 Mediation

(a) The executive committee, president, complainant’s and respondent’s component chairperson

vice-presidents, or local chairperson can recommend a mediated resolution of the issues at any stage of

the process if both the complainant and respondent agree.

7.6

The president, upon receiving the written report, will provide a copy of the report to the complainant,

respondent, complainant and respondent’s component chairpersons vice-presidents [or president’s

designate under 7.4(f)] and the executive committee within 10 days, along with:

• a copy of the constitution and bylaws, including relevant component and local bylaws;

and

• a letter referring to the discipline article of the constitution procedures and possible

penalties.

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9.9 Committees

(a) The president may appoint staff and members to committees. The president will consult with and

consider recommendations from component chairpersons vice-presidents when appointing members.

The following committees shall be established:

(b) The provincial executive appoints the following committees of one delegate from each

component (after consultation with the component chairperson vice-president and/or provincial

executive members) no later than 15 days before a triennial constitutional convention:

M/S/recommendation of concurrence not carried


THE BCGEU WILL:


All references to "provincial" vice-presidents will hereinafter be referred to as "executive" vice-

presidents, reflecting their duties on the executive committee [Clause 9.9(a)(i)] and distinguishing their

positions from those officers referred to as vice-president of the respective component executive.

ARTICLE 9 - PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

9.1 Composition

The provincial executive consists of the president, treasurer, two provincial executive vice-president

positions for women, two provincial executive vice-president positions for men, and the vice-president of

each component and additional member pursuant to Article Clause 9.3.

9.2 President, treasurer, provincial executive vice-presidents

(a) Delegates at the triennial constitutional convention elect the president, treasurer and four

provincial executive vice-presidents by majority vote of delegates present and voting, using a secret

ballot.

(b) A new president-elect and/or treasurer-elect takes office after a two-week transition period

immediately following convention. During this period, the incumbent president and/or treasurer

continues to hold office and assists with a smooth transition of the duties and responsibilities of office to

the new president-elect and/or treasurer-elect.

9.4 Vacancy in office

The provincial executive elects by majority vote the president, treasurer or provincial executive vice-

president if there is a vacancy between triennial constitutional conventions.

9.7 Duties of the provincial executive vice-presidents

The provincial executive vice-presidents:

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• are on the executive committee and help develop recommendations on general policy

and administration;

• chair committees as assigned by the president and provide a link between those

committees and the executive committee;

• assist the president and carry out duties as directed by the president, including

representing the BCGEU to members and others and providing support to bargaining;

and

• report to the president, provincial executive and convention.

9.9 Committees

(a) The president may appoint staff and members to committees. The president will consult with and

consider recommendations from component chairpersons vice-presidents of components when

appointing members. The following committees shall be established:

(i) executive committee:

• is the president, treasurer and four provincial executive vice-presidents;

• makes recommendations to the provincial executive on general policy;

• reports to the triennial constitutional convention on behalf of the provincial

executive; and

• meets at least every two months with the administrative committee.

(iii) provincial grievance appeal committee

A provincial grievance appeal committee of at least three members, chaired by an executive vice-

president, hears appeals from members whose:

(1) grievance was turned down by an area grievance committee and leave to appeal

was granted pursuant to article Clause 11(g)

(2) grievances, appeals, or claims referred to arbitration at full hearing or other

dispute resolution procedure in the collective agreement were turned down.

M/S/recommendation of concurrence not carried

B-44 amended PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:


9.7 Duties of the provincial executive vice-presidents

The provincial executive vice-presidents:

• are on the executive committee and help develop recommendations on general policy and

administration;

• chair committees as assigned by the president and provide a link between those committees and

the executive committee;

M I N U T E S


cope 378

• assist the president and carry out duties as directed by the president, including representing the

BCGEU to members and others and providing support to bargaining; and

• report to the president, provincial executive and convention;

• may will be appointed to various committees and/or executive boards of our national union or

labour centrals;

• liaise with members in consultation with the president and vice-presidents of components;

• communicate internally and externally as necessary;

• act as trustees with fiduciary responsibility to the union;

• participate in policy development and make recommendations to the provincial executive; and

will lobby external parties on appropriate issues.

M/S/C Concurrence


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend the Constitution as follows, effective for the 2014 Triennial Constitutional

convention to read:

8.2 Delegates to triennial constitutional convention

Delegates to the triennial constitutional convention are determined on the following basis:

(a) The members of the provincial executive are delegates.

(b) The chairperson of each local within a component is the delegate for the first 100

members or part thereof of the local. The local may elect one additional delegate for each

additional 200 members or major part thereof in the local.

(c) Nominations shall exceed the number of delegates to be elected by at least two. The

unsuccessful candidates become alternate delegates and are ranked in order of the number of

votes each received.

(d) Despite any of the above, the delegate entitlement of affiliates is in accordance with

Article Clause 5.7.

(e) The provincial executive determines what travel, salary and living expenses of delegates

will be paid by the union.

(f) The 2011 constitutional convention will allow one delegate, in each of the 12 areas of

the Province, to be elected from the membership of the equity networks. The equity networks

include visible minorities, workers with disabilities, Aboriginal workers and gay, lesbian,

bisexual or transgendered workers.

(i) Each component shall elect two equity delegates, except if a component has a

bargaining council. If a component has a bargaining council, then one delegate will

be from an equity group and one delegate will be from a bargaining council.

M I N U T E S


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(ii) Components with 7,500 members or more shall elect an additional two

delegates.

M/S/C Concurrence

B-46 amended PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend the Constitution as follows, effective for the 2014 Triennial Constitutional

convention to read:

9.9 Committees

(a) The president may appoint staff and members to committees. The president will consult

with and consider recommendations from component chairpersons when appointing members.

The following committees shall be established:

(i) executive committee:

• is the president, treasurer and four provincial executive vice-presidents;

• makes recommendations to the provincial executive on general policy;

• reports to the triennial constitutional convention on behalf of the

provincial executive; and

• meets at least every two months with the administrative committee.

(ii) administrative committee:

• is the president (chairperson), treasurer and senior staff;

• is responsible for the ongoing operation of the union in keeping with

policy;

• meets with the executive committee at least every two months;

• makes recommendations to the executive committee on operations;

• makes recommendations to the president and executive committee on

staff; and

• reports to the triennial constitutional convention on administration.

(iii) provincial grievance appeal committee

A provincial grievance appeal committee of at least three members, chaired by a an

executive vice-president, hears appeals from members whose:

grievance was turned down by an area grievance committee and leave to appeal

was granted pursuant to article 11(g)

grievances, appeals, or claims referred to arbitration at full hearing or other

dispute resolution procedure in the collective agreement were turned down.

M I N U T E S


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BCGEU headquarters must receive appeals within 15 days of the written decision

turning down the grievance, appeal or claim. If a member is appealing a decision of an

area grievance appeal committee, the member must say why they believe the decision is

incorrect. The decision of the provincial grievance appeal committee is final and

binding.

(iv) finance committee

The finance committee, chaired by the treasurer, is made up of at least three members

and authorizes the normal day-to-day expenses of the union. Assigned staff is also a

member of the committee.

The finance committee is responsible for the union’s finances and includes the power to:

• conduct an audit of the books of any component, local or cross-component

committee;

• order any component, local or cross-component committee to have an audit

done and a financial statement forwarded to the finance committee;

• decide if any officer, staff or other person who handles the union’s money or

property needs to be bonded;

• withhold money to any component, local or cross-component committee not

following financial policies;

• freeze (with executive committee approval) the funds of any component, local or

cross-component committee that violates financial policies;

• order any component, local or cross-component committee to pay any account

run up by, or on behalf of, that component, local or cross-component committee;

• submit financial policies to the provincial executive for approval; and

• teach all elected treasurers about the union’s financial policies and makes sure

they are following them.

(v) collective agreement review committee

The collective agreement review committee is the president (or designate) as

chairperson, the executive committee and the chairperson whose contract is being

reviewed. The committee ensures proposed agreements are reviewed before bargaining,

ensures that proposals do not contradict union policies, and may make recommendations

for improved proposals.

The committee is responsible to the provincial executive.

(vi) women's committee

The women's committee consists of women appointed according to Article Clause 9.9(a).

The committee advises the provincial executive on issues related to women in the

workplace, union and society.

M I N U T E S


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(vii) equity and human rights committee

The equity and human rights committee will consist of two members from each

designated equity groups (aboriginal; workers of colour; gay, lesbian, bisexual or

transgender; and workers with disabilities), who shall be elected at an Equity &

Human Rights Conference.

M/S/C Concurrence

B-47 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Articles 10.18(a)(iv) and (v) of the Constitution & Bylaws to read:

“10.18 – Use of Defense Fund

(iv) Basic strike pay for all eligible members shall be $300 per week. Strike pay

for workers scheduled to work part-time will be according to a formula specified

by the PE Policy.

(v) An additional amount of $60 per week, per dependant shall be paid to

eligible members, on behalf of their dependants.”

Covered by B-41

B-48 COMPONENT 12

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Constitution Article 9.2(a) reflecting the election of the President and Treasurer by the

membership of the BCGEU prior to each Triennial Constitutional Convention;


B-49 LOCAL 2001

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Replace the existing four vice-president structure with two vice-presidents as executive vice-

presidents; and

� Redefine the current component chair positions as vice-president positions;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

B-50 LOCAL 111

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that the four Vice-Presidents are regional, consisting of two women and two men,

ensuring that each of the four regions are represented;


B-51 amended to cover B-52, B-53, B-54, B-55

LOCAL 1206, COMPONENT 10, LOCALS 408, 412, 703, 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue the current policy of executive Vice-Presidents on leave of absence with top-up and not

move to full-time salaried executive Vice-Presidents;

M/S/C Concurrence

B-52 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Rename Provincial Vice Presidents to Executive Vice Presidents; and

� Elect two male and two female Executive Vice Presidents; and

� Have the Executive Vice Presidents as a Full Time Officer of the Union; and

� Elect Executive Vice Presidents at Constitutional Conventions; and

� Through the Provincial Executive develop written job descriptions for the Executive Vice

Presidents to be inserted in the Constitution; and

� Set the Executive Vice Presidents compensation of pay at a % of the Presidents annual salary or

the Executive Vice Presidents current rate of their pay whichever is greater; and

� Include Executive Vice Presidents in the Full Time Officer Terms and Conditions of

Employment; and

� Through the Provincial Executive decide the terms and conditions of employment of the

Executive Vice Presidents as required, but no later than April of each year of the triennial

constitutional convention. A copy of the terms and conditions of employment, including the

salary, is sent to triennial constitutional convention delegates (see Article 8.4(e));

Covered by B-51 amended to cover B-52, B-53, B-54, B-55

M I N U T E S


cope 378

B-53 LOCALS 408, 412

THE BCGEU WILL:


� Elect Two Male and Two Female Executive Vice Presidents; and



� Through the provincial executive develop written job descriptions for the executive vice

presidents to be inserted in the constitution; and


Employment; and

� Through the provincial executive decide the terms and conditions of employment of the

executive vice presidents as required, but no later than April of each year of the triennial

constitutional convention. A Copy of the terms and conditions of employment, including the



B-54 LOCAL 703

THE BCGEU WILL:


� Elect two male and female Executive Vice Presidents; and

� Have the Executive Vice Presidents as a full time officer of the Union; and


� Through the Provincial Executive, develop written job descriptions for the Executive Vice

Presidents to be inserted in the Constitution; and

� Set the Executive Vice Presidents compensation of pay at 75% of the Presidents annual salary or

the Executive Vice Presidents current rate of their pay, whichever is greater; and

� Include Executive Vice Presidents in the full time officer terms and conditions of employment;

and

M I N U T E S


cope 378

� Through the Provincial Executive, decide the terms and conditions of employment of the

Executive Vice Presidents as required, but no later than April of each year of the triennial

Constitutional Convention. A copy of the terms and conditions of employment, including the

salary, is sent to triennial Constitutional Convention delegates (see Article 8.4(e));


B-55 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:


� Elect Two Male and Two Female Executive Vice Presidents; and



� Through the provincial executive develop written job descriptions for the executive vice

presidents to be inserted in the constitution; and


Employment; and

� Through the Provincial Executive decide the terms and conditions of employment of the

executive vice presidents as required, but no later than April of each year of the triennial

constitutional convention. A copy of the terms and conditions of employment, including the



B-56 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Article 8.2 (c) of the Constitution as follows:

(c) Nominations shall may exceed the number of delegates to be elected by at least two.

The unsuccessful candidates become alternate delegates and are ranked in order of the

number of votes each received.

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

B-57 LOCAL 311

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend article 5.4 of the bylaws in the Constitution as follows:

5.4 Cross Component Committee

(b) (i) Cross Component Committees shall consists of the local chairperson and or

their designate. Locals may appoint another member activist with voice but no vote ;

their expenses are subject to component approval.


B-58 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Article 5.4 of the Constitution to rename cross component committees as “BCGEU

Community Committees”; and

� Delete the current language of Article 5.4 (b) (iii) of the constitution and amend it to read:

(iii) Cross‐component committees address general membership education, community

action, morale of membership, community membership meetings, and union

campaigns.

(iii) The mandate of BCGEU Community Committees includes:

• membership education and engagement;

• activist appreciation and support;

• community, social and political action;

• promoting public services and the work of our members and other

union campaigns.”


B-59 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 304

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Include the Provincial Executive Occupational Health and Safety Committee in the

Constitution under Section 9.9(a)(vii); and

� Make the Committee responsible to the Provincial Executive; and

M I N U T E S


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� Allow the Provincial Executive Occupational Health and Safety Committee to meet four

times per year.

M/S/recommendation of Non-Concurrence not carried

B-60 amended LOCAL 1201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Article 8.5 of the BCGEU Constitution and Bylaws with the view of strengthening the

intent of the existing language, to read:

"8.5 Voting on Resolutions

(a) A resolution presented to convention passes with a straight majority vote of the

delegates present and voting;

(b) A resolution once submitted to convention by a Component or Executive can

only be amended with the agreement of the submitting body; and


B-61 amended LOCAL 1201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Amend Article 8.7 of the BCGEU Constitution and Bylaws to read:

"8.7 Special Constitutional Convention

(a) the president may, and must if at least 30 percent of the membership, or 50

percent of local executives within the union ask for it, hold a special convention at any

time by providing 30 days prior notice of the date, time, place and purpose of such

convention to the provincial executive, components and locals;

(b) If requested by the membership or locals pursuant to Article 8.7(a), the

president must schedule the constitutional convention for within 60 days of receiving

the request;

(c)(b) Delegates to a special convention are elected by locals pursuant to Article 8.2.

Credentials for a special convention must be forwarded to the president at least seven

days before the convention.

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

B-62 LOCAL 407

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Include the 1st Vice in the grievance appeal committee members;


B-63 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Change Article 11(f) of our Constitution and Bylaws from:

(f) An area grievance appeal committee consisting of three local chairpersons (or

designates) in the area will hear the appeal. A local chair may sit on the area

grievance appeal committee where their component grievance is being appealed.

So that it reads:

(f) An area grievance appeal committee consisting of three local chairpersons (or

designates) on a rotational basis in the area will hear the appeal. No member of the

area grievance appeal committee including the Secretary to the Committee will

have any prior knowledge of the grievance being appealed. A local chair may sit on

the area grievance appeal committee where their component grievance is being

appealed.

M/S/C Concurrence

B-64 to cover B-65, B-66, B-67

LOCAL 201, COMPONENT 10, LOCAL 405, LOCAL 805

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the annual amount budgeted for BCGEU scholarships to $45,000 from $36,000; and

� Increase the individual scholarship amount to $3,000 from $2,000 for full-time students, and to

$2,000 from $1,000 for part-time students; M/S/C Concurrence

B-65 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the total allotment of scholarships from $36,000 to $45,000;

Covered by B-64 to cover B-65, B-66, B-67.

M I N U T E S


cope 378

B-66 LOCAL 405

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Allot an annual increase to the annual scholarships for post secondary and/or post graduate

studies;


B-67 LOCAL 805

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Allot an annual increase to the annual scholarships for post secondary and/or post graduate

studies;


B-68 LOCAL 702

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Change the Constitution to allow the creation of bargaining councils, so that these can be

responsible for education, networking and finding joint solutions in same or similar sectors;


Emergency Resolution 1

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby ministers Harry Bloy and Mary McNeil to avert potential job action by the

Community Social Services Union Bargaining Association (CSSBA) ----of which BCGEU is

a member----- against the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA), by

ending their opposition to job protection, continuity of service and fair work practices; and

� Meet with the leaders of the other affected unions through the BC Federation of Labor to

coordinate a strategy to help resolve this round of bargaining , bring about job security and

end service cuts in the sector; and

� Support the BCGEU community social services members by providing more resources to

recruit and train activists to conduct job actions;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-69 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

1. Continue our commitment to be a strong voice for human rights, equity and diversity within the

labour movement and in the public domain by:

� working with our National Union, the National Union of Public and General Employees

(NUPGE) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) to support the federal government’s

national anti-racism framework. The framework must include annual reports to Parliament, a

plan to meet the targets set by the United Nations World Conference Against Racism and the

establishment of an Anti-Racism National Council to coordinate national, provincial and

municipal anti-racism and human rights policies and legislation; and

� working with NUPGE and the CLC to lobby the federal government to enact a proactive

national Canadians with Disabilities Act; and

� working with the BC Federation of Labour to strengthen the Human Rights Committee; and

� the self-determination of Aboriginal people, including the negotiation of fair treaties with

First Nations and the transfer of responsibilities to Aboriginal communities for education,

health and social services; and

� gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists who are working to build on legal and

legislative victories to broaden social equality.

2. Continue to build strong collaborative relationships with community partners who share our

principles and vision of equity;


C-70 to cover C-79 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work with advocacy groups and labour organizations to pressure the provincial government to

develop a comprehensive poverty reduction plan to reduce child poverty in British Columbia,

with timelines and targets; and

� Lobby the provincial government to appoint a lead minister for poverty reduction to champion

this initiative across affected ministries;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-71 to cover C-83 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop a comprehensive campaign at the provincial and national level to stop the insidious

trend towards implementing Big Box, for profit child care in BC; and

� Work with advocacy groups and other labour organizations to develop this campaign;

M/S/C Concurrence


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the BC government and through our national union, NUPGE, lobby the federal

government to ensure and restore adequate funding for public services and human rights

programs that support diversity, fight against discrimination and assist equity members to fully

participate in the labour force and in society;



THE BCGEU WILL:

� Through our national union, NUPGE, lobby the federal government to ensure and protect First

Nations' rights to clean water in Canada, and

� Support human rights campaigns that advocate for First Nations' water rights;


Composite #3 to cover C-74, D-204, D-205 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE, COMPONENT 17,

LOCAL 603

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Entrench the anti-bullying work initiated by Component 17 by making it a part of a Provincial

Executive Committee; and

� Expand and fund the anti-bullying campaign through a province-wide publicity initiative using

various media formats, i.e. television and radio;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Expand and fund the bullying campaign through a province-wide publicity initiative using

various media formats, i.e. television and radio;

Covered by Composite #3 to cover C-74, D-204, D-205

C-75 Amended PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to stand in solidarity with other civil society organizations working for global social

and economic justice; and

� Demand that the federal government restore funding to KAIROS (Coalition of 11 Churches

working on ecological and social justice issues), Alternatives, the International Planned

Parenthood Federation and other groups and make non-partisan and evidence based funding

decisions on international development; and

� Call on the federal government to restore confidence in Rights and Democracy by appointing a

new, independent and credible board of directors; and

� Join and support the Voices-Voix, a non-partisan coalition of organizations and individuals

defending democracy, free speech and transparency in Canada;



THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to stand in solidarity with workers and unions in the United States and elsewhere that

are facing attacks from corporate interests and right-wing politicians;

Covered by C-127.


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to work to build partnerships with Aboriginal women's groups and organizations

that advocate for services to women; and

M I N U T E S


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� Actively lobby the provincial and federal governments to ensure that proper funding and

services are provided to the most vulnerable women; and

� Call for a public investigation into the appallingly high number of unresolved, uninvestigated

murders and disappearances of Aboriginal women.



THE BCGEU WILL:

� Condemn the BC government for its harmful policies that hurt women and demand the

government immediately restore and enhance public services for women; and

� Lobby vigorously for policy changes and solutions at all levels of government so that women

can have full equality and participation in our society;


C-79 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work with advocacy groups and labour organizations to pressure the provincial government to

develop a comprehensive poverty reduction plan to reduce child poverty in British Columbia,

with timelines and targets; and

� Lobby the provincial government to appoint a lead minister for poverty reduction to champion

this initiative across affected ministries; Covered by C-70.

C-80 to cover C-81 LOCAL 403

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Support the Living Wage Campaign;


C-81 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Support the Living Wage Campaign;

Covered by C-80.

M I N U T E S


cope 378

Composite #1 to cover C-82, C-84 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Through NUPGE and the CLC, continue to demand a nationally funded child care program that

is:

• universal and accessible;

• delivered by community based non-profit groups, funded through transparent

agreements, accountable to parents and communities;

• established in a national child care act, and

• unionized.

� Will also continue to lobby the provincial government for increased funding that will reverse

closures, establish provincial wage rates through bargaining and will eliminate dependence on

parents fees;

� Resolve that lobbying will not be limited to government parties in power, but will be to all

parties to gain support for and the communication of such a program;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-82 LOCAL 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby federal, provincial, and municipal governments to implement and support funding of a

national childcare program to assist all Canadian families; and

� Resolve that lobbying will not be limited to government parties in power, but will be to all

parties to gain support for and the communication of such a program;

Covered by Composite #1 to cover C-82, C-84

C-83 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop a comprehensive campaign at the provincial and national level to stop the insidious

trend towards implementing Big Box, for profit child care in BC; and

� Work with advocacy groups and other labour organizations to develop this campaign;

Covered by C-71.

M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-84 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Through NUPGE and the CLC, continue to demand a nationally funded child care program that

is:

• universal and accessible;

• delivered by community based non-profit groups, funded through transparent

agreements, accountable to parents and communities;

• established in a national child care act, and

• unionized.

� Will also continue to lobby the provincial government for increased funding that will reverse

closures, establish provincial wage rates through bargaining and will eliminate dependence on

parents fees;


C-85 LOCAL 101

THE BCGEU WILL:

• Lobby the Provincial Government to provide adequate resources to the Court Services

Branch to fulfill their existing mandate, including hiring the required number of Deputy

Sheriffs to adequately and safely staff all BC Court Houses; and

• To install search gates at all BC Court Houses to protect public safety; and

• To look at ways to increase the Sheriffs mandate to fully support, enhance and protect those

valuable public services;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-86 LOCAL 104

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Fully support and will be active in disallowing non-sheriffs and excluded staff from performing

the duties of the Deputy Sheriff; and

� Request that the employer form a joint task force to examine the staffing crisis and make

recommendations and put into action to address the crisis in all due haste;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

Composite #2 to cover C-87, C-88 LOCAL 101, 111

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the current Provincial Government to reduce the staff to inmate ratios to the 1:20 levels of

pre-2002; and

� Lobby the Provincial Opposition Party to initiate a member’s bill in the Provincial Legislative

Assembly aimed at achieving the requisite legislative or regulatory changes to empower

WorkSafe BC Officers to write orders on essential safe staffing levels inside Correctional

Centres; and

� Continue to lobby the government to increase to two staff on every unit due to overcrowding;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-87 LOCAL 101

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the current Provincial Government to reduce the staff to inmate ratios to the 1:20 levels of

pre-2002; and

� Lobby the Provincial Opposition Party to initiate a member’s bill in the Provincial Legislative

Assembly aimed at achieving the requisite legislative or regulatory changes to empower

WorkSafe BC Officers to write orders on essential safe staffing levels inside Correctional

Centres;


C-88 LOCAL 111

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby the government to increase to two staff on every unit due to overcrowding;


C-89 Amended LOCAL 111

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby the government to have inmate to staff ratios occupancy levels that will not

exceed 1 inmate per cell; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-90 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Publicly and strongly reject the federal Tory government’s “tough-on-crime” agenda, including

building super-prisons, increased incarceration and longer sentences for non-violent crimes and

eliminating rehabilitative programmes like therapeutic farms; and

� Also publicly endorse crime prevention and restorative justice programmes and reasonable and

flexible sentencing, including diversion from traditional incarceration when appropriate; and

� Also demand that all correctional facilities are properly staffed to provide a safe and humane

environment for both staff and prisoners and that overcrowding is eliminated;


Composite #4 to cover C-91, C-92, C-93, C-94, C-95

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to aggressively lobby through the Canadian Labour Congress and BC Federation of

Labour, the federal and provincial governments to restore and enhance public funding for seniors'

care; and

� Continue to work with the BC Health Coalition to campaign for increased funding for seniors'

care including home support, and publicly operated residential care and to reduce the ever

increasing direct cost to seniors for these services; and

� Look for community partners to provide information on recognizing and preventing elder abuse;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-91 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to aggressively lobby, through the Canadian Labour Congress and BC Federation of

Labour, the federal and provincial governments to restore and enhance public funding for seniors'

care;

Covered by Composite #4 to cover C-91, C-92, C-93, C-94, C-95

C-92 LOCAL 412

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the BC Liberal Government to reconsider the ever-increasing direct cost to seniors for

residential care and home support services;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-93 LOCAL 807

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the BC government to increase funding for home support services to an adequate level;


C-94 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to work with the BC Health Coalition to campaign for increased funding for seniors

care including home support, and publicly operated residential care; and

� Look for community partners in providing information on recognizing and preventing elder

abuse;


C-95 LOCAL 812

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the BC Liberal Government to reconsider the ever-increasing direct cost to seniors for

residential care and home support services;


C-96 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop a comprehensive mental health and addictions campaign to our members and the general

public to raise awareness about the need for increased funding and services for people with

mental illness and addictions;

M/S/C Concurrence


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to stop cutbacks to mental health and social service providers;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-98 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to stop cutbacks to mental health and social service providers;

Covered by C-97.

C-99 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to address

the alarmingly low levels of access to primary care providers for British Columbians in the

North; and

� Support the efforts of the BC Health Coalition to establish chapters in the North and educate the

public on this issue; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-100 LOCAL 412

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to get rid of/rescind Bill 29 in its entirety;

Covered by C-101.


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to get rid of/rescind Bill 29 in its entirety;

M/S/C Concurrence C-102 to cover C-103

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop and implement a public awareness campaign around the ongoing contracting out and

retendering of health care services in the Facilities and Community sectors of health;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

C-103 LOCAL 812

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop and implement a public awareness campaign around the ongoing contracting out of

health care services in the Facilities and Community sectors of health;

Covered by C-102.

C-104 LOCAL 201

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby the provincial government and the Vancouver Island Health Authority to

abandon its plans to contract out Oak Bay Lodge and instead restore and enhance funding for this

important seniors' care facility; M/S/C Concurrence

C-105 LOCALS 301, 303, 306

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Call for new legislation to establish a public advocate for people with developmental disabilities

and their families as an independent officer of the legislature; and

� An independent public review and audit of Community Living BC’s budget, expenditures and

service delivery model; and

� An immediate moratorium on the cost-driven closure of residential group homes and cuts to day

programmes and community inclusion services;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-106 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to fight against the BC Liberals and Community Living BC’s (CLBC) anti-union

agenda; and

� Continue to lobby the provincial government to increase CLBC funding so that the continuum of

options for clients is a true continuum;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


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C-107 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 301

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to support our members in the community based social services sector through

campaigns, negotiations and other means, including Community Social Services Awareness

Month and Community Social Services Workers’ Appreciation Day; and

� Strongly encourage the BC Federation of Labour and the National Union of Public and General

Employees to support and take up these efforts;


C-108 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Campaign, lobby and negotiate to eliminate the tremendous and unjustifiable gap in wages

between health sciences professionals, such as nurses, occupational therapists, speech language

therapists and others in the health sector and those doing identical or similar work in the much

lower paid community social services sector;


C-109 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby for dramatically increased and stable funding for sexual assault centres,

counselling services, women’s centres and transition houses in British Columbia; and

� Lobby to ensure funding to centres is not jeopardized when they engage in public lobbying and

political action to enhance services; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-110 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Undertake a public campaign and lobby the Provincial Government to prevent the devolution and

contracting out of Ministry of Children and Family Development programs to non-union

employers;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


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C-111 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Take a lead voice in opposing regionalization and further devolution of the Ministry of Children

and Families (MCFD) services until a round table of Aboriginal Leaders, the Representative for

Children and Youth and other stakeholders including the BCGEU agree that conditions are right

for regionalization and devolution; and

� Will demand that the BC Government ensure independent oversight, including stakeholder

consultation and evaluation, is in place to review and assess the ongoing impacts of

regionalization and devolution of MCFD services. M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-112 LOCAL 403

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to increase funding for low-income housing; and

� Lobby the federal government to re-establish its commitment to low-income housing through a

National Housing Strategy;

Covered by C-113.

C-113 amended to cover C-112 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to increase funding for social housing; and

� Lobby the federal government to re-establish its commitment to social housing through a

National Housing Strategy; M/S/C Concurrence

C-114 LOCAL 703, COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Demand full restoration of the funding and services of the Legal Services Society;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


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C-115 LOCAL 1009

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to enact the Auditor General’s recommendation to return 2

highways maintenance service contracts back into the public sector under control of the Ministry

of Highways; and

� Push the government that one of the service areas to be returned will be service area 9; the Grand

Forks area;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-116 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the Provincial Government to stop outsourcing BC jobs to other provinces and countries;


C-117 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to support initiatives at the national level to increase public awareness about the value

of public services; and

� Campaign provincially to build support for increased public services, particularly in rural areas;

and

� Take measures to increase public awareness that taxes support necessary public services, and to

increase awareness of what a fair tax system would look like in Canada and BC, and

� Also lobby NUPGE to increase its work to publicize the need for tax fairness, and to educate

members and the public on what a fair tax system at the national level would include;


C-118 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Support the establishment of a fair tax commission for British Columbia to research, consult and

advise on a fair, progressive tax regime for our province; and

M I N U T E S


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� Work with other unions, civil society groups, citizens, economists and fair-minded business

leaders to launch a sensible dialogue and develop common ground on fair taxation; and

� Through our national union, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), call

on the Canadian Labour Congress to support a fair tax commission for Canada to research,

consult and advise on national taxation policies; and

� Continue to support the Robin Hood Tax on speculative financial transactions;


C-119 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Through our national union, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and

the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) voice our profound concerns about aspects of the Harper

Conservative government’s policies on refugees and human-trafficking, including:

• The declining acceptance rate of refugee claimants from Columbia, a country with whom

Canada has signed a free trade agreement but which continues to have a humanitarian crisis

with over 3.4 million internally displaced persons and a horrendous track record on

protecting the human rights of it citizens; and

• New proposed regulations that truncate the appeals process for refugee claimants who appeal

a negative decision; and

• Incarcerating refugee claimants without cause (as in the case of the asylum seekers on the

M.V. Sun Sea). M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-120 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� In conjunction with NUPGE and the B.C. Federation of Labour will continue to expose abuse of

immigration and temporary foreign worker programs by any employer; and

� In conjunction with NUPGE and the B.C. Federation of Labour will launch a public campaign to

ensure that immigration and temporary foreign worker programs are a key election issue during

the next federal election with the purpose of amending “temporary foreign worker” programs so

that those who choose to work in Canada have the opportunity to become full Canadian Citizens;


M I N U T E S


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C-121 amended COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to support organizations working to expose child labour in developing countries and to

eliminate the poverty that causes child labour; and

� Continue to work with other unions and community partners to demand changes to the

Employment Standards Act and regulations to prevent employers from easily hiring children

aged 12 to 15 years, and to put in place safeguards to protect children’s health and education;

M/S/C Concurrence

Composite #5 to cover C-122, C-123, C-124, C-125, C-126 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 403, 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Stand in solidarity with the people of Tunisia, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world who

are struggling for freedom, human rights, democracy and dignity; and

� Express our support for free and democratic trade unions in Arab world seeking to represent the

interests of working people; and

� Lobby the federal government to oppose the arrest, imprisonment, execution of trade unionists in

Iran and support the international campaign to support imprisoned labour leaders and human

rights activists; and

� Ask the International Solidarity Committee of the BCGEU to actively support trade union

activists in the Middle East; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-122 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Stand in solidarity with the people of Tunisia, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world who

are struggling for freedom, human rights, democracy and dignity; and

� Express our support for free and democratic trade unions in Arab world seeking to represent the

interests of working people;


M I N U T E S


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C-123 LOCAL 403

THE BCGEU WILL:



rights activists;


C-124 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:



rights activists;


C-125 LOCAL 403

THE BCGEU WILL:


activists in the Middle East;


C-126 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:


activists in the Middle East;


C-127 to cover C-76 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to stand in solidarity with workers and their unions in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and

elsewhere in the United States who are under an unprecedented attack from right-wing

politicians and their corporate backers; and

� Monitor developments in the US and be prepared to respond to further attacks, including an

expansion of this war on workers into Canada; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

M I N U T E S


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C-128 LOCAL 406

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to make every effort to promote the value of union membership and participation to

youth in BC; Covered by C-129.


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to make every effort to promote the value of union membership and participation to

youth in BC; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Jointly fund a Continue to financially support film festivals with other Unions and

organizations, dedicated to furthering education on environment, economics and human

rights; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-131 LOCAL 503

THE BCGEU WILL:

� With other unions and human rights organizations, like the Council of Canadians, will publicize

and educate members, their families and communities about the dangers of the Canada-European

Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); and

� Make it a priority for Cross Component Committees to fund and stage educational events and

rallies to raise such awareness and that HQ will sufficiently fund these activities as part of the

mandate to encourage alliance building in the community;


C-132 LOCAL 505

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the Provincial Government to allow a statutory holiday for every working person in

British Columbia for the month of February and to use the same name as in Alberta “Family

Day”. M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


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C-133 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby the BC Liberal Government to stop promoting, supporting and approving “run

of the river” projects until such time as they have been scientifically proven to meet rigorous

environmental standards; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-134 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the provincial government to establish a schedule and publish the regulations necessary to

effect a successful cull of surplus ungulates; and

� Further lobby the provincial government to staff facilities in each region of the province,

including the lower mainland, to store and distribute harvested animals to enhance human

nutrition and to contribute to First Nations’ ceremonial consumption of wild game; and

� Also lobby that the provincial government will provide meat inspectors to monitor the

preservation, cutting and wrapping of these meat products;


C-135 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby the provincial government and through NUPGE the federal government to

enact legislation that protects our watersheds and ensures that public interest overrides the

corporate agenda and that current publicly owned watershed lands remain publicly owned and

protected from damage; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-136 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Oppose the Enbridge northern gateway pipeline project and lobby against its construction;


M I N U T E S


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C-137 LOCAL 2001

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide leadership to the BC labour movement on building a green economy for BC; and

� Lobby for policies at the provincial level to encourage bolder steps for BC to reduce its

greenhouse gas emissions and develop good green jobs;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-138 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Call for a comprehensive energy plan for BC that:

- is environmentally sustainable; and

- encourages conservation; and

- includes non-fossil fuel sources of energy such as wind and solar; and

- returns full public control of BC Hydro to the public sphere; and

- protects rivers and creeks from private exploitation; and

- does not rely on mega-projects; and

- call on the federal government to regulate industry, including the Alberta tar sands, to

meet our intended Kyoto protocol objectives.


C-139 LOCAL 2001

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Extend and expand the Community Dialogue on Forests campaign to include more

communities and more community partners over the next three years;

Covered by C-140.


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Take an active role to educate the public and stakeholders of the risks and pitfalls of the BC

Liberal government’s mandate to reduce staffing levels and services to the detriment of our

public resources with less regulation while under the management of private interests; and

� Follow-up on the success and momentum of the current “BC Forests. Our Future. A

Community Dialogue” by expanding the campaign and extending the dialogue to include

more resource and non-resource based communities in the discussion; and

M I N U T E S


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� Make available the funding necessary to accomplish the goals of an expanded “BC Forests.

Our Future. A Community Dialogue” campaign;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-141 LOCAL 1008

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby provincial governments to enact legislation that would require all timber that has been

harvested in the province to be processed within our country;


C-142 LOCAL 705

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Encourage all BCGEU members, in an effort to protect job security, to protest the self checkout

stations in any retail or public sector business; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-143 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Along with the BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress, lobby the BC

Government to increase funding equally across the post secondary education sector;

M/S/C Concurrence

C-144 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ask the BC Federation of Labour to set up a working group to monitor and report on the

provincial use of training funds from the federal government;


C-145 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Condemn the retendering of all employment services contracts in the province which favours

large, for-profit service providers over smaller, specialized community based social services

agencies; and

M I N U T E S


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� Also condemn the exclusion of these Request for Proposals (issued on March 30, 2011) from the

Continuity of Service and Employment Agreement which would have protected the frontline

workers providing these services; and

� Call upon the provincial government to effectively use the federal monies transferred for

employment programmes for strong, community-based programmes which meet the needs of

citizens seeking training and employment supports, including newcomers, women experiencing

violence in their homes and people with disabilities;


C-146 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to lobby, with the BC Federation of Labour, the BC Liberal government for changes to

the structure of the Industry Training Authority Board; and

� Recommend that the Board should have representatives from Labour, and educators who play

strong roles in trades training in BC; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-147 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� With the BC Federation of Labour, lobby the BC Liberal government to move the entry-level

trades training with full funding from the Industry Training Authority to the Ministry of

Advanced Education; and

� Petition the BC Government to subsidize training and apprenticeship programs for the purpose of

training workers; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-148 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to work with the Canadian Federation of Students and the BC Federation of Labour to

demand that the provincial government:

- Restore funding and freeze tuition for public colleges and universities.

- Expand needs based on non-repayable grants to students.

- Create and fund sufficient spaces for students.

- Significantly reinvest in public colleges and universities.

- Work with other provinces and the federal government to restore federal funding for

post-secondary education through a distinct Canada Education Transfer and to negotiate

M I N U T E S


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a national agreement on standards of quality, accessibility and mobility for post-

secondary education; and

� Through the BC Federation of Labour, lobby the Provincial Government to work towards

eliminating other tuition costs; and

� Once the freeze is reinstated, the BCGEU work with the Canadian Federation of Students and the

BC Federation of Labour to further reduce the cost of post secondary education with an overall

goal of eliminating tuition; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Support the proposed CASFAA changes to the Canada Student Loan Program.


C-150 LOCAL 1002

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Petition the government of the day to have Component 10/Highway workers included in the

government’s “Move Over BC” campaign; and

� Lobby and encourage the Road Builders Association to petition the government that they also be

included in the “Move Over BC” campaign; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

C-151 amended COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the federal and provincial government to ensure that all workers employed with benefit

coverage continue to receive coverage until retirement; and

� Make it a top priority to negotiate and secure language to protect all members including those 65

and older; M/S/C Concurrence

D-152 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Initiate a pilot project to create an elected area liaison in each of the 12 geographic areas of the

province; and

M I N U T E S


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Each area liaison will be elected in the fall of 2011 by elected officers and stewards in each of the

12 geographic areas; and

Each area liaison will be entitled to union leave at the discretion of the Provincial Executive, plus

expense reimbursement; and

Duties of the area liaison may include assisting area locals with:

• area campaigns

• community action and awareness

• city council presentations

• political action

• labour council campaigns

• support for cross component committees

• media contact, when appropriate

• activist recruitment and retention, in consultation with local executives and staff

• participation in the provincial executive Community and Social Action Committee

activities

• co-facilitation of basic stewards courses with staff

• follow-up with delegates and participants to conventions, conferences and educational

events from their area to encourage recruitment and retention of activists.

Area liaisons will produce a report to each Provincial Executive meeting. The Provincial

Executive will review this pilot project annually and will report out to the 2014 Triennial

Constitutional Convention with recommendations concerning the project. This pilot project will

be resourced by Workplace Leadership funds;

M/S/C Concurrence

D-153 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

1. Review our education program to:

� continue mainstreaming human rights and equity issues into all activist training;

� continue developing anti-bullying and harassment prevention tools for members and

activists;

� ensure stewards have access to current information on the latest developments in human

rights and the duty-to-accommodate disability and difference.

2. Review the current environment for organizing and develop goals and strategies to extend rights

to marginalized and exploited workers, who are most likely to be equity members.

3. Map equity groups within our union membership. The BCGEU will continue to be an equal

opportunity employer and actively recruit staff, stewards and activists from equity groups.

M I N U T E S


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4. Encourage members from equity groups to become workplace leaders by carrying out M2M

campaigns reaching out to members from equity groups prior to shop steward and local

elections.

5. Develop tools for staff negotiators and bargaining committees, including model language and

checklists to advance equity in collective agreements.

6. Self-organize Aboriginal workers, through the Aboriginal Council, and the self-organizing of

workers of colour, disabled workers and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers into

activist networks.

Recruitment and training of PE Equity and Human Rights member-activists to work with

committee and activist networks to mobilize members from equity groups. Collaboration with all

provincial executive committees, young worker delegates and cross component committees;

M/S/C Concurrence

D-154 amended PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that any follow up work generated from the Ad Hoc Committee that was struck to work

on Resolution D-104 concerning union sponsored child care centres from the 2008 Convention

will be passed on to the Provincial Executive Child Care, Family, and Work, Life Balance

Committee when the 2011 Convention closes; M/S/C Concurrence

D-155 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work to ensure that our national union, the National Union of Public and General Employees

(NUPGE) pays all its arrears per capita tax (dues) and assessments to the Canadian Labour

Congress (CLC) and immediately resume paying its proper per capita tax (dues) to the CLC

according to the CLC Constitution; and

� Demand that NUPGE not use the divisive tactic of withholding per capita tax (dues) from the

CLC as a means of resolving disputes; and

� Also reaffirm our commitment to workers’ solidarity, membership and active participation in the

mainstream labour movement in the interests of all working people;


M I N U T E S


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D-156 LOCAL 308

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to provide direct member access to area offices in smaller communities, particularly

offices with a single staff representative; Covered by D-157.

D-157 to cover D-156

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Discontinue the use of call centres for the rural centres (i.e. Cranbrook);


D-158 LOCAL 311

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Contact Air Canada to discuss customer service inadequacies and suggest ways to improve

service; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-159 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt a policy that (effective the next Constitutional Convention in 2014):

• Requires candidates for President, Treasurer and Vice-President positions to be

nominated and to accept nomination in writing prior to the commencement of the

convention; and

• Permits nominations for these positions from the floor only in the case of insufficient

nominations to fill the position(s); and

� Publicize this policy before each convention; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-160 amended LOCAL 703, 707

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt a plain language method for voting directly on resolutions at all future conventions instead

of voting on committee recommendations of concurrence or non-concurrence;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


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D-161 LOCAL 2011

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Set a limit of 150 words for all resolutions being referred to the Triennial Constitutional

Convention;


D-162 to cover D-163 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that at the Constitutional Convention the Chair of the Convention points out at the

beginning of the Convention that delegates should not speak at a “Con” microphone in order to

state that the “resolution does not go far enough”; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-163 LOCALS 1201, 1206, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that at the Constitutional Convention, the Chair of the Convention points out, at the

beginning of the convention that delegates should not speak at a Con microphone in order to state

that the “resolution does not go far enough”;

Covered by D-162.

D-164 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt this new Provincial Executive policy:

“Meetings of Union members or activists will normally be attended and chaired by an

elected activist. This includes, but is not limited to, Component and Local Executive,

table officer, committee, general membership, bargaining and ratification meetings.”


D-165 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt this Provincial Executive policy:

Policy X: Ratification meetings and votes on collective agreement settlements

M I N U T E S


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We want members to make informed decisions. An informed decision requires having access to

all relevant information and the opportunity to properly consider that information. The union

will make every effort to provide members with all of the relevant information they need to make

an informed decision prior to a ratification vote on a proposed settlement.. Ratification

meetings will be scheduled with sufficient notice and the complete terms of settlement with all

proposed changes to the collective agreement will be made available as well as a summary

document. A bargaining committee may, in unusual circumstances, request that the President

approve an alternative ratification process.”


D-166 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Make every effort to take into consideration an outside organization’s labour relations record and

the employment conditions of its workers before make sponsorship or support decisions; and

� Strongly encourage cross component committees, committees, components and the BC

Federation of Labour to do the same; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

Composite #6 to cover D-167, D-168 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 602

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Require staff, activists and officers who are sent by the BCGEU to participate in conferences and

study tours to submit a report to the President’s office at the conclusion of their trip; and

� Provide financial statements that specifies which staff members and activists (including PE

members) take trips outside of Canada on union business when HQ paid; and

� Present on a quarterly basis to the Provincial Executive members the cost and purpose of the

above trips; and

� Develop protocols to ensure that there is accountability for out of country travels;


D-167 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Require staff, activists and officers who are sent by the BCGEU to participate in conferences and

study tours to submit a report to the President’s office at the conclusion of their trip;

Covered by Composite #6 to cover D-167, D-168

M I N U T E S


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D-168 LOCAL 602

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide financial statements that specifies which staff members and activists (including PE

members) take trips outside of Canada on union business; and

� Present on a quarterly basis to the Provincial Executive members the cost and purpose of the

above trips; and

� Develop protocols to ensure that there is accountability for out of country travels;

Covered by Composite #6 to cover D-167, D-168

D-169 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that Components and Locals are advised of the names of BCGEU activists that attend HQ

sponsored events and training; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-170 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt policy requiring cross component committees to avoid scheduling dinners in the 6 months

before any constitutional convention; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-171 to cover D-172 LOCAL 403

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Change the Appreciation Banquet to Activist Banquet that includes OHS and Labour

Management Committee members;

M/S/C Concurrence

D-172 LOCAL 803

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Change the Activist Appreciation Banquet to include OHS and JLM members to attend;

Covered by D-171.

M I N U T E S


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D-173 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Annually review and report to the Provincial Executive on workplace leadership initiatives in all

areas, and will annually report on Member to Member campaigns by components or locals; and

• Work to increase participation in all areas in workplace leadership programs that can strengthen

locals and ensure Local activities are meaningful to members; and

• Work to encourage more locals in all areas to use M2M annually to recruit stewards, local

officers and OHS committee members;

Covered by Composite #7 to cover A-29, D-173, D-174, D-175

D-174 COMPONENT 12

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase resources at all levels to promote workplace leadership; and

� Increase internal communications about workplace leadership;


D-175 LOCAL 602

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Equally distribute to Locals the Workplace Leadership budget with the budget to be held in trust

by each Area Office to ensure it is used appropriately; and

� Allow the Local Executives to use this budget to better service its members;


D-176 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Establish a Provincial Executive Personnel Committee, including 3 component representatives, a

vice-president and a director to develop and recommend best-practice personnel policies,

including hiring procedures and review employment interview questions and job descriptions.


M I N U T E S


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D-177 LOCAL 502

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work with Cross Component Committees to look at what each area office needs in regards to

staffing; and

� Will properly staff up the area offices to allow for full regular staff servicing of the membership

by the staff assigned;

Covered by Composite #8 to cover A-37, D-177, D-179, D-180, D-181, D-182, D-183

D-178 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� retire the Provincial Executive Community and Social Action Committee; and

� expand the mandate of Cross Component Committees to include community and social action;

and

� redirect the savings to increased support for Cross Component Committees to specifically engage

in community outreach and engagement and social action;


D-179 LOCAL 602

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review and initiate a formula for allocating the number of Staff Representatives to service

members in each Local; and

� May consider a formula that includes but is not limited to

4. The number of members served

5. The number of collective agreements and components serviced

6. The area served considering travel times; and

� Not reduce the current staffing levels in any area office because of this review;

Covered by Composite #8 to cover A-37, D-177, D-179, D-180, D-181, D-182, D-183.

M I N U T E S


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D-180 LOCAL 602

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Employ sufficient staff in its Negotiations Department so that Area Office Staff Reps are not

required to do bargaining and/or provide full coverage for Staff Reps that are involved in

bargaining;


D-181 LOCAL 602

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide sufficient administration staff to area offices;


D-182 LOCAL 302

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that our area offices are properly and consistently staffed to meet the workload and the

need for adequate representation;


D-183 LOCAL 2012

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review and conduct an assessment as to the needs to source or employ full-time and/or part-time

staff representatives in isolated areas where required;

� Create the need for sub-offices in isolated areas where identified.


D-184 LOCAL 501

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Take measures to ensure that all members who are interviewed in workplace related criminal

investigations are accompanied by lawyers; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

M I N U T E S


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D-185 LOCAL 503

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the budget for arbitration cases;

� Allow the steward who filed the grievance or a subject matter expert to be present during

arbitration; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-186 LOCAL 502

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work to educate and organize private liquor stores.


D-187 LOCAL 503

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Retract its position on pensioners paying for their benefits;


D-188 LOCAL 512

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Change the criteria for becoming a lifetime member to include members that retire before

pension age; M/S/C to refer to the Provincial Executive

D-189 amended to cover D-190, D-191 LOCAL 611, COMPONENT 10, LOCALS 1201, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Remove the words "Regular Employees of the Union will not be considered under this Policy"

from Policy H1 – Life Membership and review the criteria;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

D-190 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Not exclude life membership for those that meet the terms of life membership and have become

staff of the BCGEU;

Covered by D-189 amended to cover D-190, D-191.

D-191 LOCALS 1201, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Remove the words “Regular Employees of the Union will not be considered under this Policy”.

(Policy H1 – Life Membership);

Covered by D-189 amended to cover D-190, D-191.

D-192 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Promote the use of carpooling to attend BCGEU events including conventions. Promotion to

include but not be limited to wage loss for travel time, hotel accommodation and meal

allowances;

Covered by Composite Finance Resolution 3 to cover A-2, A-19, A-18, D-192.

D-193 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Allow alternates to the Provincial Executive Committees so that designates to these committees

may send an alternate when they are not able to attend the committee meetings themselves;


D-194 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide more resources to stewards on line for example an up to date interpretation manual, a

question and answer section, sample grievances, sample classification appeals, etc., that would

assist them in their work with the members; and

� Also produce and maintain a Steward’s manual; Covered by D-196.

M I N U T E S


cope 378

D-195 LOCAL 1201, 1206, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide more resources to stewards online, for example, up-to-date interpretations when they

become available, a question and answer section, sample grievances, sample classification

appeals that would assist stewards in their work with the members; and

� Produce and provide an online Stewards’ Manual; Covered by D-196.

D-196 to cover D-194, D-195 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Assist Stewards in understanding the Collective Agreement by continuing to develop

interpretation manuals for all agreements the Stewards see and making them available online and

in area offices; and

� Offer regular training sessions on the interpretation of the province wide Collective Agreements;


D-197 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Implement something similar to the BC Government @ work website to communicate with our

members and to facilitate our members communicating with one another;

Covered by D-198.

D-198 to cover D-197 LOCALS 1201, 1206, 1211

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Implement technology or a tool similar to the provincial government @work website to

communicate with our members and to facilitate our members communicating with one another;


D-199 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Further reinforce, whenever possible, the electronic distribution to Components, Locals, and

elected Officers, all notices, bulletins, current disputes, strike information, press releases,

M I N U T E S


cope 378

campaign materials, convention material (including reports and resolutions where possible) and

all other information instead of mailing out hard copies;


D-200 Amended LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Make available on its website a link to organizations campaigning against sweat shops; two lists,

one of which will be manufacturers and retailers that use sweat shop labour to produce their

goods and the other list which will be manufacturers and retailers that do not use sweat shop

labour to produce their goods, both lists to include union certification if applicable; and

� Undertake a member education campaign on the real cost of sweat shop manufacturing;


D-201 LOCAL 311

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Post all BCGEU component and local bylaws and Provincial Executive policies on our website;


D-202 LOCAL 1203

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Seriously pilot internet and computer based ways to contact our membership and to seek out their

concerns, opinions, and participation at the local level. This will include, but not be restricted to,

local and committee question and answer pages, tweets,

e-mail, online meetings, etc.; and

� Commit the necessary funding to be able to implement pilot projects and testing by the end of

2011;

M/S/C Concurrence

D-203 LOCALS 1201, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� On request, provide a local membership list to the local chairperson in secure digital format,

compatible with MS Excel, to facilitate sorting by various criteria as required for campaigns of

the locals;

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

D-204 LOCAL 603

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt an anti-bullying campaign modelled on the Component 17 anti-bullying campaign;


D-205 COMPONENT 17

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Entrench our Union’s anti-bullying work by making it a part of a Provincial Executive Committee;


D-206 LOCAL 707

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Have all offices and official functions of the BCGEU purchase and serve only certified fair trade

coffee;


D-207 LOCAL 707

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Increase the age limit for young workers to enable mentoring and support for the new young

worker activists; and

� Change the age of young workers to 35 years and younger;


D-208 LOCAL 702, 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to strive for the recruitment of young workers as activists in all locals as members of all

union committees;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

D-209 LOCAL 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Ensure that any tickets or gifts received will be raffled off with the proceeds going to a charity,

raffled off among the membership or donated to a charity. They will not be used arbitrarily by

senior executive or staff;


D-210 COMPONENT 12

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Endorse Child Find BC as an organization for Cross Component Committees and other groups

within the BCGEU to support and work with;

M/S/C Concurrence

D-211 LOCALS 1201, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt and promote use of the term “Life/Work Balance”;


D-212 LOCAL 2010

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Pursue new benefits for its members;


D-213 LOCAL 710

THE BCGEU WILL:

� have all members elected as Bargaining Committee Chairpersons, sit on their local executive;


E-214 to cover E-215, E-216 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Vigorously lobby the provincial government and official opposition to develop and enshrine

the core principles and processes included in the European Stress Code; and

M I N U T E S


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� Build alliances with other Labour organizations, and appropriate Advocacy groups to

develop a Stress Code model for workers in British Columbia;


E-215 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 304

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Vigorously lobby the provincial government and official opposition to develop and enshrine the

core principles and processes included in the European Stress Code; and

� Build alliances with other labour organizations, and appropriate advocacy groups to develop a

Stress Code model for workers in British Columbia;

Covered by E-214.

E-216 LOCAL 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Vigorously lobby the provincial government and official opposition to develop and enshrine

the core principles and processes included in the European Stress Code; and

� Build alliances with our labour organizations and appropriate advocacy groups to develop a

stress code model for workers in BC;

Covered by E-214.

E-217 LOCAL 2009

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Enter into a timely dialogue with the government of BC as to what the government intends to

do to reduce workplace stress on many of its remaining employees; and

� Ask the BC government to identify offices and ministries and positions where workload and

workload stress could be high;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

E-218 to cover E-219, C-220 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 304

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby government and the opposition to establish a workplace practices central registry that

identifies specific locations that have been identified as containing asbestos or other substances

known to cause cancer;


E-219 LOCAL 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby government and the opposition to establish a workplace and practices central registry

that identifies specific locations that have been identified as containing asbestos or other

substances know to cause cancer;

Covered by E-218.

E-220 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby government and the opposition to establish a workplace and work tasks central

registry that identifies specific locations that have been identified as containing asbestos or

other substances known to cause cancer;

Covered by E-218.


THE BCGEU WILL:

� With the Provincial Executive Occupational Health & Safety Committee develop a Day of

Mourning Action Plan. The plan will mobilize BCGEU members throughout the province to

participate in the Day of Mourning ceremonies in their communities and workplaces to pay

tribute to workers killed on the job;



THE BCGEU WILL:

� With the Provincial Executive Occupational Health and Safety Committee, develop a Day of

Mourning Action Plan to mobilize BCGEU members throughout the province to participate in

the Day of Mourning ceremonies in their communities and workplaces to pay tribute to workers

killed on the job;

Covered by E-221.

M I N U T E S


cope 378

E-223 LOCAL 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop a Day of Mourning plan to mobilize BCGEU members throughout the province, in

communities where there is no labour council presence, to participate in the Day of

Mourning ceremonies in their communities and workplaces to pay tribute to workers killed

on the job;

Covered by E-221.


THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work with the BC Federation of Labour and other advocacy groups to lobby the government

and the opposition parties to restore compensation benefits, including loss of earnings and

lifetime pensions to previous levels;



THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work with the BC Federation of Labour and other advocacy groups to lobby the government and

the opposition parties to restore compensation benefits, including loss of earnings and lifetime

pensions to previous levels;

Covered by E-224.

E-226 LOCAL 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Work with the BC Federation of Labour and other advocacy groups to lobby the government

and the opposition parties to restore compensation benefits, including loss of earnings and

lifetime pensions to previous levels;

Covered by E-224.

E-227 to cover E-228 LOCAL 401

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby WorkSafe BC and Health employers to ensure that compliance is the minimum standard

and that the culture of safety is proactive rather than reactive and that staffing levels meet the

needs of members working with violent patients, residents and clients;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

E-228 LOCAL 801

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby WorkSafe BC and health employers to ensure that compliance is the minimum standard

and that the culture of safety is proactive rather than reactive and that staffing levels meet the

needs of members working with violent patients, residents and clients;

Covered by E-227.

E-229 LOCAL 402

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Provide locals with a full list of worksites who have OHS Committees or OHS representatives

along with a list of worksite without committees or OHS reps; and

� Mandate and budget specifically to provide OHS representation and/or services to worksites

requiring assistance with occupational health and safety issues whether the worksite meets the

work-safe legislation requirement or not;


E-230 LOCALS 1201, 1202, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Re-write the OH&S appointment letter to the employer to remove the reference to a term certain

date;


E-231 LOCAL 1201, 1202, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review the current policies, procedures and practices to develop and implement a more efficient,

cost savings and fair distribution of recruiting more members as OH&S committee

representatives;


E-232 to cover E-233 LOCAL 412

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to work with WorkSafe BC and employers to ensure compliance with the Workers’

Compensation Act and Regulations in regards to OHS committees on worksites;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

E-233 LOCAL 812

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Continue to work with WorkSafe BC and employers to ensure compliance with the Workers’

Compensation Act and Regulations in regards to OHS Committees or worksites;

Covered by E-232.

Composite #9 to cover E-234, E-235, E-236

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE, LOCALS 1201, 1202, 1206, 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review all policies particularly WCB Regulation 4.20 (Working Alone) which includes travel

with both a lens on the health and safety of the activists and work/life balance;


E-234 LOCALS 1201, 1202, 1206

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review all policies with both a lens on the health and safety of the activists and work/life

balance;

Covered by Composite #9 to cover E-234, E-235, E-236

E-235 PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Do risk assessment to ensure that activists’ rights are protected under the WCB Regulation 4.20

(Working Alone) which includes travel;


E-236 LOCAL 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Do risk assessments to ensure that activists' rights are protected under WCB Regulation 4.20

(Working Alone) which includes travel;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

F-237 LOCAL 701

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Encourage and reinforce its commitment to ensure that every union member is either enrolled in

one of the five main pension plans, or the BCGEU pension plan at a minimum;


Composite #10 to cover F-238, F-239 LOCAL 505, LOCAL 707

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Strongly lobby both the Federal and Provincial governments, in concert with the BC Federation

of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress:

• for a universal pension for all citizens of British Columbia no matter

who their employers are; and

• to raise the Canada Pension Plan payments and the threshold amount for

our most vulnerable citizens;

M/S/C Concurrence

F-238 LOCAL 505

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby a universal pension for all citizens of British Columbia no matter who their employers

are.

Covered by Composite #10 to cover F-238, F-239

F-239 LOCAL 707

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Strongly lobby both the Federal and Provincial governments, in concert with the BC Federation

of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress, to raise the Canada Pension Plan payments and

the threshold amount for our most vulnerable citizens;

Covered by Composite #10 to cover F-238, F-239

G-240 to cover G-241, G-243 LOCAL 101

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Have the bargaining principals review Factors 2, 5, 9, 12, & 13 of the Public Service Job

Evaluation Plan (PSJEP) for all BCGEU Components 1, 2, 6, 12, & 20 Peace Officer

M I N U T E S


cope 378

Occupations and Occupations dealing with care that results in on the job violence in Appendix

3C and Article 28 of the Master Agreement, and to better reflect the on the job duties for each

family related benchmark, up to including a separate plan or rating system for all BCGEU Peace

Officer occupations & care occupations;


G-241 LOCAL 101

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Have the bargaining principals review Factors 2, 5, 9, 12, & 13 of the Public Service Job

Evaluation Plan (PSJEP) for all BCGEU Components 1, 6, 12, & 20 Peace Officer Occupations

in Appendix 3C and Article 28 of the Master Agreement, and to better reflect the on the job

duties for each family related benchmark, up to including a separate plan or rating system for all

BCGEU Peace Officer occupations;

Covered by G-240.

G-242 amended LOCAL 101

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Aggressively pursue both a substantial wage increase and other monetary increases at the next

round of Bargaining in 2012;

M/S/C Concurrence

G-243 LOCAL 104

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Review the "factors", "reasons for classification", "degrees" and "class" points be reviewed and

adjusted to reflect the true danger that is present in our workplaces and an increase in points to

the factor regarding hazards be made;

Covered by G-240.

G-244 LOCAL 311

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Strongly encourage all bargaining committees to negotiate collective agreement language that

provides members with the option of receiving new collective agreements in either a paper copy

or on a flash drive or other electronic storage device;


M I N U T E S


cope 378

G-245 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Develop a strategy to co-ordinate negotiations with child care employers to the greatest extent

possible to increase our bargaining power, create efficiencies and improve the wages, benefits

and working conditions of early childhood educators; and

� Also call for either the establishment of a labour relations organization for child care agencies or

the inclusion of child care agencies in the Community Social Services Employers’ Association

under the Community Services Labour Relations Act;


G-246 COMPONENT 3, LOCAL 303

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Exercise our responsibility to undertake authentic negotiations for members in non-provincially

funded positions in the community social services sector under the Community Living Services,

General Services and Aboriginal Services collective agreements; and

� Exercise due diligence in these negotiations, including demanding that employers open their

books for examination;


G-247 COMPONENT 3

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Approach public sector negotiations in 2012 by:

• Striving to lead public sector unions in British Columbia to stand in solidarity with each

other to resist the wage controls of the provincial government and the Public Sector

Employers’ Council and their mandate of “no erosion of employers’ rights”; and

• Leading by example in coordinating negotiations to the greatest and most effective extent

possible to increase our bargaining power and build solidarity between workers in all parts of

the broad pubic sector; and

• Developing a range of tactics and try new creative ways of achieving these goals,

including possibly tabling common proposals across different negotiating tables,

coordinating strike votes and membership engagement and mobilization; and

• Endorsing a basic general principle of low-wage redress, fairness and standardization of

wages and benefits.

M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

G-248 LOCAL 503

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Adopt a strict policy against negotiating agreements with a divisive two-tiered wage structure;

and

� Eliminate two-tiered wage structures in all collective agreements where it exists;


G-249 LOCAL 601

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Engage in a consciousness raising initiative with all employers around various forms of eldercare

support and develop model contract language to assist members to get paid or increased paid

leave in order to maintain their employment and also adequately nurture their dependent elders;


G-250 COMPONENT 10

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Research the feasibility of providing extended health and dental coverage for members that do

not have coverage or have a poor level of coverage; and

� Research the feasibility of bargaining that coverage into collective agreements;

M/S/C Concurrence

G-251 LOCAL 103

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Give Component 1 the ability to bargain their own terms and conditions, with the ability to take a

strike vote that would not bind the whole master bargaining unit in the event that it is required.


M I N U T E S


cope 378

G-252 LOCAL 103

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Lobby the government to have Component 1 recognized as a separate entity under the Public

Service Labour Relations Act, so that the Component can negotiate the terms and conditions that

affect them.


H-253 LOCAL 401

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Donna Verdiel the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-254 LOCAL 406

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Tim Dunphy the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-255 LOCAL 404

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Margaret Walden (Walters) the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-256 LOCAL 504

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Wilf Brodrick the Union's highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-257 LOCAL 503

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother John Tregilges the Union’s highest honour of life membership; M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

H-258 LOCAL 511

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Ron Edgar the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-259 LOCAL 503

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Glen Kary the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-260 LOCAL 611

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Karen Taylor the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-261 LOCAL 607

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Bill Downey the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-262 LOCAL 607

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Bob Barten the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-263 LOCAL 709

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Jackie Chapin the Union ‘s highest honour of Life Membership; M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

H-264 LOCAL 709

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Al Walker the Union’s highest honour of Life Membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-265 LOCAL 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Drena McCormack the Union’s highest honour of Life Membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-266 LOCAL 703

THE BCGEU WILL:

� bestow upon Sister Joanne Fox the Union’s highest honour of Life Membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-267 LOCAL 1212

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Rusty Blanes the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-268 LOCAL 1208

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Helga Knote the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-269 LOCAL 1203

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Elizabeth (Lou) Washburn the Union's highest honour of Life membership; M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

H-270 LOCAL 1701

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Edwin Navas the Union's highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-271 LOCAL 1701

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Josie Bezaire the Union's highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-272 LOCAL 2004

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Laurie Evans the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-273 LOCAL 2004

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Carol Armstrong the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-274 LOCAL 2007

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Dolly Zawaduk the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-275 LOCAL 2001

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Robert Nijman the Union’s highest honour of life membership; M/S/C Concurrence

M I N U T E S


cope 378

H-276 LOCAL 2010

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother Brian Taylor the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-277 LOCAL 2006

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Brother George Foisy the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

H-278 LOCAL 2008

THE BCGEU WILL:

� Bestow upon Sister Karen Brown the Union’s highest honour of life membership;

M/S/C Concurrence

1

Consolidated financial statements of

B.C. Government and

Service Employees’ Union

December 31, 2010

B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union December 31, 2010

Table of contents Independent auditors’ report ............................................................................................... 1

Consolidated balance sheet ................................................................................................. 2 Consolidated statement of revenues and expenses ................................................................. 3

Consolidated statement of changes in fund balances .............................................................. 4

Consolidated statement of cash flows ................................................................................... 5

Notes to the consolidated financial statements ....................................................................... 6-14 Consolidated schedule of expenses ....................................................................................... 15

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

TO THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE OF B.C. GOVERNMENT AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES’ UNION We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union, which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2010, and the consolidated statements of revenues and expenses, changes in fund balances and cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

Management's Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and for such

internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair

presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are

appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union as at December 31, 2010, and the results of its operations, changes in its fund balances and its cash flows for the year then

ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

Chartered Accountants Vancouver, British Columbia May 3, 2011

See notes to consolidated financial statements. Page 2

B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union Consolidated balance sheet

As at December 31, 2010

2010 2009

$ $

Assets

Current assets

Cash 5,544,958 3,915,414

Accounts receivable 3,938,637 4,509,706

Prepaid expenses 348,624 476,489

Due from components (Note 3) 50,051 -

Short-term investments (Note 4) 54,216,472 44,602,448

64,098,742 53,504,057

Investments (Note 5) 103,251 103,251

Cash held in trust (Note 6) 2,851,000 236,792

Property and equipment (Note 7) 17,307,913 16,586,053

84,360,906 70,430,153

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 3,378,985 3,369,233

Due to affiliate (Note 8) 174,472 151,572

Due to components (Note 3) - 63,916

Current portion of capital lease obligations (Note 9) 215,675 190,128

3,769,132 3,774,849

Capital lease obligations (Note 9) 241,807 343,858

Amounts held in trust (Note 6) 2,851,000 236,792

Supplemental leave benefits liability (Note 10) 10,573,388 10,232,730

17,435,327 14,588,229

Fund balances

Invested in property and equipment 16,859,596 16,059,819

Unrestricted (Note 11) 6,893,627 3,659,358

Internally restricted (Note 11)

Fightback and campaign reserve 2,603,367 2,581,122

Area office land and building reserve 376,255 -

Convention reserve 1,000,000 500,000

Bargaining reserve 1,774,000 1,774,000

Restricted – Defence Fund 37,418,734 31,267,625

66,925,579 55,841,924

84,360,906 70,430,153

Commitment (Note 12)

Approved on behalf of the Provincial Executive ________________________________ ________________________________ President Treasurer


B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union Consolidated statement of revenues and expenses

Year ended December 31, 2010

Operations

(General Fund

and Solidarity

Holdings Ltd.)

Defence

Fund

Consolidated

2010

Consolidated

2009

$ $ $ $ Revenues

Members’ dues 47,416,387 - 47,416,387 47,799,569

Less: Allocations to Defence Fund,

6.06% of dues revenue (2,873,433) 2,873,433 - -

Allocations to Components, 6.00% of dues revenue (2,844,983) - (2,844,983) (2,867,974)

41,697,971 2,873,433 44,571,404 44,931,595

Investment income (loss), net 434,924 824,633 1,259,557 (584,818)

Affiliation remittances and other 147,372 - 147,372 271,358

Rent 112,711 - 112,711 79,644

42,392,978 3,698,066 46,091,044 44,697,779

Expenses

Salaries and employee benefits (Note 13) 21,054,518 - 21,054,518 20,888,970

Building and administration

(Schedule) 5,705,259 - 5,705,259 5,923,395

Affiliation fees 2,049,915 - 2,049,915 2,056,439

Bargaining 1,741,212 - 1,741,212 865,907

Supplemental leave benefits (Note 10) 1,475,803 - 1,475,803 1,469,622

Campaigns, coalitions and communications (Schedule) 1,380,864 - 1,380,864 1,752,688

Education 1,073,081 - 1,073,081 1,487,531

Provincial executive and committees 973,015 - 973,015 934,970

Travel and relocation 783,712 - 783,712 782,011

Conventions and conferences 702,956 - 702,956 286,239

Hearings, arbitration and legal 580,186 - 580,186 561,215

Automobile 477,594 - 477,594 394,430

Other member services (Schedule) 288,358 - 288,358 293,080

Professional fees 241,014 - 241,014 228,316

Donations 89,927 - 89,927 44,039

Joint committee meetings 81,602 - 81,602 127,641

Strike expenses, net - (1,331) (1,331) 262,977

38,699,016 (1,331) 38,697,685 38,359,470

Excess of revenues over expenses 3,693,962 3,699,397 7,393,359 6,338,309


B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union Consolidated statement of changes in fund balances


Operations (General Fund and

Solidarity Holdings Ltd.)

Invested in property

and equipment Unrestricted

Internally restricted

Restricted Defence

Fund Consolidated

2010 Consolidated

2009

$ $ $ $ $ $

(Note 11)

Fund balances,

beginning of year 16,059,819 3,659,358 4,855,122 31,267,625 55,841,924 44,252,676

Excess of revenues over expenses - 3,693,962 - 3,699,397 7,393,359 6,338,309

Unrealized gain on investments at December 31, 2010 - 1,108,391 - 2,077,598 3,185,989 3,317,370

Transfer of net realized loss on investments - 130,193 - 374,114 504,307 1,933,569

Amortization of property

and equipment (1,661,951) 1,661,951 - - - -

Purchase of property and equipment 2,249,155 (625,410) (1,623,745) - - -

Equipment under capital leases 212,573 (212,573) - - - -

Interfund transfers (Note 11)

Transfers: 2009 unrestricted fund

balance - (2,000,000) 2,000,000 - - -

2010 operating

budget - (522,245) 522,245 - - -

Fund balances, end of year 16,859,596 6,893,627 5,753,622 37,418,734 66,925,579 55,841,924


B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union Consolidated statement of cash flows


2010 2009

$ $

Operating activities

Excess of revenues over expenses 7,393,359 6,338,309

Item not involving the outlay of funds

Amortization 1,661,951 1,597,769

9,055,310 7,936,078

Net changes in operating working capital

Accounts receivable 571,069 (234,417)

Prepaid expenses 127,865 (218,819)

Due from/to components (113,967) (36,555)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 9,752 (570,153)

Due to affiliate 22,900 24,368

Supplemental leave benefits liability 340,658 340,877

10,013,587 7,241,379

Investing activities

Purchase of short-term investments, net (5,923,728) (4,466,063)

Repayment from NAPE - 577,284

Purchase of property and equipment (2,252,983) (2,028,690)

(8,176,711) (5,917,469)

Financing activity

Principal repayments, capital lease obligations (207,332) (199,093)

Net cash inflow 1,629,544 1,124,817

Cash position, beginning of year 3,915,414 2,790,597

Cash position, end of year 5,544,958 3,915,414

Supplemental cash flow information

Purchase of property and equipment by capital lease 147,197 255,483

Interest paid on capital lease obligations 38,218 42,365

B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Year Ended December 31, 2010

Page 6

1. Nature of organization

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (the “Union”) is a democratic union providing services to its members who work for the Government of the Province of British Columbia, or its boards, agencies, commissions and Crown corporations, or in the broader public and private sectors. As a labour organization, the Union is exempt from income taxes under Section 149(1)(k) of the Income Tax Act.

2. Significant accounting policies

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and reflect the following significant accounting policies:

(a) Principles of consolidation

These financial statements include the accounts of the General and Defence Funds of the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union and the Union’s wholly-owned company. All transactions between the General Fund, Defence Fund and the Union have been eliminated. These financial statements do not include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Components and Locals.

(b) Fund accounting

The Union prepares its financial statements using the concept of fund accounting. A description of each fund is as follows: The General Fund reports the Union’s unrestricted resources and the following

internally restricted reserves. The balances and transactions of the Union’s wholly-owned company are also reflected in this fund.

The Fightback and campaign reserve The Area office, land and building reserve The Convention reserve

The Bargaining reserve The Defence Fund reports restricted resources to be used in the event of job action.

(c) Financial instruments The Union is continuing with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (“CICA”)

Section 3861, “Financial Instruments – Disclosure and Presentation”, as permitted for not-for-profit organizations.

Financial instruments, for recognition and measurement, are all classified as one of the following: held-to-maturity, loans and receivables, held-for-trading, available-for-sale or other financial liabilities.

Financial assets and liabilities held-for-trading are measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in operations. Financial assets held-to-maturity, loans and receivables, and other financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.



Page 7

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

(c) Financial instruments (continued) Financial assets available-for-sale are normally measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in changes in fund balances until the investments are sold, at which time any resulting gains or loss would be recorded in operations. The exception is for equity investments that do not have a quoted market price in an active market and are therefore recorded at cost.

The Union’s financial instruments are classified as follows:

Held-for-trading

Cash Loans and receivables Accounts receivable Due from components

Available-for-sale Short-term investments Investments Other liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Amounts held in trust Due to affiliate Due to components

(d) Property and equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is calculated on the declining balance basis at the following annual rates: Buildings 5% Parking lot and road 4% Furniture and equipment 20%

Computer equipment 30% Equipment under capital leases is amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of

the lease of three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease (five years) and one renewal period (five years).

(e) Impairment of long-lived assets

The Union reviews property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable as compared to expected undiscounted future cash flows.

The Union records an impairment loss in the period when it is determined that the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the undiscounted estimate of future cash flows from the asset. Any impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and estimated fair value of the asset.



Page 8

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

(f) Revenue recognition

The Union follows the deferral method of accounting for members’ dues. Restricted contributions are recognized as revenue in the same year in which the related expenses are recognized. Unrestricted contributions are recognized as revenue when received or receivable if the amount to be received can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured.

Interest and investment income is recognized in the period earned. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are included in the determination of investment income.

(g) Supplemental leave benefits

The Union provides supplemental leave benefits under a defined benefit plan and accrues its liability under the plan. Actuarial gains and losses arising from changes in actuarial assumptions are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected

remaining service life of plan members (Note 10).

(h) Income taxes

As a not-for-profit organization, the Union is not subject to income taxes under Section 149(1)(k) of the Income Tax Act. However, its wholly-owned company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, current income taxes are recognized as incurred and payable in the current year. Future

income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of balance sheet items and their corresponding tax values as well as

for the benefit of losses available to be carried forward to future years for tax purposes to the extent that they are likely to be realized. The wholly-owned company computes future income taxes using the substantively enacted corporate income tax rates for the years in which the differences will likely reverse. The amount of future income tax assets recognized is limited to the amount of the benefit that is more likely than not to

be realized.

(i) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the

reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Areas requiring the use of estimates include the recoverability of accounts receivable, the useful lives of property and equipment, valuation of investments, net recoverable

amount of property and equipment, accrued liabilities, capital lease obligations and supplemental leave benefits liability. The Union believes the estimates are reasonable; however, actual results could differ from those estimates and could impact future results of operations and cash flows.

3. Due from (to) Components

2010 2009

$ $ Dues allocations payable (315,413) (338,403)

Advances to cover expenses, non-interest-bearing 365,464 274,487

50,051 (63,916)



Page 9

4. Short-term investments

The Union’s investments are comprised of equity and debt securities, all of which are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at their fair value based on the quoted market prices of the securities at December 31, 2010.

The composition of trading securities, classified as current assets, is as follows at December 31:

2010 2009

Fair Value Cost

Fair Value Cost

$ $ $ $

Treasury bills 103,733 103,750 - -

Fixed income funds 26,027,238 26,174,670 16,186,941 16,697,236

Common stock 28,085,501 23,979,154 18,001,518 17,222,602

Term deposits - - 10,413,989 10,413,989

54,216,472 50,257,574 44,602,448 44,333,827

Represented by

General Fund 18,231,804 16,987,001 16,428,326 16,422,106

Defence Fund 35,984,668 33,270,573 28,174,122 27,911,721

54,216,472 50,257,574 44,602,448 44,333,827

For the year ended December 31, 2010, the total realized loss on the sale of marketable securities was $504,307 (2009 - $1,933,569).

5. Investments

The investments noted below do not have quoted market prices in an active market and are therefore recorded at cost.

2010 2009

$ $ Working Enterprises Ltd. 1 1

United Labour Mutual Holding Society 88,000 88,000

West Kootenay Labour Centre Holding Society 15,250 15,250

103,251 103,251



Page 10

6. Amounts held in trust

2010 2009

$ $ Public Service Employees’ Benefit Trust 39,160 39,160

For training of members covered by the Master Agreement

between government of the Province of British Columbia and the Union

Health Science Professionals Professional Development Fund 171,948 197,632

For professional development of members covered by the Health Sciences Professionals collective agreement

Joint Community Health Retraining Fund 2,639,892 - For retraining members of the labour organizations consisting of the Community Bargaining Association, of which BCGEU is a member

2,851,000 236,792

7. Property and equipment

2010 2009

Cost Accumulated amortization

Net book value

Net book value

$ $ $ $ Land 2,541,522 - 2,541,522 2,030,022

Buildings 15,569,795 5,973,092 9,596,703 8,931,008

Furniture and equipment 5,946,995 4,706,405 1,240,590 1,168,069

Computer equipment 2,101,719 1,627,956 473,763 453,827

Equipment under capital leases 895,582 460,309 435,273 510,311

Parking lot and road 100,865 31,513 69,352 72,242

Leasehold improvements 5,980,461 3,029,751 2,950,710 3,420,574

33,136,939 15,829,026 17,307,913 16,586,053

No impairment losses have been identified by the Union for the year ended December 31, 2010.

8. Due to affiliate

The amount due to an affiliate union, with which BCGEU has a memorandum of agreement, is unsecured, non-interest-bearing and is payable on demand.



Page 11

9. Capital lease obligations

Future minimum lease payments on capital lease obligations are as follows:

$ 2011 240,912

2012 192,589

2013 52,413

2014 9,968

Total minimum lease payments 495,882

Less: Imputed interest at 6.8% (38,400)

457,482

Less: Current obligation (215,675)

Long-term obligation 241,807

Interest of $38,218 (2009 - $42,365) on account of capital leases was recognized during the year and is included in office expense.

10. Supplemental leave benefits liability The Union is committed to provide certain supplemental leave benefits under a defined benefit plan. The benefits are based on length of service and final earnings.

An actuarial report prepared in early 2010 provided the Union with a valuation of the total

benefits liability at December 31, 2009 and a projection of the current service cost for 2010 and total benefits obligation at December 31, 2010. Both the valuation and projection were based on assumptions regarding discount rates and employees’ compensation levels during their active period of employment. In March 2011, the actuaries revised their projection of the December 31, 2010 obligation to reflect a discount rate of 4.25%, as compared to the discount rate of 5.25% used in their

earlier report. The resulting actuarial loss of $406,630 will be amortized over 9.51 years starting in 2011.

2010 2009

$ $ Total benefits obligation 12,219,856 11,779,393

Unamortized actuarial loss (1,646,468) (1,546,663)

Supplemental leave benefits liability 10,573,388 10,232,730

Supplemental leave benefits expense consists of the following:

Interest cost on accrued benefit obligation 619,306 762,773

Current service cost 549,673 523,483

Amortization of actuarial gains/losses 306,824 183,366

Supplemental leave benefits expense 1,475,803 1,469,622

Benefits paid in the year were $1,135,145 (2009 - $1,128,744).



Page 12

10. Supplemental leave benefits liability (Continued)

2010 2009

Actuarial adjustments

Amortization period

Initial amortization

Total actuarial

loss (gain) Accumulated amortization

Unamortized actuarial loss

(gain)

Unamortized actuarial loss

(gain)

$ $ $ $ 2003 9.74 2003 1,487,550 1,221,808 265,742 418,468

2004 9.74 2005 224,281 138,161 86,120 109,147

2005 9.74 2006 606,911 311,556 295,355 357,666

2006 9.50 2007 333,705 140,507 193,198 228,325

2007 9.50 2008 (213,599) (67,452) (146,147) (168,631)

2008 9.50 2009 (639,731) (134,680) (505,051) (572,390)

2009 9.51 2010 1,174,078 123,457 1,050,621 1,174,078

2010 9.51 2011 406,630 - 406,630 -

3,379,825 1,733,357 1,646,468 1,546,663

The significant actuarial assumptions adopted in measuring and projecting the supplemental leave benefits liability are as follows:

2010 2009

% % Discount rate 4.25 5.25

Rate of compensation and benefits increase 3.00 3.00

11. Internally restricted fund balances

2010 2009

Fightback and

campaign reserve

Area office land and building reserve

Convention reserve

Bargaining reserve Total Total

$ $ $ $ $ $ Fund balance,

beginning of year 2,581,122 - 500,000 1,774,000 4,855,122 3,696,951

Purchase of

property and

equipment - (1,623,745) - - (1,623,745) (877,964)

Operating

expenditures - - - - - (41,829)

Transfers:

2008 unrestricted

fund balance - - - - - 285,383

2009 unrestricted fund balance - 2,000,000 - - 2,000,000 592,581

2010 operating budget 22,245 - 500,000 - 522,245 1,200,000

Fund balance, end

of year 2,603,367 376,255 1,000,000 1,774,000 5,753,622 4,855,122

The fightback and campaign reserve includes $26,231 (2009 - $3,986) in reserve for political action and contributions. In 2010, the Provincial Executive approved the transfer of $2,000,000 from the 2009 unrestricted fund balance to the internally restricted area office land and building reserve.



Page 13

11. Internally restricted fund balances (Continued)

On January 19, 2011, the Provincial Executive approved the transfer of an additional $350,000 from the 2009 unrestricted fund balance to the internally restricted area office land and building reserve. The transfer approved in 2011 is not reflected in these financial statements.

12. Commitment

Leases

The Union is committed to operating lease payments on premises and office equipment over the next five years as follows:

$

2011 288,788

2012 202,318

2013 149,702

2014 130,221

2015 121,820

892,849

13. Multi-employer pension plan

Employees of the Union are members of the Public Service Pension Plan, a multi-employer

contributory defined benefit plan. The regular employer contribution for 2010 was $1,469,955 (2009 - $1,481,802) and is included in salaries and employee benefits expense.

14. Financial instruments

(a) Fair value

The Union’s financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, due to/from components, short-term investments, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and due to affiliate, the carrying values of which approximate their fair values due to their immediate or short-term maturity or their market-related interest rates. The fair values of investments in trade union holding societies are not determinable as

the investments are equity instruments with no quoted market prices in an active market.

(b) Interest rate risk

The Union is not exposed to significant interest rate risk on its short-term monetary assets and liabilities.

There is a financial risk to the Union’s earnings that arises from fluctuations in interest rates and the degree of volatility of these rates. The Union does not use derivative instruments to mitigate this risk.



Page 14

14. Financial instruments (Continued)

(c) Credit risk The Union’s exposure to credit risk with respect to its cash and short-term investments is minimized since these items are held at well-capitalized Canadian financial institutions. In addition, the Government of the Province of British Columbia, with its Financial Institutions Act, has, through the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation, guaranteed the full value of the Union’s cash, all of it held at credit

unions in British Columbia. The Union’s exposure to credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is minimal since over 92% (2009 - 97%) of the accounts receivable, as at December 31, 2010, are

receivable from well established employers for members’ dues deducted from members’ wages. Member dues are received from employers on a regular basis.

15. Income taxes

The Union is not subject to income taxes. Its wholly-owned company has no taxable income for the year (2009 - $nil). No recognition has been made in the consolidated financial statements for any potential tax benefits arising from timing differences between the company’s net book value and tax basis of property and equipment, which amounted to

approximately $384,000.

16. Capital disclosures The Union’s objective when managing its capital is to safeguard the Union’s ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide benefits for members consistent with its Constitution.

The Union has no externally imposed capital requirements.

The Union allocates a certain portion of the members’ dues that it collects to both the Defence Fund and the Components.

17. Reclassification

Certain of the prior year’s figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union Consolidated schedule of expenses


2010 2009

$ $

Building and administration

Amortization of property and equipment 1,456,086 1,400,949

Office 1,039,441 1,043,727

Building 995,525 1,362,359

Telephone and utilities 876,643 818,556

Rent 480,622 437,846

Information technology 348,418 369,522

Postage 302,659 293,616

Amortization of property and equipment under capital lease 205,865 196,820

5,705,259 5,923,395

Campaigns, coalitions and communications

Defending jobs and public services 677,232 819,496

Internal and external communications 550,841 621,548

Political action and contributions 152,791 311,644

1,380,864 1,752,688

Other member services

Stewards and local officer recognition events 144,017 138,752

Cross component committee expenses 68,137 81,439

Scholarships and welfare 55,375 53,810

Union observers 20,829 19,079

288,358 293,080

JUNE 15 TO 18, 2011 VANCOUVER, B.C.

unions

matterBCGEU FORTY-EIGHTH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Convention Reports

BCGEU FORTY-EIGHTH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION


Table of ContentsEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT PAGE 1

REPORT OF PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES PAGE 9

Child Care, Family and Life/Work Balance Committee .........................................................................9

Community and Social Action Committee ..........................................................................................11

Education, Activism and Communications Committee .........................................................................13

Environment Committee ..................................................................................................................15

Equity and Human Rights Committee ................................................................................................17

Finance Committee ..........................................................................................................................19

Grievance Appeal Committee ............................................................................................................22

International Solidarity Committee ....................................................................................................23

Occupational Health and Safety Committee .......................................................................................25

Resolutions Committee ....................................................................................................................27

Scholarship Committee ....................................................................................................................27

Women’s Committee ........................................................................................................................29

Young Workers’ Committee ..............................................................................................................31

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS PAGE 33Organizing and Field Services ...........................................................................................................33

Negotiations ...................................................................................................................................39

Advocacy ........................................................................................................................................49

Research, Campaigns and Communications .......................................................................................52

Administration .................................................................................................................................69

Human Resources ...........................................................................................................................71

Finance ..........................................................................................................................................71

BCGEU Organizational Structure and Staff .........................................................................................74

BCGEU Administrative Structure .......................................................................................................78

REPORTS OF AFFILIATES PAGE 79 BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union .................................................................................................79

Compensation Employees’ Union ......................................................................................................81

BCGEU 2011 CONVENTION – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

Executive Committee Report

PAGE 1

CGEU members can look back with pride at the work their union has done for its members and the role

it plays in the broader community. We have built alliances with faith groups, social policy groups and activist organizations – all to help build a better province for our members and the rest of the public.

This report of the Executive committee is pre-pared for the union’s 48th constitutional con-vention. It will outline the key activities of the BCGEU and our affi liated unions since the last convention in June 2008. Executive commit-tee members include Darryl Walker, president; Judi Filion, treasurer; and vice-presidents Dan Bradford, Mike Clarke, Colleen Jones, and Lorene Oikawa.

The Executive committee meets jointly with the Administrative committee. In addition to the president and treasurer, Administrative committee members include directors Lynn Bueckert, Jaynie Clark, Mary Rowles and David Vipond. The Executive committee deals with policy issues, the Administrative committee addresses operational issues.

IntroductionSince our last convention, BCGEU members and the people of British Columbia have seen political change unlike the province has ever seen before.

In 2009 we saw the re-election of the Campbell gov-ernment and immediately there was a popular revolt against the government’s introduction of the Harmo-nized Sales Tax. Pressure on the government was so intense that Premier Campbell was forced to resign and was eventually replaced by Christy Clark.

Political turmoil didn’t escape the NDP either. B.C.’s New Democrats saw their leader, Carole James resign, to be replaced by Adrian Dix.

At the federal level, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were re-elected to a minority government in 2008. As this report is being prepared the Conservatives have formed a majority government, raising many concerns about the future of many government services and programs.

At the same time there was political upheaval provin-cially, there was a continual reworking of the public service, especially in the resource ministries. Adequate funding of social service agencies and other service providers were a constant struggle for workers to face.

Through all of this upheaval, be it in government, the broader public service, or in our private sector certi-fi cations, BCGEU members did their jobs every day, providing services to the public we are noted for. Our political leaders may have thrown our economy and our governments into disarray, but workers in B.C. continue to do their job.

B

unions

matterDELEGATES TO THE 48TH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF THE B.C. GOVERNMENT AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES’ UNIONWelcome!


All is not calm, though. There are clouds on the horizon as governments and employers blindly follow an ideological approach that puts workers in second place. The public service is targeted as a scapegoat for declining revenues and all workers are being told their pensions are “gold-plated” and they have to be rolled back, along with other hard-earned rights.

BCGEU members have shown that they won’t take this lying down and will fi ght for our rights and the needs of those less fortunate. “Unions Matter” is our conven-tion theme and the message from our convention will show that.

BCGEU members can be proud of their role in deter-mining the future of our union and the future of British Columbia.

Unions MatterDespite our hard-earned gains and their promises of a better approach, it’s not hard to hear the rumblings of a developing attack on workers.

Whether it’s the scrapping of collective bargaining rights for public employees in Wisconsin or the constant re-frain from conservative commentators in Canada of the need to scale back pension plans, working people will be facing one of our biggest fi ghts over the next few years. Governments and employers, blaming workers and their unions for being greedy and infl exible, are clearly gearing up to take back many of the rights and benefi ts working people have fought for and earned.

Blaming workers and their wages is always the easy way out. But it’s not right. Taking infl ation into

account, B.C.’s public sector wages have increased by 0.15 percent over the last decade.

The BCGEU is working with the BC Federation of La-bour and its affi liates to ensure we can make gains at the bargaining table, not fall behind. We will continue to work with our brothers and sisters across the bor-der in building international solidarity to fi ght efforts by governments and employers to rollback our rights.

No Easy Path for BargainingThe 2010 negotiation year saw the expiry of major collective agreements covering a majority of BCGEU members.

It was, and remains, a diffi cult climate to bargain in. The provincial government set out a strict net zero bargaining position that forced unions in all sectors to fund improvements to contracts by making changes from within existing agreements.

Faced with this mandate, the BCGEU’s negotiations with employers, including the provincial government, were diffi cult, but agreements were reached with improvements.

A major sector, community social services, have not yet reached agreement with employers and strike votes were being taken to send a message to employ-ers and the government that workers in this sector were serious about reaching a collective agreement with some positive changes around job security and the continuity of care.

College instructors are working on local agreements but have yet to reach a settlement with colleges around the province.

College support bargaining has come to a standstill given the government’s net zero mandate and the em-ployer’s unwillingnes to improve job security language.

This fall we will have bargaining conferences, as we will be back at the table in early 2011 with the major-ity of our agreements. The BCGEU has made it clear to employers that our members will not settle for zeros in the next round of bargaining.

Settlements Reached Included:PUBLIC SERVICE – temporary market adjustments continued and employment security negotiated. Some


health benefi ts extended and a new process for deal-ing with bullying.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES – agreement negotiated three percent increase for licensed practical nurses in 2009 and 2010, a three percent increase based on Grid 8 wages for certifi ed dental assistants, including a direct pay drug card and improved vision care.

FACILITIES HEALTH SERVICES – LPNs, supervisors and/or techs, ortho techs, lab assistant, sterile supply, buyers, accountant 1 and 2 and unit clerks received increases and expanded job security language. There is an additional $1,000,000 for the education fund.

HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS – an agreement was reached in early March 2011 that saw improved em-ployment security language and signifi cant improve-ments to the benefi ts package. A new joint working group for benefi ts and classifi cations was established.

LAKE CITY CASINO – members voted in April 2011 to ratify a new collective agreement. The three-year agreement includes wage increases and improvements to dental benefi ts.

LIFELABS – agreement was reached on a three percent increase along with increases in meal allowances and an increase in premium pay for training.

CANADA LINE (PROTRANS) – After months of bargain-ing and a strike vote, agreement on a fi rst collective agreement was achieved. The agreement includes improvement to wages, pensions and health benefi ts.

A New Component 8 for Community Health WorkersA growing membership of health care workers led to the creation of Component 8, our new community health component.

Because of the size and complexity of our member-ship in the health care sector, the new component will give members in this sector a direct focus on their

work. The creation of the component gives health care workers another voice at the union’s provincial executive. The new component was created with the full support of our existing health care component – Component 4.

Overall, the BCGEU represents 17,000 health care workers – approximately 25 percent of all members.

A Growing UnionSince our last convention the union has made a strong commitment to organizing. We have led all B.C. unions in organizing new members. Just over 3,307 members have joined the BCGEU since mid-2008.

We have steadily expanded our membership at casinos and we have made strong inroads in the health sector, including organizing workers at InSite (176 new members), Retirement Concepts/Well Being (639 members), Baltic Properties (260 members) and Advocare (180 members).

It is exciting to see so many new workers join our union. It is a testament to our work and the reputation


of the BCGEU that we have been able to organize so many new workers.

Reaching Out to MembersAnnual Member-to-Member campaigns allow stewards, local and component executives to visit workplaces and meet with members.

Recent work by the union has resulted in the re-ap-pointment of health and safety committee members at worksites around the province. The OH&S committee has also developed OH&S ENews, an email bulletin on health and safety issues which is sent to stewards and committee members.

Steward networking, conferences, campaign schools and education courses like the BCGEU Labour Institute help increase member participation and provide tools for activists to become advocates in their workplaces and communities.

Campaigns put Union’s Issues on the Public AgendaThe BCGEU is recognized in the labour movement for the work we do on our campaigns. Our campaigns reach out into the community, linking with faith groups, social policy groups, community activists, and others.

Here is a brief sketch of some of our campaigns. Each campaign involves considerable planning, research, building contacts, reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) relationships and creating communications materials. We are proud of our legacy of work in many of these areas.

Ending PovertyWe are a member of the B.C. Poverty Reduction Plan Coalition, using our voice to raise concerns about the continuing and outrageous levels of poverty in British Columbia. It is unforgiveable that B.C. has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada.

A way out of the poverty trap is a living wage, and we are active members in the “Living Wage” campaign, launched to help lift working families and children out of poverty. The “Living Wage” campaign calls for a higher standard than the minimum wage, ensuring that wages refl ect the needs of families in their communities.

The BCGEU is proud to be a living wage employer.

Child CarePressing government to establish affordable, acces-sible, high quality child care continues to be a key campaign for the union.

We have used federal, provincial and municipal elections as platforms to raise the issue and make it a centrepiece of debate.

We will continue to work with our partners in child care to ensure that the issue does not slip off the agenda.

Is That Truck Safe?The union and the Component 20 Executive have pooled resources to engage in a public campaign to increase awareness of the union’s commercial vehicle inspectors, and the impact of continuing budget cuts on road safety across the province.

The campaign’s goal is two-fold – to increase the profi le of the role commercial vehicle inspectors play in ensuring road safety, and to pressure the government to fi ll dozens of vacant inspector positions and in-crease operational hours of commercial vehicle weigh scales.

The campaign, which is being developed, will include billboards, radio and newspaper ads, a campaign web page (roadsafebc.ca), and a municipal lobbying effort in key communities across the province.

The key message of the ad campaign is: “That truck may not be roadsafe: numerous inspectors’ jobs remain unfi lled.”

George Foisy, a recently-retired commercial vehicle inspector with 38 years public service, serves as the campaign’s spokesperson and voice of our inspectors.


Mental Illness and AddictionsThere is growing recognition of just how underfunded mental health and addictions services are in our province.

The BCGEU represents frontline workers in many sec-tors that work with people who have mental illness and addiction problems and we are working with them to provide support and assist the union in responding to the provincial government’s Mental Health Plan.

We will work with our members and other organiza-tions and providers to ensure there is a proper re-sponse in place for workers and clients alike.

Community LivingSweeping cuts and service redesigns in community liv-ing are negatively affecting adults with developmental disabilities. BCGEU members working at agencies con-tracted by Community Living BC are losing their jobs, as group homes around the province are being closed.

The union has developed a Community Living cam-paign to raise awareness about the issue, including by organizing two community forums in the fall of 2010. The BCGEU has taken the lead in organizing a network of stakeholders in the sector, and releasing a report highlighting the impact of the cuts, and calling for a moratorium on group home closures.

Justice For AllThe union conducted an active campaign around the provincial government’s cuts to legal aid.

Cuts forced the Legal Services Society to cut staff in the Lower Mainland alone by 38 positions. The cuts have a dramatic impact on low-income people, especially women and their children.

The union worked with its allies in the Coalition for Public Legal Services, holding hearings and gathering information from people around the province.

The union continues to follow the situation closely.

Quality Public Services and Tax FairnessWe are an active participant in the NUPGE “All To-gether Now!” campaign talking to workers, friends and family members about the need for quality public services and tax fairness.

The campaign is an outreach effort to talk to as many people as possible. We have participated by recruiting

12 BCGEU activists, called “Champions for Change” who have been out in the communities at union meetings, labour councils and other events to generate a national debate on the need for public services and tax fairness.

The campaign continues and staff can arrange for a “Champion” to speak to your group.

Providing for SeniorsProviding quality care for seniors is key to helping se-niors live a long and productive life. Improved funding for home support and other services is the basis of the BCGEU’s seniors’ campaign.

We are one of the largest unions representing health care workers in the province – especially those who care for seniors. It is clear that home support im-proves the quality of life for seniors and helps them stay out of hospitals. Seniors and those needing acute care would benefi t from increased funding to home support programs.

The BCGEU is pushing the government on a number of issues including expanding home support services, investing in training for seniors’ care work and ending the contracting out of staff.

We have developed an active communications plan to build on this activity and put seniors’ care at the top of the health care debate.

Community Social Services Matter!

Every day, BCGEU members who work in community social services go to work to help the most vulnerable in our society. They help people deal with some of the basic things in life that most of us take for granted.

Community social service workers provide help to people with developmental disabilities, people who need child care and employment and housing, and


they work in support programs for women who are dealing with violence, substance abuse and addiction related problems. Their work is critical to the daily lives of many, and yet they often go unrecognized.That’s the impetus behind “Community Social Services Awareness Month,” a campaign by unions in the sector to promote the work of workers in this fi eld.

The BCGEU leads the campaign supporting commu-nity outreach events and getting local councils around the province to proclaim Community Social Services month. Events wrap up with a march in Victoria.

Be sure and check out the website at:www.communitysocialservicesmatter.ca.

B.C. Forests – Our FutureSince 2002, the Liberal government has cut more than 1,100 forestry workers’ jobs from the Forests and Range ministry, eroded the government’s compliance and enforcement capabilities in public forests and has ushered in an era of self-regulation that threatens the sustainability of B.C. forests.

Faced with severe cuts to the provin-cial government’s ability to properly manage our forests, the union has launched an extensive campaign to reach out to members and the public in forest-based communities around the province. We have held forums in Castlegar, Campbell River, Kamloops

and Prince George, with participants from our members, the industry and elected offi cials at all three levels of government.

We have also worked closely with our members, community groups, and First Nations to assist them during the transition to the creation of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natu-ral Resource Operations. This was a signifi cant change within government and created many challenges, with members not knowing which branch of government they were in months after the ministry was created. We are continuing to monitor the development

of the new ministry through Article 29.

The public shares our concerns as well. In a poll conducted by the union, a large majority supported more investment in the forest sector and an over-whelming number of respondents acknowledged the need for good regulation and public oversight of the forest industry by people who work for the forest service.

The union is compiling the information collected from the community meetings and will be putting together a policy document later in the year.

Day of Mourning – April 28thEvery year, on April 28th, workers around the world pause for a moment to pay tribute to workers who were injured or killed on the job. There are around

140 workplace deaths each year in B.C.

The BCGEU has always participated in Day of Mourning events and has revamped its communications ma-terials, including a new poster and a fridge magnet outlining workers’ rights.

Shop PublicThe union is continuing it’s cam-paign to draw attention to the value of “shopping public” at public liquor stores. The campaign includes ad-vertizing and other communications work, especially around holiday


periods, to encourage consumers to shop at public stores. The message is clear: shop-ping at the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) means profi ts on alcoholic beverages go back to government to help fund public services including health care and education.

We will be building on the “Shop Public” campaign by working more closely with other unions to make sure their members understand the importance of shopping at the LDB.

The union works with the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) on reports and other information to promote shopping at public liquor stores.

International SolidarityThe BCGEU continues to build links and work with in-ternational labour and non-government organizations.

The union contributes 10 cents per member per month to the BCGEU Diane L. Wood International Solidarity and Humanity Fund which helps support a number of projects and partners different unions, community groups and non-governmental organizations.

The union partners with CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev) on four projects in Latin America and works with partners in the Horn of Africa and the Stephen Lewis foundations on projects in Africa.

Other work is done with the Burma Labour Solidar-ity Organization and the Adopt an Organizer in the Philippines (an initiative of the Vancouver and District Labour Council).

The union’s Tom Kozar Scholarship Fund provides education scholarships through the CoDev partners.

The union has also provided emergency funds to Haiti, Chile and Japan.

A Green UnionThe BCGEU is a member of the Jobs, Justice and Climate Coalition which works with the labour move-ment and environmental groups to develop a “blue-green” economy. The coalition sponsored a successful conference in September 2010 and representatives

from the BCGEU attended a similar conference in Washington, D.C. The goal of the movement is to ensure good environmental practice is followed while encouraging economic development.

The union’s “Cool Communities” campaign has helped make food security and climate justice issues at the municipal level and elsewhere. The campaign con-tinues to be the centrepiece for the union’s work on climate change.

Internally, the union continues to take steps to reduce its carbon footprint. The union’s environment offi cer is mandated to look at new ways and techniques to reduce, reuse and recycle.

An annual review of steps taken at headquarters and the Lower Mainland area offi ce to reduce our carbon footprint is reviewed and recommendations imple-mented.

Initiatives such as new paper dispensers in washrooms to reduce the amount of paper used and the instal-lation of motion sensor water taps all help the union meet its ongoing goal of being a “green” union.

The work of the union in choosing more environmen-tally proper products is refl ected in the certifi cate presented to the union by one of our paper suppliers.

The union has also sponsored a number of gardening workshops for members, bringing in experts to help members establish gardens and grow more of their own produce.


Embracing Social MediaThe union is now using social media more than ever to reach out to members.

While the union’s website is the anchor for new initia-tives, even it has gone through some changes. Popu-lar new videos such as “In Conversation” have been well-received and the “President’s Blog” provides an opportunity for the president and members to have a dialogue on issues of the day.

The union’s email list has grown substantially, with around half the membership included. This makes it easy to send out the weekly e-bulletin, a summary of the news, and for different parts of the union to have their own e-bulletins, such as the new occupational, health and safety e-news.

We have a growing following on Facebook and Twitter, using these tools to quickly get messages out to mem-bers and the media and to hear directly from members on their concerns.

Internal StrengthThe union continues to improve on its ability to service members. A key development has been the establish-ment of BCGEU Direct, a centralized resource centre to help answer questions from members. Questions about collective agreements, stewards and other membership issues are answered quickly and consis-tently by the staff.

A new offi ce has been opened in Castlegar (May 2010) and the new Nanaimo offi ce will open in May of this year.

Video conferencing is now available in all area offi ces.This has reduced travel costs and allowed much greater opportunity to have resource people available at meetings around the province.

Thanks to AllSince our last convention, the Provincial Executive has seen a number of changes. Anthony Dodds stepped down as vice-president. His position was fi lled by Dan Bradford, who was chair of Component 7.

Joining the executive were Susanne Francoeur (Component 2), Stephanie Smith (Component 3 second member), Craig MacKay (Component 5), Stu Seifert (Component 7), Carla Dempsey (Component 8) and Louise Hood (Component 8 second member).

Other members of the executive: Darryl Walker (presi-dent), Judi Filion (treasurer), Mike Clarke (vice-presi-dent), Colleen Jones (vice-president), Lorene Oikawa (vice-president), Dean Purdy (Component 1), James Cavalluzzo (Component 3), Brenda Brown (Component 4), Doug Kinna (Component 6), Mike Nuyens (Compo-nent 10), Sandi McLean (Component 12), Lori Joaquin (Component 12 second member), Dave MacDonald (Component 17), Byron Goerz (Component 20).

We want to thank the following for their service: Anthony Dodds (vice-president), Helen Lindsay (Component 2) and Betty Reid (Component 5).

All of our members and staff have worked to be a strong voice at the bargaining table and to provide ongoing service for our members. We are fi rst among unions when it comes to working with our community allies to achieve a better life for all British Columbians.

unions

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BCGEU 2011 CONVENTION – PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

Reports of Provincial Executive Committees

CHILD CARE, FAMILY AND LIFE/WORK BALANCE COMMITTEEThe committee’s mandate is to:

• develop BCGEU policy for the Provincial Executive on workplace and employer-provided child care;

• develop a position for the Provincial Executive, to lobby government for funding and bargaining structures;

• develop policy for BCGEU’s child/dependent care;

• encourage and support the participation of BCGEU activists and members in community and public awareness campaigns for Child and Family Care;

• review union policies and practices with a life/work balance lens and amend as required;

• research and recommend ways to negotiate life/work balance concerns into collective agreements.

ritish Columbia’s children and families have faced increasing challenges over the last three years. Fortunately there are many

caring advocacy organizations in B.C. alive to these challenges and have dynamic public campaigns aimed at changing the status quo. Much of the work of the Provincial Executive Child Care Family and Life/Work Balance committee has been to support and work closely with these groups.

Over 120,000 children, one in seven, live in poverty in British Columbia. B.C.’s child poverty rate has improved slightly but is still the worst in Canada, the seventh year in a row. The Human Early Learning Project (HELP) has determined that nearly one in three B.C. kindergarten children are at risk of failing to develop into healthy, well-educated and productively employed adults. Almost 20 years ago, the federal government committed to ending child poverty by the year 2000.

Canada contributes less to young families than all other developed countries with the exception of Mexico. And, at a time when life expectancy contin-ues to grow, the infant mortality rate in Canada has increased by 0.1 percent since 1996.

The BCGEU works closely with First Call, a B.C. coalition supporting children through public education, community mobilization and public policy advocacy. Among First Call’s many projects is the Living Wage Campaign. First Call and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives have calculated that a living wage for persons who reside in Vancouver is $18.17 per hour. However, the minimum wage in B.C. remains the lowest in Canada at $8.00 per hour.

First Call also reports that workplace injuries for child workers have increased over four times since the work-start age was lowered to 12 years in 2006. Brother Mike Clarke is actively involved in First Call, including sitting on the Early Childhood Development committee.

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Families continue to struggle to fi nd accessible group child care during a time when more and more child care spaces have closed. In June of 2010, the provin-cial government announced that they were creating new spaces for before and after-school care to accom-modate those families who may be re-entering the workforce due to the introduction of all-day kinder-garten for four-year-olds. The provincial government’s main strategy to opening up new before and after-school spaces is to increase group sizes from 20 to 24, effectively reducing the quality of care. At the end of June of the same year, the Champlain Heights Com-munity Association, a BCGEU certifi cation, was forced to close 45 before and after-school spaces because their funding was cut by the Vancouver Parks Board. Four BCGEU members lost their jobs as a result. Champlain Heights’ Kidstreet Clubhouse Out-of-School program provided quality care for school-aged children for more than 30 years.

Corporate, for-profi t child care has made its way back to B.C. Although ABC Learning Centres fi led for bank-ruptcy in the fall of 2008, Kids and Company, another corporate, for-profi t child care provider, has signed agreements with both WorkSafeBC and the University of British Columbia to provide offsite child care for staff and students. The BCGEU and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates (CCCABC) have condemned these agreements, citing poor quality care at the expense of profi t margins.

The BCGEU actively supports the work of the CCCABC. The purposes of the coalition are to promote and support quality community-based child care services that benefi t children, families and the public in the best interests of society. The coalition advocates for the development of a comprehensive, accessible and

affordable community based non-profi t child care system in B.C. and across Canada. Sisters Stephanie Smith and Caroline Kent participate on the Executive Board of the coalition.

NUPGE has appointed Sister Stephanie Smith to sit on the board of the Child Care Human Resources Sector Council (CCHRSC). CCHRSC is a federally funded body addressing human resources in the child care sector across Canada. Sister Smith was recently appointed to the Executive committee of CCHRSC. The CCHRSC has completed a major project developing occupational standards for early childhood educators (ECEs). Over 1,000 ECEs were interviewed during the development of the standards, including many BCGEU members. Other current projects include conducting an employer/employee workforce survey and developing a human resource tool kit for employers. There are concerns that the work of the CCHRSC has been compromised by a reduction of labour seats on the council from six to four. Additionally, the CCHRSC faces funding cuts in the im-minent budget.

There remains much work to be done to improve the lives of B.C’.s children and families and the committee eagerly anticipates that work.

Members of the committee are: Mike Clarke (chairperson), Stephanie Smith (vice-chairperson), Samantha McDonough (203), Caroline Kent (303), Judy Fox-McGuire (610), Steve Kitcher (701), Richard Schaeffer (703), Bob Kary (1208), Holly Page (asst. secretary), Chris Mullen (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: John Cantlon, Rachel LeBlanc, Jocelyn Lewis.

BCGEU 2011 CONVENTION – PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS PAGE 11

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE

he Provincial Executive Community and Social Action committee has as its mandate:

IDENTIFY AND RECOMMEND to the Provincial Executive, social, community and political ac-tions as well as potential alliances appropriate to advancing the workplace and community interests of BCGEU members. These include lobbying, impacting public policy, defend-ing workers’ interests, coalition building and related activity.

COMMUNICATE WITH COMPONENTS and liaise with representatives of cross-component committees and with BCGEU representatives to the BC Federation of Labour Community and Social Action committee (and other committees as appropriate) to:

• address the development of strategies to imple-ment, at the community level, social and political action initiatives consistent with Provincial Execu-tive policies;

• provide feedback on these initiatives; and

• consider proposals for initiatives and alliances in the formulation of recommendations for the Provincial Executive.

ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT the participation of BCGEU activists and members in community, social and politi-cal action initiatives and alliances. This broad mandate is meant to encourage, promote and foster community activism amongst our membership.

Since the last constitutional convention, the Provincial Executive Community and Social Action committee continued to focus its energies around poverty and related issues, especially the lack of affordable housing and the appalling conditions faced by the increasing number of homeless citizens in our communities.

Homelessness is at crisis levels in our province. It is estimated that as many as 15,000 British Columbians are homeless. And it’s not just a big city problem. Communities small and large, urban and rural, are confronted with a growing number of individuals and families who do not have a place to live.

People with severe addictions and/or mental illness make up anywhere from 33 percent to over 60 percent of the homeless population. Women who are victims of abuse and violence and are single parents are often homeless and the shelter system is not always a safe place for them. Family breakdown and abuse has con-tributed to an increase in youth homelessness. Many immigrants who have left their families and support networks behind in their home countries live in poverty and are homeless. Half of all refugees in Canada are at risk of becoming homeless because they don’t have access to settlement services or fi nancial assistance. It’s estimated that 41 percent of B.C.’s Aboriginal people are at risk of homelessness and 23 percent are absolutely homeless. Still others are unemployed, unemployable, or working poor.

But homelessness doesn’t just affect marginalized high-risk people. The homeless population is becom-ing increasingly diverse. Reduced eligibility for social assistance, cutbacks in government housing and social programs, uncontrolled rents, non-existent rental units and zero vacancy rates have forced many more people into unstable housing – couch-surfi ng, emergency shelters, or the streets.

Access to good, affordable housing has a huge infl u-ence on the social, economic and political aspect of so-ciety. Studies in Canada indicate that the average lifes-pan of those who are homeless is 45 years – just over half the average lifespan of the general population (80 years). Housing – or lack thereof – is one of the key determinants of people’s health and well-being, and governments could save billions of dollars a year

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in health care dollars by invest-ing in housing. Those who are homeless put a disproportionate demand on po-lice, ambulance, emergency room and justice-re-lated resources. A 2007 study puts this cost to B.C. in ex-cess of $55,000 per person per year, compared with $37,000 to

provide the same person with appropriate housing and supports.

Even the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has recog-nized the importance of housing and has called for an end to homelessness. And yet Canada remains the last major developed nation without a national housing plan.

In March 2009, B.C.’s Auditor General released a scathing report criticizing the B.C. government for having no clear strategy when it comes to reducing and preventing homelessness. In the report, Home-lessness: Clear Focus Needed, John Doyle said the province had failed to take the lead in dealing with the homelessness issue that requires a coordinated effort by all three levels of government.

This is an issue that touches everyone. It affects our members, the people they work with and provide services to, in every community in the province.

We continued to educate ourselves by meeting with representatives from community agencies, anti-poverty groups and housing advocates to give their perspec-tives on the continuing struggle against poverty and homelessness. These included the Carnegie Commu-nity Action Project, Citywide Housing Coalition, United Way, Pivot Legal, W2 Community Media Arts, and First United Church. We also learned how to use visual art to promote social justice by participating in a hands-on workshop with Favianna Rodriguez.

We then took action. We distributed sturdy foam bed mats, moisture barrier material, and “space blankets” to homeless citizens. We sponsored the purchase of a tent as part of Pivot Legal’s Red Tent campaign, providing a practical, easy-to-transport tent for some-one in need of shelter while also calling for a funded national housing strategy.

In March 2009, we supported province-wide “stands” for housing and a Grand March for Housing in Vancou-ver and other communities around the province. Dur-ing Homelessness Action Week 2009, we volunteered at Burnaby Homeless Connect by serving breakfast to approximately 150 people at the Southside Community Church. In November 2010, we toured shelter and transitional housing sites on Vancouver’s downtown eastside, talking with our members, housing advocates and clients about the challenges and issues around homelessness.

We worked to put homelessness on the political agenda. We brought in campaign staff from the BCGEU and BC Federation of Labour to brief us on plans for political action around the municipal and federal elections. We held a training session on member-to-member contact, then set up a phone bank to contact our members about the importance of voting in the Vancouver-Burrard provincial by-election. We devised a list of housing-related questions to pose to candidates in the 2008 municipal elections.

Our goal is to continue to hold politicians at all levels accountable for the lack of affordable housing and educate ourselves and our members about homeless-ness and other poverty-related issues, while working in partnership with advocates and allies in the commu-nity to effect change.

Members of the committee are: Colleen Jones (chair-person), Susanne Francoeur (vice-chairperson), Pam Schneider (308), Kristi Heinbuch (503), Frankie Kelley (601), Annette Taylor (703), Jim Manson (1008), Paul Finch (1201 and young worker rep), Linda Sonmor (1204), Wendi Lawrence (past member), Frank Anderson (asst. secretary), Carol Adams (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Shannon Beckett, Mike Eso, Larry Jandu, Helen Lindsay, Paul Lloyd, Charlene Smythe, Pam St. Thomas, Christine Vanlerberg, Margaret Walters.


he committee has a broad mandate to promote awareness of union education programs and to make recommendations

to the education offi cer and Provincial Executive on union educational programs and communications.

This committee is the only Provincial Executive com-mittee that is comprised of members elected from each area cross-component committee and then confi rmed by the president. Each member is the “education liai-son” for their area. Their role is to report on activities related to education and activism and provide feedback and information to locals on course and training needs. They work through the cross-component committee and are the link to the area staff, the education offi cer, locals and members in their area. Education is a stand-ing agenda item at all cross-component meetings.

The committee meets twice yearly and regularly uses email for updates and communication with the education offi cer.

The Education committee, communications staff and education offi cer have had a very busy three years with many new initiatives, opportunities for member education and new course development. The BCGEU has had more requests for training, courses and opportunities in education than ever before and the committee is committed to meeting the needs of members in new and exciting ways in the future.

Two specifi c resolutions from the 2008 constitutional convention were successfully met.

Resolution D-125 To increase opportunities in labour history BCGEU’s Labour Institute (Academic Stream) includes a full day on labour history. We were involved in the 75th anniversary of the “On to Ottawa Trek”, and a presentation was held for members about this historic mobilization of working people. A section on labour history is included in the basic stewards’ course and some area offi ces have held “labour history evenings”. Also, BCGEU sits on the advisory committee of the BC Labour Heritage Centre.

Composite Resolution D-9Develop a strategy to address bullying in the workplace, including tools to assist members and stewards ... educate the membershipAnti-bullying has been one of the main priorities for the union. Immediately after the 2008 convention, an anti-harassment and anti-bullying course was devel-oped and sent to all area offi ces. The course consists of a two-and-a-half hour anti-harassment session and a three-hour anti-bullying session.

This course was widely requested, not only from our own membership, but from numerous employers. Many of these employers have adopted it as mandatory for all employees, including excluded employees. Our staff representatives facilitate the course directly in the work-place. We also have presented it to Aboriginal worksites (union and non-union), the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, health care facilities, child care centres, educational institutions, municipalities, community so-cial services, and our own cross-components, locals and components. Recently the Public Service Alliance (PSA) has contacted us and we are looking at a joint educa-tion offering in the public service. This course has also been used in the human rights course at the Canadian Labour Congress (CCL) Winter School.

Education Initiatives/OpportunitiesSince 2008, the education offi cer upgraded and up-dated many of the existing courses such as the basic stewards’ and advanced stewards’ courses. As well, the following new courses have been developed:

• Speak Up, Speak Out: Communicating Assertively;

EDUCATION, ACTIVISM AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

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• Confl ict Resolution;• Effective Labour Management Committee Meetings;• Union Observer Training;• Public Speaking;• Oh No! Not Another Meeting;• Stress in the Workplace;• Member Facilitator Training;• Harassment and Bullying:

Keeping it out of the Workplace;• Developing Resolutions to Convention.

The education offi cer and Research, Campaigns and Communications (RCC) staff also developed various courses in leadership, local development, effective communication, lobbying, running effective commit-tee meetings and social media for various components over the past three years.

The education offi cer has trained members in all areas of the province to assist in co-facilitating courses with staff such as the basic stewards’ course. This has been successful with over 30 members trained. These mem-bers have used their facilitation skills in area-training initiatives as well as the CLC Winter School, weekend schools and various conferences.

The BCGEU Labour Institute continues to be one of the most popular educational opportunities for compo-nent executive members and for members who have an interest in developing and carrying out issue-based union campaigns. Seven institutes have been offered since the last convention with over 200 members participating. The Academic Stream, open only to component executive members, is the best labour train-ing in the province for leaders in our union. They spend three days on labour history, social policy and labour economics, with each course keeping current with B.C. events and politics. The campaign’s stream has been

extremely effective and very popular. We have held three basic campaign’s courses, in addition to one strict-ly for young workers, and one for members from equity seeking groups. We also held one advanced campaign’s course. The partnership with Capilano University contin-ues to grow and some of the best labour instructors in the province teach these courses to our members.

The union’s newest education initiatives are the regional conferences. At the 2008 convention, del-egates voted to eliminate the policy convention and to dedicate those resources toward member education. It was felt that educational opportunities needed to reach out to the members, and that members within their own regions needed an opportunity to meet and network. In keeping with this, regional confer-ences were developed. The fi rst conference was held in Region 3 (Kamloops) in 2009, and the second was held in Region 4 (Prince George) in 2010. Criteria for attending a regional conference was set as follows:

• Local chairs attended by right; • Each local was entitled to two additional delegates

who had to be one of the following: a new stew-ard, a bargaining committee member identifi ed as a newer activist, a long-time member who had not had the opportunity to attend education outside their area, an equity-seeking member, and/or a young worker.

This approach was very successful, with well over 80 percent of delegates to the regional conference attending a union function for the very fi rst time. The format for regional conferences was also different, using short informative sessions with renowned speak-ers, followed by “open space” discussions which are led by the participants themselves. World-renowned speakers such as Charlotte Yates from McMaster Uni-versity, and Wade Rathke, from ACORN International, were some of our presenters. Members were able to talk with others from their own region who had the same issues and concerns they did. Members felt con-nected and heard. Following the conferences, all par-ticipants were sent a data stick containing all confer-ence material. The regional conferences will continue with Region 1 and 2 slated in the next two years.

The BCGEU continues to be involved with the BC Federation of Labour and CLC in providing courses and instructors to women’s conferences, young worker training events, equity events, and Harrison Winter School. On average 135 BCGEU members attend the


annual CLC Winter School, with BCGEU offering young worker and equity scholarships to ensure broad participation.

Information on upcoming events, course listings and registrations are accessible on the BCGEU website. The Provincial Executive Education committee has a page with a list of committee members, committee terms of reference, and all the links to the course listings and conference registrations. Registration for conferences, Winter School and Labour Institute are all done online. Members can also access the course descriptions, video library and audio conference library online. Work has been done with communications and advocacy staff to ensure that information for stewards and members is on the web page. BCGEU weekly e-communications

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

also include upcoming education and conference events that all members on email will receive.

Members of the committee are: Dan Bradford (chairperson), Carla Dempsey (vice-chairperson), CJ Conroy (101), Tina Pederson (403), Doris Erickson (408), Kathy Thorbergson (810), Trudi Versteeg (411), Roberta Pettett (412), Stu Seifert (702), Gregory Fjeltand (707), Ian McAlpine (709), Rory Smith (1004), Darlene Joaquin (1206), Gary Hall (asst. secretary), Lynda Morrice (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Mary Jane Anderson, who was a strong activist committed to education and has since passed away, Ann Chambers, Anthony Dodds, Helen Kormendy, Lorene Oikawa, Kim Phillips, Margaret Walden, Mike Walden.

The committee has met on average twice a year along with conference calls as needed.

Global WarmingEnvironmental issues such as global warming continue to be high on the BCGEU’s environment agenda. We’ve worked closely with groups and organizations around the province who work on protecting the environment as their mandate.

The union brings a special experience to this issue, since its members work with government ministries that have a mandate to protect and preserve our environ-mental heritage. The Environment committee provides direction to the union on this critical issue.

Global warming threatens us all – our environment, our health, our economies, our social services, and our children’s future. Signifi cant reductions in greenhouse gases are required if we are to slow and reverse the warming trend in our atmosphere.

The BCGEU embarked on a ma-jor, long-term campaign to fi ght global warming. We are taking action to reduce our union’s carbon footprint. Along with

The Environment committee:

• promotes environmental awareness and responsibility;

• works with other unions and organizations to fi nd areas of cooperation on environmental matters;

• provides a forum for opinions and voice of members;

• evaluates and comments on government policy; • provides policy advice and recommendations to

the Provincial Executive on environmental matters; • defends the interests of our members; • monitors environmental issues; • promotes institutional change.

ince the creation of the committee at our 2005 constitutional convention, the Provincial Executive Environment committee has contin-

ued to be a focal point for an array of environmental initiatives and campaigns.

The committee has provided the impetus for discus-sion and educational opportunities within the com-mittee and, through a variety of Cool Communities activities, has reached out to the broader BCGEU membership.

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other groups, we’re pressing government and corpora-tions to take action to turn down the heat. And we’re working to ensure that the consequence and cost of global warming is shared equally so that working people are treated fairly.

The BCGEU has participated with the BC Federation of Labour and a number of other national unions to develop a workshop – “Climate Change – It’s a Union Issue” – prepared to help explore the important role for unions in responding to climate change. In late 2010 the Environment committee participated in a full-day pilot of the workshop and offered a number of positive suggestions to fi ne tune it.

OutreachCommittee representatives have participated in a num-ber of events related to the environment with coalition partners. These include:

Jobs, Justice, Climate – Building a Green Economy for B.C.On September 10-11, 2010, B.C.’s environmental and labour movements hosted a conference on creating green jobs and building a green economy in British Columbia. The conference brought together represen-tatives from all sectors of the province to fi nd solutions to create green jobs and build a green economy in B.C.

Sustainable Communities InitiativesThe BCGEU is regularly meeting with other unions and local municipal politicians in the Metro Vancouver area to discuss regional issues.

Good Jobs Green Jobs National Conference The BCGEU was in Washington D.C. where more than 2,500 people gathered to attend this conference. The

conference is a leading forum for sharing ideas and strategies to create good jobs while preserving our economic and environmental security. In addition we attended and also participated in the Green Jobs Advocacy Day – working with our American counter-parts to meet with Congress to urge them to support the creation of clean energy jobs (e.g. Green Jobs Act); boost America’s economy with 21st century transportation investment; and protect the health of communities and workplaces.

Cool CommunitiesThrough our Cool Communities campaign, we’re working to create concrete opportunities for BCGEU members to be part of the solution. From expanding recycling programs to promoting more local food production, BCGEU’s Cool Communities campaign is our way of trying to make a difference.

Dozens of BCGEU members and family members participated in gardening workshops at BCGEU head-quarters and in Victoria during 2010. There were three in a series of free organic gardening workshops orga-nized as part of the union’s Cool Communities cam-paign which included sessions on organic gardening designed to help take action against climate change. As well, a workshop “Benefi cial Insects” – taught par-ticipants how to provide natural pest control for their garden and eliminate the need for toxic pesticides.

Internal InitiativesThe committee helped to initiate and/or promote a number of internal union targets and initiatives. We have achieved Gold LEED status for the George Heyman Union Organizing Centre in Langley. As well, we have worked with our environment offi cer to look at our processes (transportation, paper use, compost-ing, community garden, etc.) and procurement (offi ce supplies, food, etc.). As a committee, we are also look-ing to reduce our carbon footprint, including the use of video conferencing for meetings.

Other ProjectsThe BCGEU is committed to ensuring that climate pol-icy is addressed with a social justice lens. The Canadi-an Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is leading The Climate Justice Project which is looking at research, education and citizen engagement in transformative change with an eye to the social and economic effects of climate change. The BCGEU is a community partner


EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE Equity Networks

ince the last convention the com-mittee has worked on building the equity network and continued to

implement the participation and repre-sentation of groups seeking equity in our union, workplaces and communities. The committee has also worked to build allies with other organizations who have the same interests.

Equity network members participated in dozens of events and rallies building a relationship with commu-nity members and other organizations.

By mapping our equity network members we have been able to include them in other BCGEU events. This should help increase the representation of equity network members.

We have emailed hundreds of event notices, event invitations, community campaign information, union campaigns, human rights legislation and decisions, and notices to all equity network members and mem-bers of each group. These are some of the actions and common ground the committee and networks build on to create more inclusivity within the union.

Through our equity network, members are encouraged to take on leadership roles and participate in union

activities including educational conferences and like-minded community events.

Since the last convention the equity network has grown to over 400 members from the four equity groups: Aboriginal, Workers of Colour, Workers with Disabilities, and Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bi-sexual:

• encourage and work with BCGEU cross-compo-nent committees, offi cers, and activists to participate in annual events in communities around the province, including Pride Day and Aboriginal Solidarity Day;

• ensure equity network members are aware of dates and events in their community and update the established commemorative list and BCGEU website calendar;

• produce alerts, articles and other communications to highlight issues and other specifi c commemora-tive dates.

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in this project. The BCGEU is also working with other community organizations to support climate change events, campaigns and initiatives.

Our Work for Good Green Jobs and Communities ContinuesWhether it’s our work within the community, the labour movement, or our union, the Environment committee is determined to inform, educate and assist people to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote healthy, safe, sustainable communities and to speak out for legislation and policies to ensure fair treatment for all members of society.

Members of the committee are: Lorene Oikawa (chair-person), George Butcher (vice-chairperson), Derrick Goodwin (103), Lynn Meskas (203), Katrina McGee (303 and young worker rep), Diane Droski (502), Rory Smith (1004), Pam St. Thomas (1209), Peter Mehling (fi nancial controller), Helga Knote (past member), Colleen Forshaw (environment offi cer), Cliff Stainsby (resource person), Mike Eso (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Janice Closson, Bill Downey, Nicola Firstner, Cameron Gerard, Chris Kinkaid, Michelle MacDonald, Cindy Miraftab, Svend Robinson, Shalane Syvertsen, Darryl Walker.


Community Building Committee members and equity network members have organized or participated in some of the following

events over the past three years:

ABORIGINAL Walk4Justice, Febru-ary 14th Women’s Memorial March, Aboriginal Solidarity Day, 8,000 Drums, Truth & Reconcilia-tion, Bright New Day Conference, Red Slam Jam.

WORKERS OF COLOUR Asian Heritage Month, Asian Canadian Labour Alliance, Anniversaries of Change, Vaisakhi parades, Surrey Vaisakhi Gala, DIVERSEcity Awards, domestic workers, Diwali.

GAY, LESBIAN, TRANSGENDER, BI-SEXUAL Georgina Byers – members were able to attend the event as well as watch it live-streamed on the internet, Pride parades, Pride fundraisers and events, Out-games.

DISABILITY Working with disability organizations and sharing information, promoting International Day of Disabled Persons, sharing information about court cases and legal challenges.

Take It On BCGEU Human Rights ConferenceThe Equity and Human Rights committee organized a BCGEU Equity and Human Rights conference Novem-ber 29 and 30, 2008.

Approximately 60 BCGEU equity network members from all regions attended. Members from grassroots organizations such as Committee of Domestic Workers and Caregivers and the Trans Alliance Committee of Vancouver also participated.

The conference was dedicated to the memory of Brother Don Philpott, Local 611, a member of the Provincial Executive Equity and Human Rights commit-tee who passed away a few weeks before.

Members and activists interacted and worked on a number of visioning exercises to identify ways to share ideas on how they have overcome anti-equity issues.

The committee continues its work with affi liates and provincial and national organizations, BC Federa-tion of Labour, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and the CLC on human rights information-sharing, campaigns and conferences. We are committed to ongoing communications with our members of the four equity networks to advance their representation, recruit new members and activists, and provide updates throughout the network.

Though our work is not done yet we look forward to new and innovative ideas to build on in the next few years to move our union to being more inclusive and diverse.

Members of the committee are: Lorene Oikawa (chair-person), Lori Joaquin (vice-chairperson), Roger Street (103), Bhajan Tathgar (201), Myra Reyes (303), Gale Engstrom (306), Binny Sivia (410), Sue Powell (602), Nancy Naylor (703), Russell Katzer (1201), Pam Desjardine (1201), Keith Cameron (asst. secretary), Catherine Sullivan (asst. secretary), Holly Page (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Keith Cameron, Janice Closson, the late Don Philpott, Mahen Ramdharry.


FINANCE COMMITTEE

T he Finance committee carries out duties specifi ed under Article 9.9(a)(iv) of the union’s constitution. In general, it is

responsible for the union’s fi nances.

As of April 18, 2011, the committee has met 18 times since our last report to the constitutional convention. One of those meetings was a conference call and two were video conferences. Work done at these meet-ings is reported to each Provincial Executive meeting and recommendations are submitted for review and approval.

Implementation of Convention Decisions2008 Constitutional Convention

• Composite Finance Resolution #2 requested the elimination from fi nancial policies of any reference to in-province and out-of-province meal rates and the increase of meal allowance rates effective July 1, 2008.

• Resolution A-20 requested fi nancial policies be revised to allow, where possible and when re-quested, single accommodation for members on headquarter-sponsored union business.

• Substitute Resolution A-11 tasked the Provincial Executive with a review of the operation of our union leave policy known as G3 and ensuring that entitlement to such leave is better known and utilized.

• The committee recommended changes to the Provincial Executive Policy G-3 “Union Leave of Absence” that resulted in the application of the policy being expanded to allow members to have one day of leave, as a break, after seven or more days of union business/regular work and before returning to work.

• The committee also ensured that the policy was raised at component executive meetings and bargaining conferences.

• The committee approved a new G3 form which is prepared by union staff based on information from members. The forms are used to monitor usage of G3 days and adherence to policy.

• Various resolutions required the Provincial Execu-tive to annually review and adjust, as required,

certain maximum expense reimbursement rates/allowances. The Finance committee annually reviewed the rates/allowances and made recom-mendations to the Provincial Executive.

Monitoring the Financial Position of the Union

• Monthly fi nancial statements of the union are reviewed at each committee meeting prior to presentation for adoption by the Provincial Ex-ecutive. The Defence Fund investment portfolio market value is reviewed prior to each Provincial Executive meeting.

• The union’s Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements are reviewed prior to presentation for adoption by the Provincial Executive.

• The Finance committee monitors the receipt of fi nancial statements and supporting fi nancial records from the components, locals and cross-component committees to ensure that the state-ments and records are fi led in accordance with the Financial Policy and reviewed on a regular basis.

• The Finance committee monitors the progress of the component audits.

• The status of BCGEU contributions to the National Union Defence Fund is reviewed on a regular basis.

Budget Review and DevelopmentThe committee provides early input into the develop-ment of the union’s annual operating budget.

The union’s draft annual operating budget and draft mid-year budget revisions are reviewed prior to pre-sentation for adoption by the Provincial Executive, and are monitored on an ongoing basis.


The committee ensures that annual component bud-gets are prepared in order to provide for an allocation of funds among components.

Financial Policies and ProceduresThe committee reviews component fi nancial proce-dures to ensure they support union fi nancial policies and recommends revisions to the travel expense policy and the rates for good and welfare, private dwelling accommodation, meal allowances, incidental expenses and automobile expenses.

It initiates and reviews all fi nancial policies to ensure they meet the needs of all members of the union. Signifi cant changes to Provincial Executive (PE) Policy and the Financial Manual (FM), which resulted from committee recommendations to Provincial Executive are as follows:

• Revised FM Schedule A meal allowance rates to allow for the costs associated with the imple-mentation of the HST and the rise in Canada’s Consumer Price Index.

• Amended FM Article 8.5 “Emergency Financial Assistance” to extend emergency fi nancial assis-tance to associate members or their survivors in the event of the death of an associate member or the loss of an associate member’s home by fi re, fl ood or other natural disaster.

• Amended FM Article 9.2(b) “Expense Claims” to document that detailed/itemized receipts are required when claiming expense reimbursement.

• Added FM Article 9.2(c) “Expenses” and amended FM Article 9.5(e) “Meal Allowances” to document

that “alcoholic beverages are not an allowable expense.”

• Amended FM Article 9.5(e) “Meal Allowances” to document that when group meals are claimed, a list of members and staff who attended the meal must be submitted along with an itemized receipt listing the cost and description of each meal and beverage.

• Revised FM Article 9.7(d) “Travel Expenses” so that members are required to submit a completed airfare equivalency form (available on the BCGEU website) when they choose to drive their private vehicle instead of using available public transpor-tation.

• Amended FM Article 9.7(d) “Travel Expenses” to clarify that when members choose to drive their private vehicle and carpool with members, the maximum claimable amount will take into ac-count airfare equivalency amounts for both the driver and member passengers.

• Revised FM Article 9.7(f) “Travel Expenses” so that the requirement to submit a medical certifi cate (in order for a member to be autho-rized for leaves of absence and related meal/accommodation expenses when they use an alternate method of transportation approved by the union), is no longer an annual requirement.

• Amended FM Articles 9.16 “Personal Effects/Ex-penses” to note that while the cost of a passport is normally considered a personal expense, a component may reimburse a member for such an expense when it can be demonstrated that a passport is required solely for the member to travel on union business.

• PE Policy G-25 “Special Group Meals” created to allow the Provincial Executive and Component Executive to have special group meals, including guests, executive members and their spouses/partners which exceed the standard meal allow-ance rates to a maximum of twice the standard rate. The policy applies the same maximum to cross-component committee organized activ-ist recognition events, or, at the discretion of components, to local executives or other elected component bodies. Alcoholic beverages are not an allowable expense at group meals.


Stewardship and Regulatory MattersThe committee arranges for the collection of outstand-ing travel advances and other monies or assets owed to the union and components.

It reviews and, where appropriate, approves FM Article 1.3 “Extraordinary Expenses” and FM Article 9.16 “Personal Effects/Expenses” reimbursement claims, and reviews the application of PE Policy G-3 “Union Leave of Absence” with respect to the “extra day of rest” leave of absence.

It interprets existing fi nancial policies. For example,it decided that airline baggage surcharges are a reimbursable expense under FM Article 9.7(a) “Travel Expenses”.

The committee recommends the annual appointment of the union’s auditor to the Provincial Executive. During 2009 the committee received reports on the union’s tender process for audit services which result-ed in the union hiring a new auditor for its fi scal year ending December 31, 2009.

The committee monitors cross-component commit-tee compliance with the FM and the fi nancial policies contained within PE Policy J-9 “Cross-Component Committee”.

The committee receives updates on signifi cant fi nan-cial issues including the union’s progress in negotiat-ing signifi cant fi nancial agreements, the revision of Defence Fund and General Fund investment policies, new property appraisal values, and the union’s annual capital expenditure budget.

The committee receives regular reports from the Component Steer-ing committee including reports on annual component dues allocations agreed to at meetings of compo-nent chairpersons and component 2nd representatives.

The committee developed a means by which components would not have to allocate each year’s excess component dues under a strict deadline.

The committee provided an interpretation which states that headquarters will pay for the cost of cab fare home or the cost of a hotel room, whichever is less, for members attending activist appreciation events. The committee provided an interpretation of FM Article 8.7(d) “Good and Welfare” by deciding that family members are not required to reside in the member’s home in order for the member to be eligible to receive good and welfare gift or fl owers.

The committee developed agendas and attended annual Component Treasurer workshops. Workshops were held October 21 and 22, 2008, October 20 and 21, 2009, and June 14 and 15, 2010 with another workshop planned for October 2011.

The committee arranged for component audits to be posted on the union’s intranet available to Provincial Executive and staff.

Members of the committee are: Judi Filion (chairper-son), Mike Clarke (vice-chairperson), Brenda Brown (406), Doug Kinna (601), Mike Nuyens (1007), Lori Joaquin (1206), Dave MacDonald (1703), Byron Goerz (2011), Darlene Thorburn (CEP rep), Jaynie Clark (resource person), Carole Chan (asst. secretary), Peter Mehling (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Barb Crowley, Sheila Knight, David Vipond, Darryl Walker.


total of 7,080 new grievances were fi led with the union during the period January 31, 2008 to January 31, 2011. Of these,

only 187 or 2.6 percent were referred to one of the grievance appeal procedures within the union.

Grievance Appeal committee (GAC) decisions are the result of quasi-judicial hearings, based on factual evidence, collective agreement language and jurispru-dence. The committee for any given panel is com-posed of three elected offi cers with a regional coordi-nator or director assigned as a secretary.

There are two levels of grievance appeals provided for in the constitution – the area GACs in each area of the province in accordance with Article 11(a), and the Provincial Executive GAC in accordance with Article 9.9(b)(iii).

Area GACs heard 154 appeals since the last convention report: 53 appeals in Region 1; 57 appeals in Region 2; 32 appeals in Region 3; 12 appeals in Region 4.

The Provincial Executive GAC heard 33 appeals.

Of the 33 appeals heard by the Provincial Executive GAC, four were from a classifi cation appeal, 25 were from Advocacy decisions and the remaining four were appealed a second time from an area GAC decision.

In accordance with a resolution passed at the 46th constitutional convention in June 2005, a grievor who appeals the decision of the area GAC to the Provincial Executive GAC must set out the grounds for contesting the correctness of the original decision when applying for leave to have their appeal reconsidered.

Since the last convention report, the Provincial Executive GAC has received 37 appeals of the deci-sion of the area GAC committee. Of those 37, one was withdrawn, two are awaiting decisions, fi ve were accepted, and 29 were denied on the grounds that there was no new evidence or irregularity to justify a second appeal.

Disposition of the 33 appeals fi led with the Provincial Executive GAC is as follows:

• 23 appeals were dismissed ........70%• 9 referred back for action ..........27%• 1 withdrawn ...............................3%

The committee would like to thank the area GACs and staff for their efforts and work well done.

Members of the committee are: Mike Clarke (co-chair-person), Dan Bradford (co-chairperson), Colleen Jones co-chairperson), Lorene Oikawa (co-chairperson), Dean Purdy (101), Susanne Francoeur (201), James Cavalluzzo (301), Stephanie Smith (303), Brenda Brown (406), Craig MacKay (503), Doug Kinna (601), Stu Seifert (702), Carla Dempsey (801), Mike Nuyens (1007), Sandi McLean (1201), Lori Joaquin (1206), Dave MacDonald (1703), Byron Goerz (2011).

The secretaries to the committee were Lynn Bueckert (intake), Mary Rowles, Jaynie Clark, David Vipond.

The committee thanks these former members: Ann Chambers, Anthony Dodds, Jeff Fox, Helen Lindsay, Betty Reid, Darryl Walker.

GRIEVANCE APPEAL COMMITTEE

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Within the regions, the disposition of the 154 appeals is as follows:

Region 1 (53 appeals – 34%)• 41 appeals dismissed ............................. 77%• 10 referred back for further action .......... 19%• 2 withdrawn ............................................4%

Region 2 (57 appeals – 37%)• 44 appeals dismissed ............................. 77%• 13 referred back for further action .......... 23%

Region 3 (32 appeals – 21%)• 24 appeals dismissed ............................. 75%• 5 referred back for further action ............ 16%• 1 withdrawn ............................................3%• 1 postponed ............................................3%• 1 resolved ...............................................3%

Region 4 (12 appeals – 8%)• 8 appeals dismissed ............................... 67%• 2 referred back for further action ............ 17%• 1 withdrawn ............................................8%• 1 resolved ...............................................8%


n 1999 delegates to BCGEU’s convention passed a resolution to establish the BCGEU International Solidarity and Humanities Fund.

Later, the fund was renamed the BCGEU Diane L. Wood International Solidarity and Humanity Fund in recognition of the international work done by former Secretary-Treasurer Diane Wood.

The BCGEU contributes 10 cents per member per month to the fund to help support a number of projects and partners our organization with different unions, community groups and non-governmental organizations.

Latin AmericaCoDevelopment Canada www.codev.org

The BCGEU is proud to work with CoDev to partner with four organizations in Latin America to bring about change for workers in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia.

The Maria Elena Cuadra Movement of Working and Unemployed Women (MEC Managua)MEC is the Spanish acronym for the Movement for Em-ployed and Unemployed Women (Maria Elena Cuadra). They do advocacy work for women working in the ma-quila (piecework) sector in Nicaraguan free trade zones. For example, in one year almost 1,000 women were given OH&S training and the mediation centre operated by MEC did mediations affecting over 1,300 workers.

The Honduran Women’s Collective (CODEMUH)CODEMUH has campaigned successfully to amend that country’s labour code to strengthen health and safety protections for women workers in maquilas. As well, they provide training programs on labour rights, domestic violence, and health and safety.

Salvadoran Association for Health and Social Services (APSIES). APSIES is a community led development organization that helps rural health care workers in El Salvador improve rural health conditions and the status of women.

APSIES does both the hands-on work of providing health care in the rural region of Valle La Esperanza, as well as strategic planning and advocacy for health care workers.

Association for Research and Social Actionin Cali, Colombia (NOMADESC)NOMADESC is a human rights organization based in the city of Cali, Colombia. It arose out of the union move-ment and the recognized need to educate not only their members but also the broader community on issues of human rights, and public services in particular.

Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade union leader or human rights activist. In October 2010, President Darryl Walker and Vice-President Colleen Jones travelled to Colombia and met with representatives of NOMADESC to see fi rst-hand the conditions they work in.

Our support has enabled NOMADESC to train and develop a network of activists who are willing to defend human rights and public services, always at great risk to their personal safety.

We hope to organize a tour of our Central American partners in 2011.

STIMMASTIMMA is the acronym for Short Term International Medical Missions Abroad which provides medical care, education and other support services to communities abroad, including Africa, El Salvador, Haiti and Peru.

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE

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AfricaPartners in the Horn of Africa www.partnersinthehorn.org

Partners in the Horn of Africa does aid work in Ethio-pia. All projects have an Ethiopian “partner”, usually a local volunteer group or village, who contribute 15-20 percent of the cost, usually in labour or materials. We are currently funding a project that provides washable, reusable sanitary pads to young girls in school to enable them to attend classes during their periods.

Stephen Lewis Foundationwww.stephenlewisfoundation.org

The Stephen Lewis Foundation is a registered Canadian non-governmental organization that funds community-based initiatives in Africa coping with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This includes providing educa-tion for children and adults, supporting grandmothers caring for orphaned grandchildren, and developing the capacity to deliver services in the midst of a pandemic.

Since 2005, the BCGEU has funded general programs through the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

AsiaBurma Labour Solidarity Organization (BLSO)www.burmasolidarity.org

The Burma Labour Solidarity Organization was formed in 2000 to organize and help Burmese workers living on the Thai-Burmese border. The BLSO has its head-quarters in MaeSot, Thailand, where there are thou-sands of Burmese migrant workers living in precarious conditions.

Since 2006, the BCGEU has provided funding for a safe house for workers in MaeSot. This funding has gone towards the construction, furnishing, and day-to-day operations of a safe house.

The safe house serves multiple functions: it’s a training and organizing space; emergency shelter for workers fi red from their jobs at nearby factories; a workshop facility; an emergency health centre; and a library.

Adopt an Organizer in the PhilippinesThis is an initiative of the Vancouver and District Labour Council to support labour activists in the Philippines.

Tom Kozar Scholarship FundThe Tom Kozar Scholarship Fund is funding education scholarships of $6,000 for each of our four CoDev part-ners to be disbursed at $1,000 per year for six years.

Other International Solidarity ProjectsThe BCGEU also does international solidarity projects apart from the Diane L. Wood International Solidarity and Humanity Fund. For example, we have provided emergency funds to Haiti, Chile and Japan. We recent-ly sent a staff representative to Wisconsin to show our solidarity with the public sector worker’s struggle in the USA. We also sent several activists to the Human Rights Conference at the World Outgames in 2009.

Members of the committee are: Colleen Jones (chairperson), James Cavalluzzo (vice-chairperson), Mike Webber (203), Upma Bhadur Singh Rai (301 and young worker rep), John Fedyk (603), Eduardo Aragon (703), Sandi McLean (1201), Ken Curry (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Brandi Cairns, Ann Chambers, Jessica Equia, Nancy Gillis, George Heyman, Kathryn Kellow, Yvette Ortiz, Betty Reid, Leah Squance, Anita Zaenker.


MandateThe Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) committee:

• promotes OH&S awareness at all levels of the union;• reviews, develops and recommends union policy

in OH&S;• assists in identifying problem areas needing prior-

ity attention or action plans;• recommends, promotes and assists in the devel-

opment of OH&S collective bargaining proposals;• reviews and makes recommendations concerning

OH&S training needs and assists in the budgeting process for training;

• acts as a resource for the OH&S offi cer;• acts as a contact group for and receives and acts

on information and requests from component OH&S committees;

• recommends topics and assists in the develop-ment of the quarterly OH&S bulletins;

• receives and reviews major problems referred from worksite reports, exchanges information regarding OH&S issues, and coordinates the OH&S activities of all components and areas;

• raises awareness on pension plans;• accepts membership input on pension arrangements.

very worker in B.C. has a legislated right to a safe workplace. Yet in 2009, 174 worker fatali-ties were reported (121 were accepted by Work-

SafeBC) and in 2010 an increase to 209 fatalities was reported (143 were accepted). Although these numbers will vary from year-to-year, the average fatalities per year from 2001 to 2010 is 225.

Workers are not making a lot of progress in reducing these unacceptable deaths. For the past three years the number of deaths from occupational diseases outnum-bers the traumatic injury deaths. This is due in most part to workplace asbestos exposures that happened years ago. On April 28th, BCGEU members honour

these fallen workers by participating in the annual Day of Mourning ceremonies held around the province.

For 10 years the BCGEU Provincial Executive OH&S committee, along with other unions and the BC Federa-tion of Labour, has persistently advocated for improve-ments to health and safety and to compensation legisla-tion. We have lobbied the government for changes in compensation legislation, for more prescriptive health and safety regulations and for better enforcement of health and safety requirements.

Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Policy and Regulation ReviewEach year, with the exception of 2009, the WCB re-leases a number of regulatory amendments for public hearings. Working with the BC Federation of Labour OH&S committee, Provincial Executive committee members participated in the public hearing process through pre-consultation meetings, oral presenta-tions and written submissions. In the 2010 regulatory review process we recommended the WCB not rollback safety requirements for late night workers. Unfortu-nately, the WCB made the change under pressure from a small group of employers.

The committee also wrote submissions on a number of prevention policy discussion papers. We wrote in sup-port of the WCB proposal to consider resource roads as workplaces. This policy change clarifi ed the health and safety responsibilities of owners, contractors and employers involved in the use of these roads. The policy would have made these dangerous roads safer for the many BCGEU members who work on them everyday. The WCB has put the proposed change in abeyance.

OH&S Committee Recruitment CampaignIn every workplace with more than 20 workers the em-ployer is required by the Workers Compensation Act and

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

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by collective agreements to have a joint OH&S commit-tee and, in smaller workplaces, a worker representative.

The legal requirement for an OH&S committee guar-antees workers the right to participate in health and safety at the workplace.

Committee members are appointed by the union to serve a three-year term. The fi rst three-year term ended November 30, 2010. Working with the local chairs and the local area offi ces your Provincial Execu-tive committee spearheaded the fall 2010 recruitment campaign to appoint and reappoint union OH&S com-mittee members. To help promote the campaign an online survey was developed. Members were directed to the survey via the president’s blog, e-bulletins and a special bulletin sent to all stewards. Over 300 surveys were submitted. A recruitment poster and a new hand-book for committee members were also developed.

A database is being created to register all OH&S committee members and the health and safety courses they have taken. This database will prove invaluable in our ongoing outreach to and support of our committee members. The BCGEU recognizes the valuable contri-bution that our OH&S committee members and worker representatives make to ensure that the workplace is safe for all workers.

OH&S EducationThe OH&S education program continues with increased numbers of courses and participants. In 2009 and 2010, a total of 2,200 committee members attended their annual health and safety training in communities around the province. Currently, 68 sessions have been scheduled from January to June, almost double the total number for 2010.

In 2010, the BCGEU worked with the PSA to develop an investigations course. In 2011, the two-day ergonomics and workplace violence courses are being revised and updated. Committee members are being encouraged and reminded to take their annual training entitlement through regular e-bulletins and the course schedule

is posted on the BCGEU website. A train-the-trainer course was held in May 2011 with over 20 new facilita-tors trained to deliver the health and safety courses. A joint facilitator’s conference is scheduled for fall 2011.

CommunicationsThe Provincial Executive OH&S committee has also developed the OH&S e-news, an e-bulletin with news about occupational health and safety issues. The bul-letin will be issued on a regular basis. The union has also developed a new Day of Mourning poster and a magnet with information on worker’s safety rights.

OH&S Conference, 2011 Our Committees: Leaders in SafetyOn March 11 and 12 , 2011 the Provincial Executive OH&S committee held a health and safety conference with the Compensation Employees’ Union and other af-fi liates. The goal of the conference was to send commit-tee members back to their workplaces with increased skills and knowledge and with renewed commitment and enthusiasm for the important work they do.

All participants were committee members and the two-day conference provided them with the opportu-nity to discuss the issues of bullying and violence in the workplace, to share their successes and challenges and to develop strategies for more successful commit-tees. The conference wrapped up with a discussion on political action.

Your Provincial Executive OH&S committee looks forward with enthusiasm to continuing the important work of ensuring that all BCGEU workplaces are safe for workers.

Members of the committee are: Mike Clarke (chairper-son), Craig MacKay (vice-chairperson), Tony Tessari (105), Kim Keys (203), Cameron Gerard (304 and young worker rep), Patsy Harmston (309), Joanne Jordan (409), Sandy Terlecki (609), Stu Seifert (702), Mike Prystae (1009), Barb Peters (1202), James Swank (1703), George Foisy (2006), Katherine Ackerman (BCFMWU), Jan Florian (BCFMWU), David Clarabut (CEU), Gerry Gault (GWU), Sheila Moir (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Charles Ballantyne, Maureen Darragh, Kamal Dhami, Dean Draper, Susanne Francoeur, Steve Lisik, Carlene Lucke, Dave MacDonald, Betty Reid, Mona Sykes.



ince the 2008 BCGEU constitutional conven-tion, the committee prepared and reviewed resolutions for conventions of NUPGE and the

BC Federation of Labour.

In 2008 the committee dealt with resolutions to the BC Federation of Labour convention, and in 2009, the committee processed resolutions to the BC Federation of Labour Policy convention.

S In 2010 the committee dealt with resolutions to the BC Federation of Labour and the NUPGE conventions.

In 2011 the committee dealt with resolutions to the CLC convention and processed resolutions to the BCGEU 2011 constitutional convention.

Members of the committee are: Colleen Jones (chairperson), Dean Purdy (vice-chairperson), Brenda Brown (406), Mary Rowles (secretary).

he Provincial Executive Scholarship commit-tee’s purpose is to assist students who are BCGEU members, relatives of BCGEU mem-

bers or staff in good standing, or relatives of deceased or retired members, by annually awarding scholar-ships of $2,000 for full-time and $1,000 for part-time students.

The union allocates $36,000 annually to the scholar-ship fund.

The committee used a new application process on a trial basis for 2008, allowing students with special needs to apply by submitting alternative media, includ-ing taped or video applications based on the scholarship subject. This was done as a written essay may be dif-fi cult for some students with special needs to achieve.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

TEssay topics deal with current issues chosen to promote active learning and a higher level of social conscience.

Members of the committee are: Dan Bradford (co-chairperson), Judy Steele (co-chairperson), CJ Conroy (101), Christine Vanlerberg (309), Kathy Thorbergson (810), Lynda Morrice (secretary).

See next page for scholarship essays that were accepted.


Scholarship Recipient Member Relationship Member’s LocalZoe Sehn member 407Denan Bosk Val Bosk – mother 307Brian Stephenson Paul Stephenson – father 707Kyla MacPhail Nancy MacPhail – mother 1207Giselle White (part-time) Rory White – spouse 707Madeleine Althammer (part-time) member 1706Jackie Zelt member 2006Daniel Hunt member 2006Emma Raatz Deanna Raatz – mother 1706Riley Djoric Renee Sheard – mother 804Kimberley Dahl Norman Dahl – father 1204Chanel Hebert Jackie Hebert – mother 703Murray Martin Laarni de los Reyes – spouse 703Lorne McMillan Bill McMillan – father 601Sarah Silvers Cawker Douglas Cawker – father 503Christine Lawson member 303Trisha Rennie Mary Ellen Rennie – mother 401Emily Ann Kazanowski Karen Lightbody – mother 601MinJung Kwon (part-time) Zeb King – spouse 1201Bret Anne Enemark Peggy Enemark – mother 1211

• You have just been told that you have to live green for one year. What does living green mean to you? What does this look like?

• The BC Liberals have been elected to a third term. What policies and directions do you think they should take over the next four years to affect

Scholarship Recipient Member Relationship Member’s LocalGagan Baidwan (part-time) member 804Rachel Constanzo Janine Breathet – mother 1201Michelle Coxon Philippa Coxon – mother 405Tracy Davison member 305Rolena deBruyn Martin Venables – step-father 1009Lindsay Joy Tom Joy – father 1008Mary Kenwood John Kenwood – father 201Rachelle Leblanc-Quiney Anne Marie Roy – mother 601David Lee Richard Lee – father 503Kristy Lineham (part-time) Charlene Lineham – mother 710Sheridan Mohammed member 303Trenton Moniuk Rod Moniuk – father 2005Ryan Pasqua Kathy Pasqua – mother 1208Janine Reeves Michele MacIntyre – aunt 601Gregory Smith Robert Smith – father 703Chaitanya Spencer Bimala Spencer – mother 603Sydney Stafford Krista Stafford – mother 601Samuel Stevenson David Stevenson – father 2011Graeme Sutton R.E. Wiedeman – grandfather 1201

positive change for B.C.’s working families?

• Bullying is rampant, not only in our schools, but in our workplaces. How can we stop the cycle and what can we as workers and students do? What can employers and governments do? Talk about your own experiences/observations related to these questions.

2010 Essay Topics (336 essays accepted and evaluated)

• What are the positive and negatives of the 2010 Olympics in a social justice/labour context?

• If you were running as a candidate in the next provincial election what would your campaign

2009 Essay Topics (262 essays accepted and evaluated)strategy be to win the votes of the labour community?

• You are a Canadian factory worker in the 1930s and 1940s. Describe the union organizing process before and after the union arrived.


WOMEN’S COMMITTEEThe Provincial Executive Women’s committee has as its mandate:

• to promote awareness of women’s issues within the union;

• to encourage the participation of women at all levels of union activities;

• to recommend to the Provincial Executive the elimination of specifi cally identifi ed systemic barriers to the full participation of women in the BCGEU;

• to promote, through the Education, Activism and Communications committee and other Provincial Executive committees the continuing education of our members on areas of gender equity within the union;

• to develop bargaining proposals on issues of concern to women;

• to recommend educational programs which address the needs of women; and

• to develop and submit resolutions to the Provin-cial Executive for the BCGEU and labour affi liates.

his broad mandate is meant to encourage progress and the advancement of women in the BCGEU and throughout the labour movement.

The Women’s committee met six times since the 2008 constitutional convention.

Our energies have concentrated on raising awareness within our union and in the broader community of the critical issues facing women today, especially poverty, homelessness, violence and abuse, lack of affordable child care and seniors’ care, life/work balance, and more.

We also continued to speak out about the devastating impacts of the BC Liberals’ severe cuts to women’s services and regressive policy changes that have collectively turned the clock decades backwards on women’s rights and equality.

The committee’s political activism subcommittee continued its work to recommend ways to get more women involved in the political process at all levels to ensure women’s issues are at the forefront of the political agenda.

Regional Women’s ConferencesRegional women’s conferences have enabled the Wom-en’s committee to provide information and education, promote the union’s activities and engage members in their own communities. These conferences have been very popular with members and attendance has been at capacity, with registrations fi lling up within days of announcement.

Regional women’s conferences around the theme, We Want Our Piece of the Pie, were held in Region 4 (Fort St. John) in October 2008, Region 3 (Kelowna) in June 2009, and Region 1 (Parksville) in October 2009. Par-ticipants took part in sessions around women in politics, fi nancial planning, women’s health, violence against women, women and poverty, and green initiatives.

In October 2010, a record 100 members attended a Region 2 women’s conference, Double Duty: Finding Life/Work Harmony, in Richmond. The day-and-a-half conference featured guest speakers, panel discussions and the chance for BCGEU members and community women to share ideas to better achieve balance in their busy lives. A similar Region 3 women’s confer-ence was held in Castlegar in April 2011.

Working With Our AlliesThe Women’s committee joins in sisterhood with our affi liates, other unions and labour bodies, as well as community organizations and women’s advocacy groups, to tackle critical issues facing women in the home, workplace and society.

The committee met with Toxic Free Canada around its work to educate women about the need to reduce exposure to toxins linked to breast cancer, and the Canadian Women’s Foundation, a national public foun-dation that raises money to fund, research and share approaches to ending violence against women, moving women out of poverty, and empowering girls.

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We participated in an important “Quality of Women’s Lives” survey focused on life/work balance conducted by the NUPGE Women’s Advisory committee, sup-ported the CLC Women’s Economic Equality Campaign, and joined in various activities to raise public aware-ness and seek justice around B.C.’s murdered and missing women.

Since the last constitutional convention, BCGEU women activists attended a number of empowering women’s forums and schools, including BC Federa-tion of Labour and NUPGE women’s conferences. The Women’s committee also attended as observers to the 2nd ITUC World Congress in Vancouver in June 2010 which saw Sharan Burrow elected the fi rst woman General Secretary of the ITUC since its foundation.

We continued to strengthen our solidarity with our sisters across the border by participating in the AFL-CIO Western Regional Women’s Institute held annually in different cities in the Pacifi c region.

Continuing Our WorkIncreasingly, women of the BCGEU are taking on lead-ership for change. Although there have been setbacks, we can count a number of victories and achievements in organizing, at the bargaining table, in the work-place, and in the labour movement overall.

March 8th is marked every year as International Women’s Day to celebrate and assess those gains. We remember Bread and Roses and women in the struggles before us to make a better world for our daughters and other loved ones.

This year marked the 100th anniversary of Interna-tional Women’s Day (IWD). In celebration, the Wom-en’s committee purchased handwoven scarves in the suffragette colours produced by indigenous women living in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. We issued a special anniversary version of our popular IWD poster, and held an evening of celebration at the Region 3 women’s conference in Castlegar. And we participated in IWD events around the province, including a parade, festival, and annual breakfast in Vancouver.

Young women and women of equity-seeking groups have brought new ideas and vitality into our exchanges.

For Women’s History Month in October, we continue to appreciate the “herstories” of women’s activism throughout B.C. and across Canada to address discrimi-nation and create positive social and political change.

Every year, the Women’s committee recognizes December 6th, the National Day to End Violence Against Women. In 2009, we distributed postcards produced by the CLC to mark the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

Whether it’s preparing breakfast for marginalized women on Vancouver’s downtown eastside, march-ing in the streets, supporting women candidates, or proudly wearing our BCGEU women’s pin in our workplaces and communities, we continue to press for change so that all women can one day achieve full equality and participation in our society.

Members of the committee are: Judi Filion (chair-person), Colleen Jones (vice-chairperson), Lorene Oikawa (vice-chairperson), Jan Wilson (104), Susanne Francoeur (201), Audrey Todd (203), Stephanie Smith (303), Kiran Tiwana (304), Rose Chee (403), Brenda Brown (406), Valorie Ellis-Peet (505), Sonja Haigh (611), Victoria Zalamea (707 and young worker rep), Kathy Weaver (710), Carla Dempsey (801), Louise Hood (803), Kathy Thorbergson (810), Sandra Fellers (1010), Sandi McLean (1201), Lori Joaquin (1206), Sussanne Skidmore (1211), Susan Stroud (1701), Dolly Zawaduk (2007), Alice Albert (BCFMWU), Elizabeth Spees, (GWU), Kate Campbell (asst. secretary), Carol Adams (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Ria Anderson, Beverly Beaurone, Ann Chambers, Terri Lee Chisholm, Helen Lindsay, Teresa Marshall, Mandi McDougall, Bobbi Pettett, Betty Reid, Linda Sonmore, Karen Wickham.


n the spring of 2008 the Young Workers’ steering committee was changed to a Provincial Execu-

tive committee. With this change the committee was appointed by President Walker in consultation with the Com-ponent chairs. Vice-President Anthony Dodds sat as the chairperson of the committee.

The committee’s fi rst order of business was to brainstorm and develop a work-ing terms of reference, and to decide what, if anything, would happen with the network of area young worker representatives.

The committee began work on the terms of reference during the fi rst meeting. A thorough brainstorm took place with a focus on young worker recruitment and retention in the activist ranks, as well as broaden-ing the horizons and linking with other young worker activist organizations and unions.

The terms of reference accepted by the Provincial Executive read as follows:

1. Encourage and support the participation of BCGEU young workers in the mainstream activism of the BCGEU;

2. Encourage the BCGEU to continue to support young workers in becoming and remaining active;

3. Research and recommend ways that locals, components, and the Provincial Executive can better recruit young activists;

4. Research and recommend ways that the BCGEU can enable young workers to continue their activism

once involved, including reviewing union policies and procedures and making recommendations, where needed, to encourage the enhancement of young worker activism;

5. Liaise with area young worker representatives;

6. Monitor and promote awareness of young worker issues within the union – provincially, nationally, and globally;

7. Promote our union to young workers;

8. Encourage increased opportunities on a local, provincial, and national scale in the labour movement with our affi liates for young workers.

The second item of business was to decide what to do with the area young worker representatives around the province that had belonged to the Young Workers’ steering committee. It was noted early on that these members provided a vital link to each area around the province, and further, were vital in their respective areas in terms of bringing young worker issues for-ward to the broader BCGEU membership.

The Provincial Executive approved the retention of this position with several area duties. The duties became as follows:

• to liaise with the Young Workers’ Provincial Executive committee;

• to continue to attend the area CCC meetings and bring young worker issues forward;

• to continue to plan and carry out young worker educational/recruitment conferences in their areas with the assistance of local activists and staff.

YOUNG WORKERS’ COMMITTEE

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During the intervening time between the last conven-tion and this convention, the committee has met on six occasions to plan and advance young workers’ issues using the terms of reference as a guideline.

The committee began to immediately form a strategic plan around young worker communications. To this end the committee worked with the BCGEU Commu-nications department to advance ideas with respect to refreshing the young workers’ website page. The com-mittee also actively promoted young worker activists in the province through profi les in the Provincial. The committee is currently in the early stages of develop-ing and writing a young workers’ newsletter with the assistance of the Communications department.

The committee has worked very closely with the BC Federation of Labour Young Workers’ committee and the BC Federation of Labour young worker liaison. Our committee has recommended two young workers to sit on this committee and the president appointed Brother Cameron Gerard and Sister Juliana Buitenhuis to this post. The committee has been involved with a number of BC Federation of Labour campaigns.

The Young Workers’ committee has reviewed the call for participants and delegates to several events and put forward a number of names in the last three years. The committee recommended Brother Cam Gerard attend the BC Federation of Labour Camp Jubilee in 2009 along with four other BCGEU members, and recommended Sisters Jaimee Wilson and Meghan Marchand to attend in 2010. The committee also recommended four members to attend the ITUC Youth committee meetings in Vancouver in 2010: Chelsea Vaneck, Jaimee Wilson, Davy Dosanjh, and Meghan Marchand.

Each year the committee has been asked to review applications of young workers to attend at Harri-son and has in turn democratically chosen 10 of those members to attend Harrison on BCGEU scholar-ships.

The committee has supported a number of BCGEU young worker conferences including a Region 4 conference in Prince George in 2009, the Component 7 Young

Workers’ conference in 2009, and the Area 5 confer-ence in 2010. Each of these events was planned and carried out in part by young workers from the mem-bership. Sister Echo Bellerose played an integral part in the planning and participation portions of the Area 5 conference. Area 10 was planning a young work-ers’ event in May of 2011. The committee members have also been involved in several other young worker socials, namely Brother Paul Finch in Area 1.

The committee also supported and recommended attendance at the inaugural Young Workers’ Labour Institute in November of 2009, which was a profound success and was attended by several of the committee members.

The committee was very involved in several main-stream union issues from fun activities such as par-ticipation in the “12 Cuts of Christmas” music video in 2009, to contributions to the structural review commit-tee in preparation of their report for convention 2011.

Members of the committee are: Dan Bradford (chairperson), Juliana Buitenhuis (303), Cameron Gerard (304), Chelsea Vaneck (311), Davy Dosanjh (312), Meghan Marchand (401), Lisa Laffrenier (501), Jaimee Wilson (504), Echo Bellerose (605), Amanda Downing (606), Victoria Zalamea (707), Jeff Wolgram (1004), Paul Finch (1201), Leah Friesen (1710), Kris Garneau (2012), Katie Riecken (asst. secretary), Doug Dykens (secretary).

The committee thanks these former members: Ria Anderson, Anthony Dodds, Darcy Page, Hilary Porter, Binny Sivia, Kandace Stoneman, Christine Vanlerberg, Jolene West, Anita Zaenker.

unions

matter

BCGEU 2011 CONVENTION – ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

Administrative Committee Reports

ORGANIZING AND FIELD SERVICES Organizing

he BCGEU has made a strong commitment to organizing and, as a result, has consistently led all B.C. unions in organizing new members.

Although this is a diffi cult organizing climate, the union welcomed a total 767 members in the last half of 2008. In 2009 an additional 1,520 members were signed up. A further 968 members were organized in 2010 and in the fi rst months of 2011, an additional 52 members joined the union. As a result of unfair labour practice complaints at the Labour Relations Board (LRB), the Organizing department succeeded in recovering $172,132 from employers in 2009. In 2010 the department recovered $43,340 from employers through successful unfair labour practice complaints to the board.

In 2008 the campaign at Starlight Casino wrapped up and the second largest casino in the Lower Mainland joined the BCGEU. In 2009 we began a campaign at ProTrans, the managing company for the Canada Line, and succeeded in signing up 175 new members. In 2010 we faced a new challenge when Cantest, a non-union employer, took over one of our long-standing certifi cations, Maxxam, and fought a prolonged battle to avoid unionization after the merger. The department has also made strong inroads in the health sector with several employers including InSite (176 new members), Retirement Concepts/Well Being (639 new members), Baltic Properties (260 new members), and Advocare (180 new members). Our organizing efforts continued at VanCity branches across the Lower Mainland and we ended 2010 with a successful campaign at Atira Prop-erty Management in Vancouver (179 new members).

Child Care – Special Associate Members Organizing child care workers into either traditional certifi cations and to attract child care providers into

special associate members continued in parallel with a public campaign for childcare funding organized by the Research and Campaigns department.

By 2010 the Organizing department had signed up over 1,400 special associate members, most of them providing in-home childcare. There were chapters in eight different communities where providers were meeting regularly to explore shared problems and plan political action to pressure for better funding. In the summer of 2010 responsibility for maintaining chapters was assumed by the RCC department, and Organizing put a focus on certifi cation drives at centres.

Field Services The 79 staff representatives and administrative staff in 12 area offi ces throughout the province support activists in resolving grievances, enforcing the collective agree-ment in the workplace, labour management sessions, bargaining, training, and taking community and solidar-ity action.

Contract Turnover and Funding CutsTurnover and cuts in home support contracts, contracting out of residential health care services, business collapse in call centres, and ongoing cuts in funds for community social services has created

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considerable turbulence for workers in community health, general services, community social services, in particular, since the last convention. Staff have used Section 54 of the Labour Relations Code to push, in long negotiations, for pragmatic solutions that reduce or mitigate job loss and reductions in hours of service.

Job ShadowArea offi ces continue to offer as many educational opportunities as possible to our activists interested in exploring the responsibilities of servicing staff representatives. Job shadows may also provide the fi rst steps for those activists who wish to follow a path toward temporary or even full-time work as a staff representative. This becomes more important as our staff retire or approach retirement.

Tracking Worksite VisitsIn recent months, all area offi ce staff representatives have started tracking worksite visits by component or local chairs, elected offi cers, vice-presidents, and themselves to ensure worksites are not overlooked or left in isolation.

OH&S Committees Offi ce staff throughout the province in 2010/2011 completed the three-year re-appointment process for hundreds of OH&S committee members. Administrative staff in particular worked very hard in many area offi ces with local chairs and staff representatives to identify gaps on committees, keep records, prepare informa-tion for Unionware and issue the letters. Through this process the union identifi ed many activists who need training. Administrative staff in area offi ces provided support for OH&S training and the number of courses has grown signifi cantly this year.

Grievance Handling Area offi ces have dealt with thousands of grievances in the past three years, and, in addition, they provide support to stewards to resolve issues in the workplace. In the last half of 2008 the area offi ces dealt with 1,154

new grievances and concluded 1,147. In 2009 there were 2,750 new grievances and area offi ces concluded 2,197. In 2010 there were 2,916 new grievances and area offi ces concluded 2,369. In the fi rst months of 2011 there were 562 new grievances and 356 were concluded. The sheer volume, particularly in areas serving a large membership, has meant it is challenging for area offi ces to keep ahead of the curve. Since the last convention, area offi ce staff have also supported 154 area grievance appeal committees. Area staff participate in expedited arbitrations and the numbers have steadily grown from 35 in 2008 to 59 expedited arbitrations in 2009; 62 in 2010, and nine in the fi rst few months of 2011.

Bargaining Contract talks in 2010 and 2011 for key sectoral agreements, the government master and component agreements, were supported by area offi ce staff who arranged for information meetings, strike votes, and/or ratifi cation votes. In addition to major bargaining, there has been signifi cant bargaining over the past three years for stand alones in all components, includ-ing many new certifi cations, and several of our certifi cations have been at the table twice since the last convention.

Vancouver Island – Area 1 – Victoria The area offi ce welcomed new members at Scho’s Line Painting and Kaatza Daycare. There was signifi cant bargaining for stand alone agreements in the last three years and, with support of member bargaining com-mittees, staff concluded agreements for members at Amica (Beechwood, Somerset), Growing Together Child & Parent Society, Need Crisis and Information Line, BC Aboriginal Network on Disabilities Society, Douglas Care/Niagara Care Community Ltd., Eagle Bluff Lodge, NIL TU/O, Victoria Native Friendship Centre, IMAX Destina-tion Theatres, Sherwood House, Telus Sourcing Solu-tions (TSSI), EDS Advanced Solutions, Salvation Army, Well Being Senior Services Ltd. (Wellesley), Esquimalt Drydock, Precision Orthotics, Salvation Army (ARC & Recycling Warehouse), The Wellesley, ISM Canada, NDP (caucus workers, constituency assistants), Arcadian Day Care Centre, Business Practices & Consumer Protection, Emergency Health Services Commission, Greater Victoria Women’s Shelter Society, Maximus BC Health Benefi ts, Themis Program Management, Tourism BC, Capital Families, Kaatza Daycare, Nigel House, Saanich Indian School Board, Camosun College Local Agreement, WSA NEC (SISB), Cerwydden Care (AdvoCare), Scho’s Line Painting Ltd., and Resthaven.


The Area 1 cross-component committee (CCC) con-tinues to organize steward banquets and educational workshops, and participate in Labour Day events, as well as support BC Child Find. The CCC also hosts a children/family December seasonal event every year and participates in annual Pride parades.

The area offi ce held 13 basic and 14 advanced stew-ards’ courses. In addition, courses or workshops were held on topics such as: anti-bullying; IT union/man-agement training; duty to accommodate; facing man-agement; enhanced steward training; how to write a will; and suicide risk assessment and prevention. Additionally, there were 27 area GAC hearings. Staff presented numerous cases at expedited hearings and participated in a number of mediations with arbitrators or LRB mediators.

Vancouver Island – Area 2 – North Island The area welcomed new members at Ocean Crest (Salvation Army), Huckleberry House, Nanaimo Seniors Village, and Comox Valley Daycare Society. With member bargaining committees, staff concluded agreements for Port Alberni Hostel Society, North Island Infant Development Society, Vancouver Island Library, Island Crisis Care Society, Forest Circle Society for Families, Haida Way Inn, North Island Women’s Services Society, Port Alberni Family Guidance, Van-couver Island University, Ocean Crest (Salvation Army), Comox Valley Children’s Daycare Society, Huck-leberry House, and First Credit Union.

There have been seven area GAC hearings and staff have presented a number of cases at expedited hear-ings and participated in mediations at the LRB. Staff have held six basic and three advanced stewards’ training courses. In addition, educational workshops were facilitated on topics such as facing management; confl ict resolution; steward refresher; joint union/man-agement, and Local 302 education seminars.

The North Island CCC continues to host stewards’ ban-quets and participate in Labour Day events in addition to supporting BC Child Find, where they have staffed weekend booths in area malls. The CCC also partici-pates in Miners Memorial Day in Cumberland every year, sponsoring the BCGEU pancake breakfast to raise funds for the Cumberland Museum. In addition, family/children’s initiatives are coordinated every December.

Lower Mainland – Area 3 The LMAO has welcomed over 1,800 new members since the last convention including Gateway Casinos, ProTrans (Canada Line), Atira, People’s Law School, Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Fami-lies, and Nurseline, as well as the Justice Institute Bookstore. There have been 31 GAC hearings since the last convention, and staff presented cases at 32 expedited arbitrations, as well as participating in 14 mediations. Staff also investigated 11 complaints of workplace harassment.

Stand alone bargaining was very active, and with the support of member bargaining committees staff con-cluded agreements at Kids Cottage, JR Silliker Labs, Maxxam, Renew Crew, Vancouver Aboriginal Friend-ship (Sundance Child Care), JM Project Management Ltd., Healing Our Spirit, Interlock EFAP, Shannon Day-care, Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, SPARC, Le-gal Services Society of BC, Gibson’s Garden Inn, BCIT Instructors, BC Human Rights Coalition, Land Title & Survey Authority of BC, L’ecole Bilingue Kindercare Society, VanCity, Citizen’s Bank, Everett Rest Home, Blue Ocean Contact Center, Justice Institute Book-store, Shannon Daycare, Servomation (Centerplate) at BC Place, Native Education College, Amica at Mayfair on the Green, Community Living BC, and Sodexho at George Pearson Centre.

The area offi ce offered 39 sessions for either basic or advanced, and trained 760 stewards. The local offi cer course was offered four times and trained 74


activists. Anti-bullying and anti-harassment training has been offered for Components 4 and 6, as well as at BC Centre for Ability, and VCHA Burnaby Mountain. Signifi -cant training has been provided for health care workers, including a seven-day workshop initiative that included sessions on facing management, joint labour manage-ment training with employer representatives, and the same course without the employer.

During 2009, Member to Member (M2M) activists visited members at home in the Burnaby/Lougheed and Port Moody electoral areas to encourage members to register to vote and to vote for change. In 2009 and 2010 Local 1203 conducted M2M to recruit stewards and contacts, and the chair and executive members from Local 503 visited all worksites to recruit new stewards and OH&S committee representatives.

In addition to organizing the annual stewards apprecia-tion dinner, the CCC hosted a summer BBQ for activ-ists who are not stewards or local offi cers, and hosts a skating party. The CCC supports the Labour Day picnic, and participated in the BC Needs Childcare rally held in 2009. They have also organized distribution of foam sleeping mats to the homeless, put together 200 supply kits for distribution to the homeless and did a penny drive for the Children’s Hospital. The CCC has sponsored seminars on harassment, pensions, STIIP, grievance handling, anti-bullying, and facing management.

Lower Mainland – Area 4 – Fraser Valley With member bargaining committees, staff have negotiated at IDEXX Laboratories, FRMT (Albion Ferries), BC Dairy Herd, Fleetwood Villa, BC Milk Marketing Board, Mainroad Pavement Marking, Surrey Community Services, Core Education & Fine Arts Inc., TransLink Mobility Agreement, NCO, Brookside Lodge, Cobra Electric, Valleyhaven Retirement Community Ltd., Guildford Seniors Village, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Well Being Services (GSV) Ltd., and Penin-sula Resort Retirement Living.

Home support units experienced an avalanche of Section 54 notices during 2010. Servicing staff and activists had to be imaginative and skillful to stay in communication with affected members while negotiat-ing to keep jobs.

Since the last convention, the area offi ce has offered 20 courses in either basic or advanced stewards, one course for union observers, six courses on joint labour management committees, and one course for local offi cers. There were 19 area GAC hearings.

The CCC has worked with the new Fraser Valley Labour Council in several joint community events and has actively supported the growth of this new labour coun-cil. The CCC has held annual stewards’ banquets and, in conjunction with BCGEU members at the Fraser Valley Fish Hatchery in Abbotsford, has sponsored a half-day event for members and their children to teach them about fi sh, the hatchery and sport fi shing. The CCC also supports Child Find and has sponsored workshops on effective communications and effective meetings.

The Area 4 CCC also purchased a number of sleeping mats and distributed them throughout the Fraser Valley area to the homeless.

Interior – Area 5 – Kamloops The area offi ce has been active in a number of actions and campaigns against government downsiz-ing, especially in the Ministry of Forests. The offi ce has also worked with members on legal aid cuts, sup-ported members affected by the BC Ambulance strike of 2010, and assisted members with the BC Federation of Labour forestry and minimum wage campaigns. The area offi ce has done outreach to health care work-ers to ensure members signed up for the community health care worker registry, and to connect with LPNs during the raid by the nurses’ union. The area offi ce held a successful young workers’ conference in 2010.

The area welcomed new members at Insite with work-sites in Ashcroft, Sicamous and Revelstoke, as well as Children’s Circle Daycare and Apple Lane, a new tertiary mental health centre opened in 2009.

With member bargaining committees, staff concluded agreements at Interior Savings Credit Union. Negotia-tions with the TNRD Library system benefi tted the communities of Blue River, Clearwater, Barriere, Chase, Savona, Cache Creek and Ashcroft because the libraries are now open for longer hours.


The CCC actively coordinated M2M campaigns in each year, and was particularly active in the 2008 fall mu-nicipal elections. The CCC also held two winter festival events for members and families. As part of the area offi ce participation in the United Way, the BCGEU hosted a labour forum on the Homelessness Action Plan in Kamloops.

The area offi ce has put a focus on ensuring active labour management committees are up and running in non-government worksites. Eleven GAC hearings have been held since the last convention.

Two hundred and one members have been trained in either basic or advanced stewards’ courses. Other education has included anti-harassment, anti-bullying and discrimination, facing management and sick leave entitlement.

North – Area 6 – CaribooTogether with member bargaining committees agree-ments were reached at InSite, Cariboo Regional District, Barkerville Heritage Trust and BREC Traffi c Control.

Staff provided strong support to Step Up House in an effort to prevent the closure, assisting in organiz-ing two large rallies and a presentation to the city council. The CCCs, in addition to the annual steward appreciation dinners, has participated each year in the Heart and Stroke and the Big Bike Team events in the community. The CCC also organized an International Women’s Day event and a Job Solidarity Fair for laid-off forestry workers.

Sixty-six activists completed either basic or advanced steward courses and 40 local offi cers were trained. The area offi ce has put on anti-bullying workshops and a workshop on duty to accommodate. There was only one GAC since the last convention.

Interior – Area 7 – Kelowna The area welcomed members at Brandt’s Creek, Lake Country Manor and Willowbrook.

With member bargaining committees, negotiations took place at Okanagan Indian Band, Students Union/UBC-OK, Creekside Landing, Penticton and District Community Skills Centre, Regional District of Central Okanagan, UBCO (support staff), Okanagan College (support staff and vocational instructors), Kelowna Child Care, Interior Savings, Advocare worksites, Valleyhaven and Creekside Landing. Bargaining at Dorchester was signifi cant because it took a fi ve-week

strike by members and good community support to get an agreement.

Two hundred and twenty-seven activists received basic and advanced stewards’ training, and 26 local offi cers were trained. Staff have organized signifi cant num-bers of anti-harassment and anti-bullying workshops, for example at PD Community Living, and held joint training on labour management issues, and a health and safety day with members and managers at InSite. They also offered a workshop on resolution writing and facing management.

The CCC has sponsored workshops including anti-harassment and anti-bullying training. They hosted a CLIFF fi lm festival showing, and provided a BBQ for striking Dorchester workers. With the Labour Council and WorkSafeBC, the CCC participated in Day of Mourning events and sponsored an IWD event. Area activists participate in the labour council, and have two members on the labour council executive and are active in United Way campaigns.

Interior – Area 8 – East Kootenay The CCC is actively involved in the annual Day of Mourning events, the Pride parade, the AIDS walk, and the Labour Day picnic. They also participate in community events like Remembrance Day and the candle light vigil on December 6th, the National Day of Violence Against Women.

The area offi ce has trained 58 stewards in either basic or advanced, and trained 16 members in local offi cers courses. Locals 308 and 309 combined to hold an East and West Kootenay Labour conference in April 2009, and there has been workplace leadership planning and training for members of 408 and 409 together.

Staff provided support for BCGEU affi liate the Interior Brewery Workers’ Union in their negotiations.


Interior – Area 9 – West KootenayWith the support of member bargaining committees, settlements were reached with Western Pacifi c Marine covering Kootenay Lake and Arrow Lakes, Sunshine Valley Childcare and Grand Forks and District Credit Union, Golden Bear Children’s Centre and Selkirk Col-lege. There were two GACs since the last convention.

Ninety activists took stewards training and 31 partici-pated in the local offi cers’ course. In addition, activ-ists received training on rules of order and conducting meetings. The CCC, along with West Kootenay Labour Council, co-sponsor the Rank and File Voice on Koote-nay Co-op Radio. The Rank and File Voice is a weekly program about labour and is produced by activists, including BCGEU activists.

North – Area 10 – Peace RiverWith the support of member bargaining committees, staff conducted negotiations in the City of Fort St. John, Chetwynd Women’s Resources Centre, the Fort St. John Public Library, Nawican Friendship Society, Lakeview Credit Union, District of Hudsons Hope, the Oil and Gas Commission, Northern Lights Faculty and Support (local issues), and School Districts of Fort Nel-son and Dawson Creek. Bargaining committee train-ing was also offered for many of these certifi cations. There have been three area GAC hearings.

The area offi ce trained 55 stewards in either the basic or advanced course. Thirty-three activists took local offi cers training. Anti-bullying workshops were offered for four different employers at the City of Fort St. John – it seems to be an annual event.

The CCC holds a planning session annually. In addi-tion to organizing the stewards’ appreciation dinner, the CCC participates in International Women’s Day, the Day of Mourning, and an Administrative Appreciation Day breakfast as well as hosting a young workers’ picnic, and making contributions to the Santa Claus parade in each of the major towns in this area.

North – Area 11 – Prince GeorgeThe area offi ce has trained 138 stewards in either basic or advanced stewards’ courses, and 22 local offi cers. The offi ce held education sessions on anti-harassment, discrimination and anti-bullying, facing management, effective strike planning, and public speaking as well as a violence in the workplace course for community health and social services. Area staff have made pre-sentations on the BCGEU to the LPN class at the local

Sprott Shaw College, made presentations on employ-ment standards, and participated in a community forum on crime in Prince George. Bargaining was concluded for Active Support Against Poverty Housing Society (new), AXIS Family Resources, Northern John Howard, and AWAC or Association Advocating for Women and Children, and Carefree Society. There have been fi ve area GACs.

The CCC has been very active in community events including rallies protesting loss of forestry jobs, home-lessness, EI changes and the HST, as well as taking part in a forum on protecting our rivers, and a town hall meeting on the future for forestry communities. In addi-tion to the annual stewards’ appreciation dinner, the CCC has also participated in a Chili and Blanket rally and holds a luncheon at the homeless shelter four times a year.

North – Area 12 – NorthwestThis area welcomed Haida Child and Family Services and the Coast Tsimshian Academy of Port Simpson in 2010. With the support of bargaining committees, negotia-tions occurred at Nisga’a Child Family Services, Kitimat Education department (instructors and support), Ter-race Campus Daycare, Haida Child and Family Services, Waterbridge, and Northern Savings Credit Union, Coast Tsimshian Academy, and Northwest Community College (instructors and support). There have been three GAC hearings.

Eighty-four activists have taken either the basic or advanced stewards’ training and 15 people have attended local offi cers training. Staff have also offered EIP/return-to-work training for health and community social services members.

The CCC has participated in the Haida Gwaii Children’s Christmas lunch program, which has been organized by Ministry of Forests’ members, with funding and ac-knowledgement of the CCC. The CCC has also partici-pated in the Day of Mourning and the annual Kitimat/Terrace and District Labour Council picnic on May Day. The CCC sponsors the annual stewards’ banquet and this event was particularly special in 2009 since this was the fi rst time the Donald Philpott Memorial Award was presented in honour of this Component 6 activist. The CCC also co-sponsored a Green-Fair at the North-west Community College, with active participation by Local 712 members. The area offi ce supports the work of Component 3 activists during Community Social Services Month, which in most years includes a mall display and presentation to the city council.


NEGOTIATIONS

TIntroduction

he Negotiations department provides services to BCGEU members in three major areas: negotiations, benefi ts and classifi cations.

The department is responsible for multi-employer or stand alone collective agreements in 10 sectors, covering 30,443 members. They negotiate and assist with the administration of the collective agreements. They also negotiate and administer all of the plans related to job classifi cation, benefi ts, early interven-tion and rehabilitation programs from the public service master and the multi-employer sectoral and stand alone agreements.

The 10 sectors for which the Negotiations department bargains agreements, coordinates bargaining with area offi ces and provides job evaluation and benefi ts services are:

SECTOR MEMBERS

College Instructors .................................... 1,473

College Support......................................... 3,906

Community Health Services & Support ........ 8,083

Community Social Services ......................... 7,959

Childcare (multiple certifi cations) ...................513

Facilities Health Services & Support ............ 1,800

Health Science Professionals ...................... 1.851

Independent Health ................................... 1,192

Highways .................................................. 2,214

Hospitality ................................................ 1,452

TOTAL ................................................30,443

NegotiationsNet Zero Mandate Proves to be Frustrating and Unfair to Many BCGEU MembersThe 2010 round of sectoral bargaining occurred following a deep worldwide economic recession and a government imposed net zero mandate. Many sectors were able to make modest improvements through trade-offs but every public sector agreement signed to date has been held to the net zero mandate imposed by the BC Liberals. This austere mandate

denied workers real wage increases for 2010 and 2011. Some sets of bargaining were delayed for over a year and some have come to a standstill over this issue.

Community Social ServicesThe BCGEU represents approximately 8,000 members who work under the Community Living, General Services and Aboriginal Services collective agreements. The Community Living group includes 5,474 members; the General Services group includes 2,380 members and the Aboriginal Services group includes just under 200 members.

The BCGEU has the majority of members in the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) and this association commenced bargaining in November 2009. This was well in advance of the March 31, 2010 expiry date. Despite tremendous effort by the union bargaining committee we have been unable to achieve a collective agreement. The Provincial Executive has given the committee approval to conduct a strike vote. Strike votes commenced in April 2011.

Prior to taking strike action, unions and employers in the sector must establish essential service levels. The unions made timely and continued efforts to get the employers to provide necessary information and to meet and discuss essential services. The employers remain steadfastly uncooperative.

During the term of the previous collective agreement the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) was implemented for all positions in the sector. Enrolment in the MPP is greater than 80 percent of eligible employees.

Facilities Health Services and SupportThe BCGEU represents approximately 2,000 members who work under the terms of the Health Service and Support Facilities subsector agreement. In February 2010, BCGEU members along with the members of the other unions who belong to the Facilities Bargaining Association voted to accept the terms of a two-year agreement which expires on March 31, 2012.

Highlights include:

• LPNs and LPN supervisors are now paid on a wage grid with a number of increments. Under the new wage grid most LPNs will see a wage increase of 3 to 7%;

• expanded job security, renewed transfer agree-ment, enhanced severance and consolidation of seniority for casuals;

• additional one million dollars for education fund.

Health Science ProfessionalsThe BCGEU represents approximately 2,000 mem-bers who work under the terms of the Health Science Professionals collective agreement. In March 2011, BCGEU members along with the members of the other unions who belong to the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association voted to accept the terms of a two-year agreement which expires on March 31, 2012. Highlights include:

• improved employment security and employment mobility through health authority wide seniority lists;

• signifi cant improvements to the benefi ts package;

• establishment of new joint working groups for benefi ts and classifi cations;

• establishment of a disability management program.


Community Health Services and Support The BCGEU represents approximately 8,800 members who work under the terms of the Health Services and Support Community subsector agreement. In February 2011, BCGEU members along with the members of the other unions who belong to the Community Bargain-ing Association (which includes UFCW, CUPE, HSA, HEU and PEA) voted to accept the terms of a two-year agreement which expires on March 31, 2012. High-lights include:

• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs):2009 – 3% increase and 2010 – 3% increase;

• Certifi ed dental assistants:3% per year based on the 2009 Grid 8 wages;

• LPN supervisors:new benchmark and wage increases;

• Direct Pay drug card and improved vision care;

• weekend premium of $0.25/hour for all hours worked;

• agreement to establish new joint committees to deal with home support scheduling issues, STIIP, benefi ts and developing a single method of accruing seniority.

Due to the government imposed net zero mandate and a general reluctance by employers to make any meaningful improvements bargaining has been slow. Despite these obstacles, the BCGEU achieved agree-ment on local issues at Vancouver Island University (VIU). The improvements to the VIU collective agree-ment provide protection for bargaining unit work and improvements in the application of seniority.

College SupportThe provincial compensation template table had a rocky start when the Post Secondary Employers’ Association cancelled key bargaining dates early in the process and set the parties back three months. The provincial template table has yet to settle and local issues negotiations continue at each college with no fi nal agreements in place.

The application of the government imposed net zero mandate and the employer’s refusal to agree to chang-es in working conditions have brought negotiations to a standstill.

Provincial talks are expected to resume in the fall.

Independent Health Certifi cationsThere are currently 40 Independent Health agree-ments negotiated throughout the province which apply to members working at private care facilities such as seniors independent living facilities. Since the last con-vention in June 2008, our Independent Health certifi -cations have negotiated average increases as follows:

LifeLabsThe 700 members at LifeLabs who work in the medical diagnostic testing fi eld voted to renew their collec-tive agreement which expires on December 31, 2011. Highlights include:

• 3% wage increase;

• increase in meal allowance; and

• increase in premium pay for training.

College InstructorsBCGEU and Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) jointly negotiate the College Instructors Com-mon Provincial Agreement. This agreement expired March 31, 2010 and due to a number of procedural delays, bargaining did not commence until May 2010. In October 2010, the BCGEU and FPSE bargaining committees agreed to adjourn negotiations at the common table and seek local agreements from the individual bargaining units. No dates are presently scheduled with the employer for the common table.


Average PercentYear Increase to Grid2008 ........................ 2.58%2009 ..........................2.6%2010 ........................ 2.88%2011 ........................ 2.34%


2011 – Highways Maintenance Workers Preparing for Bargaining – Collective Agreements Expire in Fall 2011The majority of the Highways Maintenance collective agreements expire in the fall of 2011 and highways workers are preparing for the 2011/2012 round of bar-gaining. This round follows a fi ve-year deal where long strikes in 40 percent of highways contract areas were required to achieve collective agreements.

The 2011 round of bargaining will prove challenging because the Ministry of Transportation has signalled their intent to remove successorship provisions from the 2013 maintenance contract tendering process.

The Highways Bargaining Council met on April 7 – 8, 2011 to formalize a plan and develop a strategy for the 2011 bargaining.

Pavement Marking BCGEU members work around the province keeping our roads safe by painting the lane separation lines on the highways in B.C. This is demanding work requiring long hours often in the hot sun. The govern-ment privatized this service and there are now two companies that employ our members. Mainroad Pave-ment Marking works in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Lafrentz Pavement Marking has the contract to mark interior and northern highways.

Our members went to the table with both of these employers in 2009 and both came away with similar collective agreements.

Lafrentz Pavement Marking Agreement to expire March 31, 2013:

• 2009 – $1,200 signing bonus;

• 2010, 2011 and 2012 – a minimum of 2.5% or the Labour Index Adjustment, whichever is greater;

• industry adjustment for foreman at $1.50 per hour;

• new classifi cation for buffer truck;

• meal allowance increases.

Mainroad Pavement Marking Agreement to expire March 31, 2013:

• 2009 - $1,200 signing bonus.

• 2010, 2011 and 2012 – a minimum fl oor of 2.5% or the Labour Index Adjustment, whichever is greater;

• new classifi cation for painter and buffer truck;

• full health and welfare benefi ts for fourth year employees.

Canada Line (ProTrans BC)In August 2009, our Organiz-ing department organized the 180 workers who operate Canada Line. This is the transit line which

transports travellers from the Vancouver International Airport to the Vancouver waterfront. The operating company is ProTrans BC.

Following 15 months of bargaining and a strike vote of 95 percent in January, the employer applied for mediation under section 55 of the Labour Relations Code. This provision which is only available for fi rst collective agreements involved a mediator who, after hearing from both our union and the employer, wrote a report which contained the recommended terms of settlement.

Following additional discussions, our union was able to recommend to our members they ratify their fi rst col-lective agreement. A counting of the ballots on March 24, 2011 revealed that 87 percent of the members voted in favour of the collective agreement. In addition to having a fi rst collective agreement which contained, among other things, a grievance procedure, employ-ment security, and language that enshrines seniority rights, the agreement also provided for improvements to wages, benefi ts, overtime, scheduling, pension and sick leave.

BC Pavilion Corporation (BC Place Stadium)The members at BC Pavilion Corporation approved a long term collective agreement to accommodate the Olympics and subsequent temporary closure of BC Place Stadium. The four-year agreement covers the period from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2011. Highlights include:

• wage increases: ...... June 2007 – 3% ...... June 2008 – 2.5% ...... June 2009 – 2% ...... June 2010 – 2%

• part-time and event-time employees became entitled to benefi ts after three years (as opposed to fi ve years)


BC Place has been closed for extensive construction to provide for a retractable roof. Negotiations commence in the spring of 2011.

Grand Villa Casino (Gateway Casinos)During the period from July 2008 and continuing into May of 2009 employees at the Grand Villa casino joined the BCGEU. By December 2009 these new members voted to ratify their fi rst collective agreement which covers approximately 800 members. This two-year agreement expires on December 31, 2011.

Highlights include:

• wage increases in both years ranging from 6% to 18%; and

• market adjustment increases for slot attendants and security staff.

Lake City Casinos (Gateway Casinos)BCGEU members at Lake City Casinos voted in April 2011 to ratify a renewal collective agreement. This three-year agreement expires on September 4, 2013.

Highlights include:

• wage increases:

• 2010 – 2% to 4%, subject to years of service, 2011 – 2%, 2012 – 2%;

• designated fi rst aid attendants to receive $0.50 per hour;

• improvements to Dental – Plan A & B.

Starlight Casino (Gateway Casinos)In the fall of 2009, approximately 400 employees of Starlight Casino joined the BCGEU and in the spring of 2010 they voted to ratify their fi rst collective agreement which expires on March 31, 2012. This two-year agree-ment was similar to the one negotiated at the Grand Villa.

Highlights include:

• wage increases in both years ranging from 6% to 18%;

• market adjustment increases for slot attendants;

• red-circled employees will receive lump sum pay-ments in each year of the agreement.

BC Safety Authority (BCSA)In July 2009, the 270 members ratifi ed a continuance of their collective agreement. This agreement is effec-tive from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011.

Highlights include:

• 2% general wage increase in the fi rst pay period in January of each year of the agreement;

• implementation of a new job evaluation plan which will provide further wage increases of up to 3% per year;

• 4% temporary market adjustment for safety offi cers – elevating;

• health and welfare benefi ts enhancements.

Benefi tsRehabilitation Committee – Public ServiceThe Joint Rehabilitation Committee reviews cases of absence from work due to illness or injury and makes recommendations for a safe and sustainable return to gainful employment. There is an emphasis on provid-ing accommodation to allow workers to return to their own jobs; however, if that is impossible, there are training opportunities available to access alternate placements. The access to available vacancies remains limited by the ongoing government cuts to the public service.

Early InterventionThe Early Intervention Plans (EIP) in the Community Social Services and Health sectors are designed to help our members during periods of illness or in-jury. They provide eligible members with access to therapies and treatments at an early point in their illness, allowing a safe and timely return to work. Staff representatives assist members who have diffi cul-ties in returning to work. In order to ensure that EIP remains relevant and that the plans continue to assist our members, negotiations staff play an active role


in the EIP process. Through their attendance at EIP Working Group and Steering committee meetings they advocate for improvements to the plans and provide feedback from members to the plan administrators and the employers.

2008Active rehabilitation & LTD cases ..................... 519

Health Services EIP referrals ........................... 473

Social Services EIP referrals ............................ 283

2009Active rehabilitation & LTD cases ..................... 540



2010 Active rehabilitation & LTD cases ..................... 534



LTD appeals continue to be concluded at a high success rate:

2008LTD appeals won ...........................................81%

2009LTD appeals won ...........................................71%

2010LTD appeals won ...........................................93%

Community Health Benefi ts Joint Working GroupIn the last round of Community Health negotiations, joint working groups were established in the areas of Benefi ts and Enhanced Disability Management and Short Term Illness and Injury Plans (STIIP.)

The mandate of the Benefi ts Working Group is to re-view the terms of the extended health and dental ben-efi t plans and identify benefi t plan changes that will improve the quality of benefi ts available to members.

The goal of the Enhanced Disability Management/STIIP Working Group is to examine options for short-term disability models, review the disability management process and make recommendations to the Community Bargaining Association and HEABC for improvements to the management of disability claims.

Classifi cationsStaff representatives review the job descriptions sub-mitted by employers under the three sectoral collective agreements: Health Facilities, Community Health and Community Social Services. The staff often challenge the description of the work performed and the rate of pay or classifi cation the employers assign.

The colleges and a number of other units perform this work by a joint job evaluation committee either with or without the direct involvement of staff. The Public Ser-vice Master and Health Sciences Professionals have a complaints-based compliance framework, so no chang-es are reviewed until a member appeals. Since the last convention our union has reviewed and appealed classifi cations as follows (note: outstanding reviews and appeals are carried forward from one year to another):

Colleges Joint Committees 2008Reviewed (member initiated) ............................42New positions (employer initiated) .....................15

Colleges Joint Committees 2009Reviewed (member initiated) ............................62New positions (employer initiated) .......................2

Colleges Joint Committees 2010Reviewed (member initiated) ............................29New positions (employer initiated) .......................2

Community Social Services 2008New & changed jobs (employer initiated) ......... 105Concluded ..................................................... 116Appeals (member initiated) .................................3Concluded .........................................................3

Community Social Services 2 009New & changed jobs (employer initiated) ...........75Concluded .......................................................66Appeals (member initiated) .................................2Concluded .........................................................2

Community Social Services 2010New & changed jobs (employer initiated) ...........84Concluded .......................................................86Appeals (member initiated) .................................3Concluded .........................................................2

Health Services (employer & member initiated):Reviewed (2008) ............................................ 121Reviewed (2009) ..............................................88Reviewed (2010) ............................................ 522


Community HealthDuring 2010 negotiations we agreed to establish a new benchmark for LPNs who supervise other LPNs and unregulated staff. Where LPNs are not supervised by an LPN supervisor, employers are combining the LPN position with the home support supervisor. This new benchmark only impacts LPN supervisors in the Community Health subsector.

A number of Support Worker 2s have fi led classifi ca-tion reviews. Regrettably, these have not been successful as the changed work remains with the broad banded.

Facilities – Clerical Benchmark SeriesStaff representatives continue to review the Facilities benchmarks. Recently the College of Pharmacists began certifying and regulating the pharmacy tech-nicians and employers can opt to employ regulated pharmacy technicians. The regulated workers will have an increase in their level of responsibility and will be able to sign in the place of a pharmacist for prescriptions that are dispensed from a pharmacy. We are presently reviewing the benchmarks for the pharmacy technicians to ascertain whether this change in responsibility will impact on rates of pay.

Health SciencesIndividual classifi cation grievances and group griev-ances continue to be assessed and resolved. At the present time we are working to resolve the issue of supervision with a group of audiologists and speech pathologists. Many social program offi cers have complained that the employer has downgraded their positions from Grade 2 to Grade 1. In many instances we have been successful in red-circling the members rate of pay at the higher rate.

Devolved Government 2008Our members whose work has been privatized or who were devolved from the direct government service have also fi led classifi cation appeals. In 2008, three classifi cation appeals were fi led.

Joint Job Evaluation CommitteesIn some worksites, the job evaluation is done by a joint committee made up of both union and employer representatives. Members need training, which is provided by the staff representative, to be able to undertake this role. In some cases the training has been made available to the general membership.

Since the last convention, approximately 200 activists and members at eight different employers received training.

Master AgreementOur members working under the Public Service Master agreement fi le appeals when the work they are as-signed to perform does not match their classifi cation. Since the last convention, the BCGEU has reviewed and disputed classifi cation appeals as follows:

2008Master: Active ..................................................49

Master: Concluded ...........................................26

Onsites and Reviews .........................................41

Classifi cation adjustments were also made through temporary market adjustments (TMAs) for the sheriff’s and corrections classifi cations. The deputy sheriff ser-geants received a classifi cation increase from grid 18 to grid 21 and correctional supervisors increased from 21 to grid 24.

2009Master: Active ..................................................25



Video teleconference ..........................................6

2010Master: Active ..................................................22



Video teleconference ........................................20


The joint committee was a new option for dispute resolution in the 14th Master Agreement that provided an alternative to classifi cation hearings. This com-mittee met to give ratings on three appeals with the union winning one of those.

Health Science Professional Bill 29 Education FundThe Health Science Professionals Bill 29 Education Fund awarded $113,301 in education funds to mem-bers in the fi rst offering of funds in 2009. The commit-tee reviewed all of the 2010 applications and $96,000 has been committed to individual applications for fund-ing and just over $28,000 has been committed to group training for Interior and Northern Health authorities. As a direct result, a successful contract course on Community Planning for environmental health offi cers was held for 30 BCGEU members February 22 – 23, 2011 in Vernon. The committee will meet again this year to determine whether there are suffi cient funds to offer additional courses.

Joint Community Health Retraining FundThe Joint Community Health Retraining Fund (fund) was created as a consequence of the Bill 29 Settle-ment. This fund provides retraining monies for members who work under the Health Services and Support Community subsector collective agreement. The BCGEU administers this fund on behalf of the Community Bargaining Association. The disbursements from the fund are allocated to members by a joint union/employer committee.

From April 2010 to March 2011, the fund distributed approximately $525,000 to 240 members in Commu-

nity Health. The average disbursement was $2,000 per member.

In November, 16 members of Locals 403 and 404 participated in the health care assistant/resident care attendant upgrade program (HCA/RCA), which was conducted by Vancouver Commu-nity College (VCC). A 10-week exam preparation course for community health workers was developed and offered to our VCC participants. The fi rst session started in January 2011 at BCGEU Head-quarters.

The committee has also formed a scheduler training working group and

in conjunction with the committee we are developing a one-week train-the-trainer scheduler training pro-gram. The committee has agreed to partner with other groups in order to bring this training to members in spring 2011.

The committee has also identifi ed a group of UFCW workers on Salt Spring Island that may also require the HCA/RCA upgrade program.

Funds for general training were offered in May 2011 and a new offering of funds will likely be made this fall. The fund has been a success story and many members have and will continue to benefi t from the training paid for by this fund.


BC Safety AuthorityBCSA implemented the Hay Classifi cation Plan. Since this is a new plan, the union reviewed it to ensure that it complied with pay equity. A joint committee of three employer and three union representatives engaged in writing job descriptions and implementing the plan.

This work is now complete and all jobs have been rated and the Job Evaluation Maintenance Manual has been fi nalized.

PensionsThe public sector pension plans that BCGEU members participate in have been jointly trusteed since 2001. These include the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), and the College Pension Plan (CPP).

In the last report to convention the challenges facing pensions plans were acknowledged. It is safe to say that the challenges have only exacerbated. Low rates of returns, declining interest rates, enormous global upheaval in fi nancial markets, environmental disas-ters and global security concerns give rise to poor returns.

The continuing improvement of service to members by the plan administrative agent, the BC Pension Corporation, is worth noting. Plan member enqui-ries and service levels are dealt with effi ciently and promptly. The BC Pension Corporation is involved in a major systems replacement for retired members data and payment that will come into effect in late 2011.

The provision of retiree group health benefi ts contin-ues to be one of the most challenging issues facing the respective pension boards. The fi xed contributions earmarked for purchasing the benefi ts is constrained by the amount of funding available. In an era of increasing numbers of retirees and accelerating health care costs this situation can not be expected to improve.

The trustees of the pension plans understand that infl ation protection is the primary purpose of Infl a-tion Adjustment Accounts. Unfortunately, the provi-sion of the group health benefi ts are funded from the employer contributions that are intended for infl ation protection thereby putting pressure on the plans’ ability to provide indexing over the long term.

BCGEU Pension PlanThe BCGEU Pension Plan was created in 1988. Its plan membership is 1,361. The plan remains in the top 40 (by assets) of defi ned contribution pension plans in Canada. Its assets as of December 2010 stood at slightly under $130 million. It is safe to say that the plan is mature and while plan member growth is possible, the plan asset base continues to shrink.

The Board of Trustees recently approved the imple-mentation of an immunization fund designed to limit the exposure plan members age 60 and over have to the equity markets. The one year rate of return for 2010 was 6.92 percent. Like all plans, it is making good progress, coming back from the lows experi-enced in 2008.

The trustees of the plan are Judi Filion, treasurer (chair), Jim Manson (1008), Kelly McDonald (1006), Peter Mehling (BCGEU controller), Mike Nuyens (Operational Services Component chair), Rory Smith (1004) and Stephanie Smith (303). Paul Martin left the board in April 2011.

College Pension PlanThe CPP has recently had to make some very dif-fi cult but important decisions. Aside from a modest pension contribution increase, it has announced the complete discontinuance of any subsidies for retiree group health benefi ts which took effect in 2010. In an attempt to ensure sustainability of infl ation protection, the plan announced a cap on indexing that can not be exceeded. The cap is currently at 1.83 percent, which was above the rate paid in January 2011. The board


will re-evaluate that cap in early 2013 once the triennial valuation has been performed.

The union has two trustees on the CPP board, Jean Maltesen (Education, Scientifi c, Technical and Admin-istrative Component) and Dan Bradford (representing retirees), jointly appointed by the BCGEU and FPSE.

Municipal Pension Plan The MPP remains the largest of the BC public sector pension plans, and the BCGEU’s membership in the plan continues to increase. In the last report it was acknowledged that the Community Health Subsector enrolled in the plan. In the intervening period, the Community Social Services sector has seen all the employers enrolled as of April 2010. The union is very pleased with the member participation rate for this sector. The MPP board announced a contribution rate increase of 0.81 percent to take effect in July 2011. The reason for this increase parallels that which was given regarding the PSPP.

Judi Filion, BCGEU treasurer, became an alternate trustee on the MPP board effec-tive January 2011. The union continues its participation in the Municipal Employees’ Pension Advisory committee.

Public Service Pension PlanSince the last report the PSPP has had to face two important issues including a small increase of 0.15 percent in pension contribu-tions arising from the actuaries recommen-dation. That recommendation was premised on declining investment returns, the need for the plan to use a more conservative earnings

assumption and a requirement un-der the Pension Benefi t Standards Act.

The second important issue was the acknowledgement by the plan partners (the BCGEU and the province of B.C.), to adjust the amount of employer contributions that would be allocated to subsidiz-ing retiree group health benefi ts. A recent announcement limits the subsidy to only the retired plan member who will be entitled to extended health care coverage on

a subsidized basis. Access to all other programs will be the responsibility of the member or spouse on a voluntary unsubsidized basis.

The plan also changed its methodology for calculating the cost of living allowances paid each year. Starting in January 2011, the amount paid was calculated on the same basis as that of the Canada Pension Plan. This method provides a less volatile and a superior mea-surement than the past practice.

The union has four trustees on the board of the PSPP. They include, Lori Joaquin (Administrative Services Component 1st vice-chairperson), Lorene Oikawa (vice-president), Paul Martin (staff), David Vipond, (director).

In addition, Paul Martin serves as the PSPP director on the board of the BC Pension Corporation. This appointment expires June 30, 2011.


SADVOCACY

ince our last report to convention in February 2008, we have received 1,277 new grievances in Advocacy and concluded 1,376. During this

period, 43 published arbitration awards were issued and hundreds of settlements were negotiated, result-ing in $3,824,664.00 paid out to our members.

As at December 31, 2010, we had conduct of 508 active grievance fi les, representing 33 per cent of the union’s active grievances, including 110 termination grievances.

Advocacy also handles matters such as Labour Rela-tions Board applications, sexual and personal harassment complaints,

opinions, provincial and federal court actions, Employ-ment Insurance umpire appeals and Human Rights complaints. We have received 912 fi les since our last report to convention in 2008. The breakdown of these fi les are as follows:

Advocacy opinions ............................................. 9

Association grievances ....................................... 3

BC Human Rights Code ...................................... 9

BC Labour Relations Board ................................70

Court matters...................................................10

Misuse of managerial/supervisory authority ........................................12

Employment Insurance umpire appeals ................................................. 2

Employer fi led grievances .................................49

Exclusions ......................................................705

Discrimination complaints .................................. 2

Legal opinions ................................................... 5

Miscellaneous ...................................................36

TOTAL ...........................................................912

Workers’ CompensationThe current caseload of Advocacy’s Workers’ Compen-sation appeal representatives is 382 active appeals. We receive an average of 23 new appeals each month. Since our last report to convention, we have received 836 appeal fi les and we have concluded 906.

Cases of NoteREJECTION ON PROBATIONBCGEU and Ministry of Forests – July 11, 2008 #970In September 1994, the member began working as a forest technician. In June 2006, pursuant to a settle-ment agreement he returned to work with probation-ary status. On February 21, 2007, he was rejected on probation. The arbitrator found for the union and reinstated the member. The suitability test requires the employer to establish and communicate reason-able standards to probationary employees and to give them a fair opportunity to prove their abilities. The employer did not show it had advised the member of the expected standards, or that it had told him he was not meeting those standards and that failure to meet those standards could result in removal from the position.

CONVERSION BCGEU and B.C. Pavillion Corp – June 18, 2008 #969The arbitrator accepted the union’s argument that part-time and event-time employees met the test for eligibility to be converted to regular positions (having worked at least 1800 hours in 12 months). The mem-bers were entitled to be converted to full-time posi-tions and entitled to compensation for the employer’s failure to convert them.


CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE (CRC) APPEAL Government of BC and BCGEU – June 13, 2008#BCLRB B91/2008 The union applied under Section 99 of the Labour Code for an appeal of a CRC decision.

The union argued the member was denied a fair hear-ing because the CRC panel relied on documents that had not been disclosed or provided to him during the hearing.

The board found in the union’s favour and ordered that the matter of the member’s qualifi cation for long term disability benefi ts be referred to a different CRC panel.

CLASSIFICATIONBCGEU and Mainroad East Kootenay – June 30, 2010 #1006 The member was a road foreman (RF) who worked in an RF1 position. He moved to an RF4 position and shortly after the move, the employer reclassifi ed his position as an RF2. The union grieved the reclassifi cation and argued the position was properly classifi ed as an RF4 position. The union called evidence to establish the member was performing the same duties as other RF4s and the same duties as the previous employ-ee in that position. The arbitrator accepted the union’s argument and the member was reclassifi ed back to the RF4 classifi cation and received the increase in pay on a retroactive and ongoing basis.

TERMINATIONMinistry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and BCGEU – June 25, 2009 and August 31, 2009 #986 and #986AThe 10-year service member was terminated for releasing unauthorized information to the media. At the time of termination he was a corrections supervisor and had a discipline free record.

The union argued discharge was an excessive penalty. He acknowledged his mistake, was remorseful and his actions were motivated by health and safety concerns.

The arbitrator concluded the member should be reinstated and referred the issue of the appropriate penalty back to the parties.

The parties were unable to reach agreement on the remedy and a second hearing was held. The employer argued the member’s dishonesty was so severe that he had destroyed the trust relationship and should be awarded damages in lieu of reinstatement. The union argued the appropriate penalty was a short period of suspension and/or if a demotion was ordered, it should be for a specifi c period of time.

The arbitrator concluded the employment relationship was incapable of being restored and awarded three weeks of pay for each year of service.

The union fi led two unsuccessful appeals on the case to the LRB.


JURISDICTIONOkanagan College and Okanagan College Faculty Association & BCGEU – April 26, 2010 #BCLRB No. B66/2010The Faculty Bargaining Association applied for a declaration that certain vocational instructors in the BCGEU bargaining unit should be moved to the Association bar-gaining unit due to certain changes in the Human Services Work program including the move from a one-year certifi cate to a two-year diploma program. The sole issue was whether the instructors’ work contin-ues to be vocational in nature. The board dismissed the application, fi nding that the Faculty Association failed to establish that the instructors, despite the program changes, had ceased to be vocational instructors.

JURISDICTIONNIL/TU,O and BCGEU – November 4, 2010Supreme Court of CanadaThe union applied for certifi cation at the provincial LRB on behalf of members who provide family and child services to First Nations’ families. The employer objected arguing that labour relations are federal because the services were provided to First Nations’ families. The union’s position was that the provision of family and child services is a provincial responsibility therefore the provincial Labour Relations Code applied. The BC LRB agreed with the union but the employer appealed to the BC Supreme Court who found that the Canada Labour Relations Board had jurisdiction. The union appealed that decision to the BC Court of Appeal who reinstated the provincial certifi cation. The employ-er then took the case to the Supreme Court of Canada who agreed with the union that the presumption in favour of provincial jurisdiction over labour relations applied considering that the provision of family and child services is a provincial responsibility.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD (WCB)BCGEU and Fraserview Community Services – June 5, 2008 WCB AppealThe member was a residential care worker who was injured on the job in 2004. The union has fi led many appeals since 2004 fi ghting for recognition of his physical and psychological injuries. On June 5, 2008, the WCB issued a decision letter stating his permanent functional impairment award would be 46.78 percent and he will receive a 100 percent loss-of-earnings

award. This was the fi rst 100 percent loss of earnings award for any BCGEU member since the legislative changes in 2002.

Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT) Award – November 18, 2009 #2009-03000 The union successfully challenged the 2002 legisla-tive changes and the WCB practice directive that the threshold for a loss of earnings pension should be 25 percent. The worker is an LDB merchandise clerk who was injured after the 2002 changes to the WCB legislation. The worker was not able to perform her clerk position, but was trained and placed through the Joint Rehab committee into a receptionist position. The difference in her loss of earnings was approxi-mately 13 percent. The union argued, and the vice-chair agreed, that the 13 percent difference was a signifi cant fi nancial loss and allowed the appeal for a loss of earnings pension assessment.


RESEARCH, CAMPAIGNS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Child Care

orking families need affordable, acces-sible, high quality child care, and our governments must take bold steps to

make this a reality in B.C.

As the largest union of child care workers in B.C., we have a strong voice on this issue. But our voice becomes stronger through working in coalition with other organizations, including:

• Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC), to build support for a universal, publicly funded child care system in B.C.;

• Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC) and Code Blue for Child Care, to lobby for a national, publicly funded, inclusive, quality, non-profi t child care system;

• Child Care Advocacy Forum, to work on advocacy campaigns and political action to achieve a provin-cial publicly funded universal child care system;

• Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), to support professional development and recognition for child care workers, including supporting their annual conference.

We continued our strong partnership with the CCCABC on the joint “Child Care: Let’s Make It Happen!” pro-vincial campaign focused on coalition-building, out-reach and lobbying for affordable, accessible, publicly funded and quality child care for all B.C. families.

In 2008, the RCC department produced a joint com-munity tool kit – a set of easy-to-read materials outlin-ing speaking points on concrete child care solutions, as well as actions that people can take – that was dis-tributed to activists, members and community groups. The tool kit is accessible on the BCGEU website.

We worked to ensure child care was front and centre in every election at all three levels, through earned media, paid advertizing, lawn signs, questions to candidates, email/web information to members and the public, and member and community-based events.

In the lead-up to the 2009 provincial election, we or-ganized two “BC Needs Child Care to Work” events in Vancouver and Kamloops that saw over 120 enthusiastic supporters taking it to the streets to demand universal child care.

We made formal submissions to municipal, provincial and federal governments calling for a universal child

The work of the Research, Campaigns and Communi-cations department includes:

• development of campaigns and materials on behalf of components;

• research on public policy issues, and research to support organizing, bargaining and advocacy;

• media relations, advertizing, publications, website and other communications initiatives;

• coordination, support and development of joint labour-management committees with a provincial mandate and labour adjustment work to minimize involuntary job loss for members affected by government downsizing;

• specialized work in member education, occupa-tional health and safety, aboriginal liaison and equity;

• monitoring the legislature, lobbying, and prepara-tion of public policy submissions to all levels of government and crown agencies;

• working with labour, environmental, health and other social justice groups and coalitions on a wide range of issues.

W


care system. We advocated for universal child care as a key component of a poverty reduction plan for B.C. We spoke out against the corpo-ratization of child care and we worked with the CCCABC to promote its emerging plan for child care in B.C. called “Moving to a System of Integrated and Early Learning.”

Special Associate Members (SAMs)BCGEU is proud to have workers who provide child care services from their home as Special Associate Members (SAMs) of our union.

SAMs benefi t from a relationship to the union that gives them organizational support, train-ing, a political voice, and member benefi ts that enhance their role as workers providing child care services in B.C. In 2009, we negotiated a special discount for SAMs with Pacifi c Blue Cross on an individual plan for extended benefi ts.

Since the last convention, SAMs have continued their self-organizing with the assistance of staff mentors from the union. Staff from the RCC department, along with staff from other depart-ments, acted as liaisons with SAMs chapter lead-ers, providing support and advice.

We assisted SAMs in putting child care on the political agenda during the federal and provincial elections.

In the 2008 federal election, the RCC department worked with the Organizing department on a one-day event which saw over 80 SAMs and Component 3 members going door-to-door at BCGEU households in Burnaby to engage mem-bers about the importance of voting for child care.

In the lead-up to the 2009 provincial election, a delegation of staff, SAMs and representatives of Component 3 and the Provincial Executive met with the B.C. Minister for Child Care, Linda Reid, to lobby for more funding for child care.

Staff assisted SAMs to organize a “SAM2SAM” cam-paign, with SAMs going to the homes of other family child care providers, talking to them on the doorstep about the importance of voting for child care in the provincial election, encouraging them to put “BC Needs Child Care to Work” signs on their lawns, and recruiting new activists.

Community Social ServicesThousands of British Columbians rely on the critical services our members provide in communities around the province, and yet these services are often mar-ginalized, or invisible. Community living, child care, aboriginal services and services to women are chroni-cally under-funded, and the provincial government has made further funding cuts, resulting in loss of service, understaffi ng and excessive workloads.

Working with other unions, the BCGEU continued to raise awareness of the vital role community social


services play in our communities as part of our Community Social Services Awareness campaign.

A key element of the campaign is to have the month of March declared as Community Social Services Awareness Month throughout B.C. The RCC depart-ment worked with our activists to make presentations to municipal councils and provincial representatives to achieve this declaration. In 2009, 30 B.C. municipali-ties proclaimed March as Community Social Services Awareness month. In 2010, that number grew to 40 municipalities. In 2011, nearly 50 municipalities pro-claimed Community Social Services Awareness Month. In all three years, the province of B.C. offi cially de-clared March to be Community Social Services Month.

Throughout the month of March, the RCC department supported our members and other activists to organize local awareness events in their communities, including an annual Community Social Services Walk in Victoria. The website www.communitysocialservicesmatter.ca is used as a campaign tool to highlight the issues and activities related to the multi-union campaign for com-munity social services.

We also used opportunities to highlight the need for more community social services in our province, often in partnership with other advocacy and community groups. As an example, in October 2009 we joined “Moms on the Move” in early morning demonstrations to protest funding cuts to children with special needs.

In 2010-2011, we stepped up our presence in com-munities and the media to support community social services bargaining. At the BC Federation of Labour convention in the fall of 2010, we coordinated a phone-blitz which saw convention delegates jamming the offi ce phone lines of Kevin Kruger, then Minister of Social Development, and Mary Polak, then Minister of Children and Family Development, to demand a fair contract for community social services workers.

Community LivingOur members working in agencies contracted with Community Living BC (CLBC) continue to face a great

deal of uncertainty about their working conditions, and the future of their work providing services to vulner-able British Columbians. Massive budget cuts and organizational turmoil have resulted in crises for our members and the clients and families they support.

In December 2008, RCC staff and representatives of Components 3 and 6 met with the consultant hired by the provincial government to outline concerns regard-ing governance, policies and spending related to CLBC. In May 2009, staff and representatives of Component 3 met with Rick Mowles, CEO of CLBC, which resulted in an agreement to have ongoing discussions about issues in the contracted services.

In the summer of 2010, the RCC department developed a campaign to highlight the mas-sive cuts to CLBC and the resulting closure of community living group homes. We liaised with advocates, employers, family members, Opposition critics and other allies around the closure of these group homes and the result-

ing impact on individuals and families.

We organized two successful community forums in Vancouver and Victoria in the fall of 2010, and coordi-nated the work of sector stakeholders to share infor-mation on group home closures and plan future collec-tive action. This work included the release of a report calling for a moratorium on group home closures, and improvements to community living services.

EnvironmentOur union is proud to be a leader in environmental advocacy in the labour movement. We have long supported environmental protection and sustainability while maintaining good, family-supporting jobs.

RCC staff brought focus to the union’s campaign initiatives on environment and climate change issues, including efforts by the Provincial Executive Environ-ment committee to green our union, our workplaces, and our province.

We continued to build our working relationship with a number of environmental organizations including:

• BC Food Systems Network

• Toxic Free Canada

• Voters Taking Action/Bridge to a Cool Planet

• BC Campus Climate Network


• Vancouver Food Policy Council

• WeCAN alliance of labour / environment partners in the Western Climate Initiative

• Pembina Institute

• Sierra Club BC

• David Suzuki Foundation

• Ecojustice

• Western Canada Wilderness Committee

• ForestEthics

• West Coast Environmental Law

• goBeyond

Cool Communities CampaignSince the last convention, the BCGEU Cool Communi-ties campaign has focused on food security as a key issue related to climate change. The RCC department encouraged and supported local projects spearheaded by member activists, including:

• the award-winning school garden at McTavish/Kelset School in Victoria;

• specialized, complete educational resource kits for middle schools on food security and climate change issues developed with The Society Pro-moting Environmental Conservation (SPEC BC).

We put food security on the political agenda in the November 2008 municipal elections through an online questionnaire for municipal candidates to determine their position and support for food security-related issues. We also attended the 2008 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention to promote the Cool Communities campaign and food security issues to mayors, councillors and municipal and regional staff from across B.C.

The union also organized well-attended Build Your Own Garden (BYOG)) workshops in Victoria and the Lower Mainland for BCGEU members.

Climate JusticeRCC staff continued work to ensure workers’ perspec-tives are considered in policy options related to climate change.

The RCC department worked with the CCPA as part of the Climate Justice Project, the BC Federation of Labour and in coalition with environmental and other organizations, to advance our vision of good jobs in

a green economy supported by research and policy development.

We co-authored a climate justice technical paper published by the CCPA, Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Scenarios for BC: Meeting the Twin Objec-tives of Temperature Stabilization and Global Equity, intended to help provide an understanding of the basis and scale of global warming problem and the kind of contribution B.C. might make to its solution.

We also worked as part of the BC Federation of Labour with other Canadian and American unions on “Take the Lead”, an organized approach to ensure the Western Climate Initiative (to which B.C. is a party) deals both effectively with global warming and fairly with workers and their communities.

Staff supported the Columbia Institute’s “Jobs, Justice, Climate – Building a Green Economy for B.C.” confer-ence in September 2010. This conference brought together environmentalists and labour activists to develop a common vision for a green jobs strategy in B.C. that supports just transition policies.

AirCareOver several months in 2010, the RCC department worked with environmental groups, municipal allies, and the Sustainable Communities Initiative labour partners to push for the extension and expansion of the AirCare program (vehicle emissions regulation), which was set to expire in 2011. Approximately 115 BCGEU members work at AirCare facilities across the Lower Mainland. AirCare inspectors perform green jobs that drive economic growth and limit our collective environmental footprint at the same time.


progressive candidates. A total of 180 labour-endorsed candidates were elected around the province, including 20 BCGEU members and one BCGEU special associate member in 20 communities.

Following the 2008 elections, staff com-piled a list of labour and BCGEU-endorsed municipal councillors and school board representatives. This tool has been shared with other unions through the CLC to aid in identifying allies in our municipal lobby-ing campaign activities.

We continued to work with the BC Federation of Labour and the CLC Municipal Working Group to coordinate our political action activities following the 2008 municipal elections, networking with labour-endorsed representa-tives on issues affecting our members, and ensuring key resolutions are debated at the annual convention of the UBCM. We also supported opportunities for training and growth through the Columbia Institute for BCGEU members who sit on local governments.

Highways MaintenanceRCC staff worked with Component 10 to conclude the successful “You be the Judge” municipal lobby campaign in the fall of 2008. Thirty-nine municipalities passed the union’s resolution calling on the Ministry of Transporta-tion to properly monitor and audit highways maintenance in the province. The UBCM also passed this resolution at its 2008 convention.

We worked with auditor Ron Parks on an analysis of highways maintenance in the 20 years since privatiza-tion. Parks concluded there were signifi cant barriers to obtaining the information necessary to do a fi nancial comparison, and recommended the provincial govern-ment take back direct delivery of highway mainte-nance in a small number of service areas in the next round of contracts which would enable a sound public sector comparison.

We also obtained a legal opinion that trade agree-ments like the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) are not an obstacle to govern-ments who want to resume highway maintenance as a direct government service.

We continued to draw attention to the failure of private highways contractors to ensure safety and

Our campaign included a direct appeal to municipal and regional district representatives, a letter-writing campaign with environmental groups, alerts to mem-bers, and engaging an air quality expert to help assess the program review. In November 2010, the board of Metro Vancouver unanimously recommended to extend AirCare to 2020, and to enhance the program’s focus to include emissions from heavy duty vehicles.

Our work continues, however. At the time of writing of this report, we learned the contract with EnviroTest, which provides AirCare, is only being extended for a year and may be put out to tender, potentially impact-ing our members who work there.

Municipal OutreachOver the last three years, BCGEU activists, elected offi cers and staff appealed to local governments on issues of critical importance to our members and their communities. We lobbied hundreds of elected offi cials through personal conversations, formal presentations, letters, emails, and hosting meetings. As senior levels of government continue to download responsibility for programs and services to the community, and munici-pal governments become increasingly outspoken on public policy issues, it is critical that we elect people to local offi ce who support public services and issues important to our members.

The RCC department worked to identify and promote candidates endorsed by the labour movement, many of whom are our own members. In 2008, the BCGEU endorsed 30 BCGEU members running as municipal candidates. Using mail, email and phone, the depart-ment organized member contact – reaching over 18,000 members to encourage them to vote and to consider supporting BCGEU members and other


roadworthiness of maintenance vehicles and equip-ment. Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) inspection reports and other records obtained under Freedom of Information revealed a number of contrac-tors received large bonuses from the provincial government despite appalling safety records with vehicles pulled off the road and fi nes.

In response to cuts to provincial funding for the CVSE inspection service, in early 2011, the union launched “Road Safe BC,” a campaign to make B.C. roads safer through a re-invigorated CVSE program.

Forestry CampaignThis decade has been a hard one for B.C.’s forests and the men and women who manage them. Since 2002, the BC Liberal government has slashed more than 1,000 B.C. forest service jobs, eroded monitor-ing, compliance and enforcement, and ushered in an era of self-regulation that endangers the environment, encourages resource waste, and threatens the sustain-ability of B.C. forests.

BCGEU members who work in the Ministry of Forests have felt the impact of job loss, reduced budgets and excessive workloads. And our members who live in forest-dependent communities are struggling from the negative social and economic impacts of the misman-agement of our forests sector.

Working with our activists, the RCC department set out to raise public awareness about the decimation of our forest sector and the need for better protection and management of our province’s most vital public resource.

In January 2010, we published a policy paper jointly with the CCPA, “Managing BC’s Forests for a Cooler

Planet,” which highlighted a decade worth of cuts to the public forest management service and made recommendations for investing in the public service and managing our forests for the future.

Later that year, staff began work on the development of a BCGEU campaign to engage community leaders and the public around the impact of severe cuts to the BC Forest Service and the need for more government accountability and better stewardship of our forests.

In January 2011, we launched “BC Forests. Our Future”, a series of community dialogues in forest-dependent communities (Castlegar, Campbell River, Kamloops, Prince George) with community leaders from labour, community, government, and industry. Participants identifi ed issues and solutions for the for-est sector in their areas. These dialogues served as the basis for a platform for use in lobbying in the lead-up to the municipal, provincial and federal elections.

Health CareThe BCGEU’s membership in the health care sector has grown signifi cantly in the last decade. In 2011, BCGEU welcomed its newest component – Commu-nity Health Services, Component 8 – to the union’s structure. The BCGEU is now a key health care union in B.C., and we continue to fi nd new ways to support our members and the critical health care services they provide in communities across the province.

Fighting contracting-out continued to be a challenge in the seniors’ care sector. Health authorities have not increased funding for residential care facilities to cover workers’ negotiated contracts and facilities, in turn, have responded by contracting-out care and support services. From Cerwydden Care Centre in Duncan to Kinsmen Place Lodge in Surrey to Heritage Square in Vernon, this contracting-out hurts seniors, their families, workers, and their communities.

In response, the RCC department worked with our health care components to develop the “Building a Better Future for Seniors” campaign. This campaign highlights the challenges in seniors’ care in B.C., and

Issue #1 - April 2011Newsletter for BCGEU members working in health care


calls on governments to invest in public seniors’ care. The campaign tool kit is used to mobilize community support for public seniors’ care in communities facing contracting-out.

We prepared a presentation to the BC Ombudsperson in November 2008, as part of the offi ce’s systemic investigation into seniors’ care. The Ombudsperson released part one of the report in December 2009 and recommended 10 positive steps government could take to improve seniors’ care. The BCGEU joined with other organizations in calling on the government to implement these recommendations.

Staff also provided input into the development of the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry to ensure that our members receive appropriate and current training and have a fair process when it comes to registration and removal from the registry.

We worked to support innovations in health care that improve the working conditions of our members. In sum-mer 2008, we completed a pilot project with Vancouver Coastal Health involving rehab assistants and presented on this at the “Re-imagining Health Services: Innovations in Community Health” conference in November 2008.

In summer 2009, we held a training day for BCGEU LPNs to build skills and develop strategies around workload, scope-of-practice and training needs.

Staff continued to work with the B.C. Health Coalition (BCHC) to promote public health care, including the BCHC’s “Friends of Medicare” campaign highlighting the privatization of our public health care system. During the 2009 provincial election, the BCHC worked to make public health care an election issue, particu-larly seniors’ care. Staff worked with BCGEU members and researchers on a comprehensive report from the CCPA, “Towards an Enhanced and More Accessible Home Support System for BC’s Seniors,” released in May 2009. The report offered a plan for expanding home support that supports service integration and continuity of care, and pairs quality of service for clients and working conditions for staff.

Mental Health and AddictionsBCGEU represents thousands of front line workers in the health, social services, community, and direct government sectors, including the correctional system, who support people living with mental illness and addictions in B.C.

Sadly, mental health services in our province are woefully inadequate and under-funded. Communities have responded to the failure of de-institutionalization through a patchwork of services, and our criminal justice system is struggling to deal with the mental health and addictions issues behind criminal acts. The scheduled closure of provincial psychiatric hospital Riverview in spring 2012 will exacerbate a system already in crisis unless more is done by government to improve the delivery of mental health and addictions services to the estimated one-in-fi ve British Columbi-ans who need them.

In early 2011, staff began to develop a multi-com-ponent campaign to highlight the issues facing our members who directly or indirectly provide services to people with mental illness and addictions. The campaign is intended to respond to the provincial government’s 10-year Mental Health Plan announced in November 2010, identify our members’ concerns about funding levels, workplace conditions and gaps in services, and engage and mobilize all of our members around this critical issue.

Opposing PrivatizationLegal Services CampaignIn 2010, the BC Liberal government mandated deep cuts to an already beleaguered legal aid system in our prov-ince, forcing the Legal Services Society (LSS)to reduce staff in the Lower Mainland by 38 positions, cut core services and special

projects, and close all remaining offi ces except Terrace and Vancouver.

These cuts followed the massive 40 percent cut to legal aid by the BC Liberal government in 2002-2005. The effect of these cuts will be devastating for low-income people, particularly women and their children, who will be unable to access the justice system.

Staff worked with our members and the Coalition for Public Legal Services to launch the “Justice for All”


campaign to stop legal aid cuts. The campaign included motions passed by Vancouver, Nanaimo, Kamloops and Victoria city councils, a letter-writing campaign to the provincial government and LSS, and rallies at the legis-lature and LSS offi ces in downtown Vancouver to mark the closing of legal aid offi ces around the province.

The BCGEU made a formal submission to the Public Commission on Legal Aid which released its report in March 2011 calling on the government to make legal aid an essential service, re-open regional legal aid of-fi ces and dramatically increase funding for legal aid to meet public need.

NUPGE “All Together Now”The RCC department coordinated the activities of 12 BCGEU activists who, from September 2010 to June 2011, campaigned in their communities as part of our national union’s “All Together Now!” national campaign for quality public services and tax fairness.

“All Together Now!” is a Member-to-Member campaign involving hundreds of “Champions for Change” across the country. Champions talk to co-workers, friends, families and the public about the need for fair tax policies and providing quality public services to reduce income inequality and achieve greater prosperity, opportunity and living standards for Canadians.

Our union’s 12 champions made hundreds of local presentations and gathered over 1,800 signedequality pledges and proclamations from BCGEU members, other union members, community lead-ers, municipal councillors, MLAs, MPs and the general public.

Liquor PrivatizationWhere you shop does make a difference. That’s the message of the BCGEU “Shop Public!” campaign to support our members who work in B.C.’s public liquor stores and warehouses. The RCC department worked

with the Retail Stores and Warehouse Component to encourage people to patronize public liquor stores for better selection and lower prices – as much as 35 percent less than private stores – while generating revenue for government to fund health, education and other public services, supporting union jobs, and promoting responsible alcohol consumption. A key part of the campaign was paid advertizing during the holiday festive season to remind people that where you shop makes a difference.

We continued to promote the improvement of government liquor stores and oppose the closure of existing stores. In fall 2008, we worked with Component 5 activists to oppose the closure of a store in East Vancouver.

OtherWe supported the efforts of other organizations to fi ght privatization in their communities. In fall 2008, the RCC department assisted with the Oceanside Coalition for Strong Communities conference on anti-privatization.

Public EducationThe RCC department continued its work to promote trades training, apprenticeship and post-secondary education.

We worked as part of the Coalition for Public Education to speak up for our public schools and post-secondary institutions in the lead-up to the 2009 provincial election. In February 2009, the coalition called on the government to adopt a fi ve-point plan for renewed investment in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education, including funding and ex-panding trades programs. We commissioned a public opinion poll that showed an overwhelming 86 percent of British Columbians believe investment in public education should be a key part of any stimulus plan, and organized all-candidates’ debates on public education.


Political ActionThe RCC department continued to develop and imple-ment political action programs to engage our members on issues that affect them personally, their families and communities, and encourage them to participate in the electoral process.

Our members used the opportunity of the 2009 pro-vincial election to get out and talk to other members about their views on their work, their union, and the future of their province. We created a “M2M@home” campaign that trained and worked with BCGEU activ-ists in 10 constituencies. Over 120 members knocked on over 2,100 doors and spoke to over 900 members on their doorsteps in the fi rst two months of 2009.

This direct contact enabled activists to hear about specifi c workplace issues, which were followed-up by local offi cers or staff, as well as other member con-

cerns, including the impact of the economic downturn on their jobs and their families, public sector bar-gaining, privatization of public liquor stores, contracting out of health services, lack of affordable child care, and the fact that government isn’t properly regulating highways maintenance contractors. The union spoke up on those issues during the provincial election campaign.

BCGEU canvassers also recruited new stewards and activists, and updated membership contact lists.

The successful “M2M@home” campaign reinforced that when union members talk to their fellow mem-bers, those conversations have power.

We also engaged activists in political action around the October 2008 federal election and the November 2009 federal by-election in New Westminster-Coquitlam. And we participated in the BC Federation of Labour’s “Count Me In” union member outreach campaigns.

As this report was written, planning is underway to mobilize our members around the looming provincial, federal and municipal elections.

Women’s RightsWomen’s rights are workers’ rights. Our union contin-ues to advance the equality of women at the bargain-

ing table and in our communities. We work to make our union more democratic by strengthening and developing our women leaders. We take time to celebrate the achievement of women in our union and in our communities, and to support them in making our province more equitable for women.

The RCC department organized successful regional women’s conferences for our members in Kelowna (2009), Parksville (2009), Richmond (2010), and Castlegar (2011). These conferences explored the themes of life/work balance, and how to remove barriers to women’s participation in the workplace, in the union, and in society.

We organized International Women’s Day events and other actions for women’s rights and supported orga-nizations like the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre who highlight the struggles of women living in violence and poverty.

We continued to assist the Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers and the West Coast Domestic Workers Association in their struggles to recog-nize the work of their members who provide child care, elder care, and domestic work in B.C. In June 2009, we organized a successful forum attended by more than 100 domestic workers in Vancouver to discuss concerns about reforms for Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program.

Child ProtectionOur members who work in child protection do critical work keeping B.C.’s vulnerable children safe and free from harm – in conditions that have gone from very diffi cult, to worse.

The RCC department worked with Pivot Legal Society to undertake a survey of former child protection social

employees. Living wages are an important part of economic prosperity because they foster a dedicated, skilled and healthy workforce. The living wage is dif-ferent from the minimum wage, which is the legislated minimum set by the provincial government. The living wage calls on employers to meet a higher standard for both their direct staff and major contractors – it re-fl ects what people need to support their families based on the actual costs of living in a specifi c community.

The BCGEU is a part of the advisory committee for the Living Wage Campaign – as the campaign slogan says, “We believe work should lift you out of poverty, not keep you there.”

Poverty Reduction CoalitionThe BCGEU is a member of the BC Poverty Reduction Plan coalition. In 2010, the RCC department worked with municipal councillors in Parksville, Vancouver and Victoria to pass council motions and submit resolutions to the UBCM calling for a provincial poverty reduction plan.

Other Anti-Poverty WorkWe support Canada Without Poverty’s “Dignity for All” campaign: a multi-year, multi-partner, non-partisan campaign calling for federal action to build a poverty-free and more socially secure Canada by 2010.

The RCC department also worked with housing advo-cates around the closure of emergency “HEAT” shelters in City of Vancouver, including one of our certifi cations.

Anti-bullyingSince 2008, the RCC department has worked with Com-ponent 17 to develop and implement an anti-bullying campaign to stop bullying in the workplace and in the community. In 2011, the hugely successful campaign,


workers in the Ministry of Children and Family Devel-opment to understand the issues facing workers. We looked at why workers are leaving the system, and found reasons like excessive caseloads, lack of support, and low morale. President Walker and Pivot represen-tatives released the report of the study, called “Hands Tied” in May 2009.

We continued to support the work of the BC Child and Youth representative, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, to ad-vocate for systemic changes that will improve the lives of B.C’.s children and youth. We organized meetings between the representative and our members to share fi rst-hand experiences of working in child protection.

We worked with Component 6 activists on responses to government initiatives and changes to B.C’.s child protection system, as well as critical incidences.

Open GovernmentA cornerstone of any democracy is freedom of infor-mation and transparency of government. In conjunc-tion with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FOI), the RCC department worked on a range of public interest advocacy issues, including changes to FOI legislation. We also were involved in the coalition campaign and legal challenge to B.C.’s Bill 42, the Election Amendment Act, which placed extreme limits on public interest advertizing and communication from February 2008 until the May 2009 provincial election.

Ending PovertyNo matter what method is used to measure poverty, too many people in our province struggle to make ends meet, and too many children start their lives living in poverty. We all pay for poverty through increased health care costs, higher crime, higher levels of homelessness, and higher demand for community services. The RCC department continued to work in coalition with other organizations to end poverty in B.C. and Canada.

Living Wage CampaignThe Living Wage Campaign was launched by First Call and the CCPA in 2009 to lift working families, children and youth in B.C. out of poverty.

The campaign’s aim is to encourage employers in both the public and private sectors to adopt the living wage as a benchmark for improving the lives of their


“Take a stand-lend a hand-stop bullying now!”, drew the attention of members across the union with its vibrant pink scarves, materi-als and strong messages.

Ministry CommitteesArticle 29 CommitteesThe RCC department provides staff support to the joint ministry/union committees set up under Article 29 of the public service master agreement. Article 29 committees play an important role in problem-solving workplace issues, as well as undertaking critical work-force adjustment for members impacted by downsiz-ing, reorganization, privatization and contracting-out.

Issues the committees have taken on since 2008 included:

• placement of members impacted by the closure of the Coquihalla Toll Plaza;

• employee performance and development plans (EPDPs);

• transfer of staff from the children’s component of Community Living Services to the Ministry for Children and Family Development;

• transfer of Labour Market Development Agree-ment staff from the federal to the provincial government;

• transfer and placement of staff affected by the closure of Riverview Hospital;

• transfer of aquaculture staff in the ministries of Agriculture and Lands, and Environment, to federal jurisdiction;

• workforce adjustment resulting from provincial budget impacts in 2009, particularly in the For-ests, Citizens Services and Energy, Mines and Petroleum ministries.

Government LiaisonThe RCC department monitors government activ-ity including new legislation, cabinet and ministerial changes, Question Period and legislative committees

in order to respond to government initiatives and track issues of concern to our members.

Department staff prepared submissions to the Finance and Government Service Committee, which conducts pre-budget hearings. Staff also reviewed and analyzed budget documents from federal and provincial govern-ments, and prepared submissions on policy reviews.

Lobbyist RegistrationThe RCC department developed an internal process to ensure the BCGEU is compliant with new lobbyist registration requirements.

Occupational Health and SafetyThroughout its history, the BCGEU has worked hard to protect its members from injury, illness and death on the job. Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) is an important issue for the union.

The RCC department continued to coordinate the OH&S work of our union. We ensured the recruitment, training and support for members who take on the important role of health and safety committee mem-bers and worker representatives in BCGEU workplaces around the province.

Since last convention, we undertook a complete review of our training courses and facilitator materials. We de-veloped a health and safety handbook for our represen-tatives on OH&S committees and revamped the website to include more information and forms for our members.

The RCC department coordinated a union-wide OH&S recruitment campaign in fall 2010 to ensure the appointment of BCGEU OH&S committee and worker representatives to three-year terms effective December 1, 2010.

FOR WORKERS

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APRIL 28


We continued to train member facilitators to meet the increasing demand for OH&S courses scheduled throughout the year in all areas. We updated existing courses to ensure they meet the needs of members and their worksites, and developed new courses to address specifi c training needs, including for commu-nity health and community social services workers. Together with the BC Public Service Agency (PSA), in 2009 we developed a one-day training course for accident investigations for members who work in direct government.

In conjunction with our affi liate, the Compensation Employees’ Union, we held two successful two-day OH&S conferences for members in March 2009 and March 2011.

The RCC department also worked with the PSA and the University of British Columbia to develop a prevention of violence (POV) on-line risk assessment tool to effi ciently assess the risk of violence in workplaces in order to implement workplace violence prevention plans.

We continued to work with other members of the labour community to build public support for improved health and safety conditions. This included submis-sions to government and the WCB on proposed regula-tory and policy changes that affect workplace health and safety, including compensation for asbestos expo-sure in the workplace and the designation of resource roads as workplaces.

We participated in the BC Federation of Labour’s lobby to the provincial legislature in spring 2010 which called for a reinstatement of loss of earnings and lifetime pensions for injured workers; the establishment of an asbestos registry for buildings and tumours; and the implementation of all the jury recommendations in the farm workers van accident of 2008.

We received funding for a research project, in partner-ship with UBC and the PSA, to review the impact of training on the effectiveness of joint OH&S commit-tees. This project began in September 2010.

We coordinated our union’s participation in the annual April 28th Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed or injured on the job.

On an ongoing basis, we work with area staff and activists to address emerging issues in the workplace,

including an outbreak of tuberculosis in Port Alberni in 2008.

Equity and Human Rights/Aboriginal LiaisonThe BCGEU is a strong advocate for equity and human rights, both within our union and in society.

In our union, the RCC department continued to support our equity networks to involve members of equity-seeking groups in all aspects of the union. Equity Networks provide outreach, information on union and community events and activities, and current information on developments in human rights and related policies, legislation, duty-to-accommodate and disability, and human rights issues.

As a result of email networking, in-person meetings and other forms of outreach, the Equity Networks increased to over 420 members.

In November 2008, the RCC department organized “TakeItOn!,” a two-day equity conference in Vancou-ver. The conference was dedicated to the memory of Brother Don Philpott, a long-time BCGEU activist and champion of equity rights. Participants heard from inspirational speakers who have taken action on equity issues, and identifi ed ways the union can help over-come barriers to equality.

The RCC department also held a campaigns’ course at the 2010 BCGEU Labour Institute for equity network members and coordinated the election of equity delegates to the 2011 convention.


We produced materials and organized actions to com-memorate national and international days promoting equity and human rights, including Aboriginal Solidar-ity Day, Day Against Homophobia, Pride, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, World AIDS Day, and Asian Heritage Month. We also coordi-nated the union’s participation in annual pride celebra-tions and major cultural events in the Lower Mainland such as Vaisakhi, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

The RCC department continued to work with the Ab-original community to promote understanding of the labour movement and to address common goals.

We worked with other union staff and leadership to support our members in Aboriginal certifi cations. In 2009, we participated in negotiations for a fi rst agree-ment with Nisga’a Child and Family Services, and fa-cilitated cultural understanding in discussions between the union and the Haida Child and Family Services Society, and the Native Education College.

Since 2008, we supported the “Walk4Justice-Highway of Tears,” an annual event to demand justice for murdered and missing Aboriginal women. BCGEU members participated in various stops along the walkers’ journey through B.C., and the dedicated walkers wore bright yellow BCGEU t-shirts with the “Walk4Justice” logo on them.

In September 2010, we assisted with the Lytton First Nation/Bright New Day workshop which promoted cooperative approaches and solutions to build bridges between the people of TlkemchEEn and the broader community.

EducationEducation and training of union mem-bers continued to be a core function of the RCC department.

Since 2008, staff have updated many of the existing courses such as the basic stewards’ and advanced stew-ards’ courses, and developed new training modules, including:

• Speak Up, Speak Out: Communicat-ing Assertively;

• Confl ict Resolution;• Effective Labour Management Com-

mittee Meetings;• Union Observer Training;• Public Speaking;• Oh No! Not Another Meeting;• Stress in the Workplace;• Member Facilitator Training;• Harassment and Bullying: Keeping it out of the

Workplace;• Developing Resolutions to Convention.

Staff also developed courses specifi cally for compo-nents, including leadership, local development, ef-fective communication, lobbying, running effective committee meetings, and social media.

The RCC department trained member co-facilitators in all areas of the province and the union now has 30 members able to deliver courses such as basic stew-ards. These members have further used their facilita-tion skills in other area-training as well as the CLC Winter School, weekend schools and various confer-ences.


Since the last convention, the department held seven sessions of the BCGEU Labour Institute in partnership with Capilano University. Over 200 members partici-pated in these institutes, taking either the academic stream (labour history, social policy and labour eco-nomics) or the campaigns stream. We have held three basic campaigns courses. We also held a campaigns’ course for young workers, equity-seeking members, and for members who had completed the basic cam-paigns’ course.

Staff also coordinated two regional conferences: Region 3 (Kamloops) in 2009 and Region 4 (Prince George) in 2010. Over 80 percent of delegates to the regional conferences were attending a union function for the very fi rst time. The conferences focused on short informative sessions, followed by open discus-sions led by the participants themselves, and featured keynote speakers from across Canada and the U.S.

The BCGEU continued to be involved with the BC Fed-eration of Labour and the CLC in providing courses and instructors to women’s conferences, young worker train-ing events, equity events, and Harrison Winter School. On average, 135 BCGEU members attend the annual CLC Winter School, with BCGEU offering young worker and equity scholarships to ensure broad participation.

CommunicationsThe BCGEU communications program strengthens public support for our union and our members; provides timely information to the members and the media, and supports the union’s organizing, bargaining and campaign goals.

The communications staff develop public relations and advertizing strategies and materials on a wide range of public policy and social justice issues that affect members and their families.

CampaignsOver the past three years, communications offi cers have produced hundreds of alerts, email notices, bulletins and thousands of buttons, stickers, lawn signs and leafl ets in support of the union’s campaigns.

The BCGEU has been featured in opinion editorials in the Vancouver Sun, The Tyee, and other topics ranging from forestry cuts to the attacks on collective bargain-ing rights in Wisconsin.

Communications also secured (free) media coverage on CBC News and Current Affairs, CKNW, CFAX, CHNL, News 1130, The Province and the Times Colonist, to name a few.

The communications department has produced radio, TV and print ads, speak-ers’ notes, information kits, issue sheets, talking points, and billboards.

Additionally, staff have designed promotional materials for the union that includes banners, fl ags, trinkets and picket signs.

The communications department was responsible for designing and implementing the communications components of the following campaigns:

COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES AWARENESS resolutions, member profi les and promotional materials. Commu-nications offi cers also redesigned and administer the joint union website at: www.CommunitySocialServices-Matter.ca.

CLBC CAMPAIGN brought community stakeholders together to combat cuts to group homes by CLBC.

ALL TOGETHER NOW work with the NUPGE to raise awareness of the need for tax fairness in Canada. “Champions for Change” were trained to speak at union and other events. A section of the BCGEU web site was developed to promote the campaign.

ANTI-BULLYING materials were produced for Compo-nent 17’s popular campaign.

www.betterbc.org

April10AA il10Rally at noon

VANCOUVER ARTGALLERY NORTH SIDE


SENIORS – ”Building a Better Future for Seniors’” is the title of the union’s seniors’ campaign, which includes a toolkit for activists to use in raising awareness around seniors’ care issues.

LPN RAID – messaging and materials were produced to help combat the BC Nurses’ Union’s efforts to raid licensed practical nurses across the province.

SHOP PUBLIC liquor store campaign materials and work on price comparisons.

FORESTRY CAMPAIGN held a series of public workshops around the province. Communications staff helped prepare a website, news releases, backgrounders and other materials to support this campaign. Staff also provided media relations.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY CAMPAIGN was developed with print, billboard, radio advertizing, plus promotional materials.

COOL COMMUNITIES materials – BCGEU’s climate change/global warming campaign. This includes in-ternal work at the union to reduce our environmental footprint.

BUILD A BETTER BC – working with the BC Federation of Labour, faith groups, community groups and others to develop alternative social and economic policies.

AIRCARE lobbying and opinion editorials to ensure Aircare extension.

ANNUAL MEMBER-TO-MEMBER (M2M) initiatives, includ-ing talking points, survey sheets, and union promo-tional materials.

Staff also provided communications and campaign assistance to affi liates.

NegotiationsStaff provide communications support to all negotia-tions. Since the last constitutional convention, the majority of BCGEU certifi cations have gone through bargaining, including the public service, community health, facilities, health sciences, post-secondary education, highways bargaining and strikes, child care, casinos and hospitality. As we prepare for the convention, there may be job action in community social services since the talks broke down at the end of March.

Staff were also active assisting bargaining in a large number of stand alone certifi cations, including Lake City Casinos, Land Titles and ProTrans (operator of the Canada Line).

During bargaining and strikes the department prepares news conferences and news releases, webcasts, strike vote materials, bargaining updates (email notices, web postings), ratifi cation vote materials, and provides other support materials like scarves, leafl ets, buttons and radio and newspaper advertizing.

The department handles all the union’s daily media relations activities, news releases, information and in-terview requests, and news conferences on all issues.

Government and ElectionsStaff assisted with communications and message development during the many changes to the public

service, including cuts to staff and the reorganization of ministries, particularly the new Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

News releases and other communications materials were developed for the union to respond to Throne Speeches and budgets.

Communications staff assisted with background information on the 2009 provincial election, outlining a number of issues members could raise with candi-dates. Staff also produced profi les on BCGEU members who were running in the election.

New Component LaunchedCommunications staff assisted with the launch of the new Community Health Services Component 8, producing communications materials and revising the union’s website to refl ect the change.

OutreachStaff organized and attended booths and events at the annual UBCM conventions to inform delegates on issues of concern to our members, and to follow the progress of resolutions we initiated.


Staff did similar work at BC Federation of Labour conventions, including the “Action Table” at the 2010 convention where delegates could use Twitter and other social media tools to deliver messages to government about their concerns.

The 2009 “Member to Member” campaign reached out to members in their homes to listen and talk about the issues that were important to members.

The department assisted with communications materi-als during the raid on licensed practical nurses.

The Communications department provided support to community and coalition partners, including the B.C. Federation of Retired Union Members, Grassroots Women, Council for Senior Citizens Organizations, BC FORUM, First Call Youth and Advocacy Forum, Active Voice Coalition (Prince George), CoDevelopment Canada, Labour Environmental Alliance Society, and United Way.

Staff participate in the BC Federation of Labour’s labour communications and syndicate polling commit-tees, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Canadian Association of Labour Media, the Interna-tional Labour Communications Association, and other organizations.

Staff also developed communications materials for Component 1 on violence against correctional offi cers and the need to expand duties for sheriffs. The union was vocal in pushing the government to consider a new correctional facility in the Okanagan. The govern-ment is now consulting with communities in the area to determine where a jail could be located.

AdvertizingBesides developing advertizing for various campaigns, the department coordinates and designs “goodwill advertizing” that helps develop the BCGEU “brand” throughout the province. The department works with Organizing and the Campaigns department to coordinate ad purchasing and various sponsorships with different organizations. Trinkets, or “swag” is being used by the union and its components. The department has devel-

oped a database of available items and works closely with the Mail Centre to control inventory and provide members and others with what they have requested.

BCGEU DirectThe Communications department works closely with staff at BCGEU Direct to notify members of its operation and to provide timely information on union events and comments so that they can answer any questions. Feed-back from members is key and the two departments have a “fast track” policy in place to make sure that any updates for the website are done quickly.

PollingStaff helped design polls for BCGEU members in a number of components and has participated with the BC Federation of Labour in a joint union poll of union members.

Website and EmailStaff continue to update the website with changes that make it easier to navigate. The site continues to have a high number of visitors. It is common for the site to have more than 21,000 unique visitors a month. The newly-designed site won an international award in the fall of 2008 for general excellence from the Interna-tional Labour Communicator’s Association.

Videos are an increasingly important feature of web-sites and the staff have used this feature on a regular basis, including the 2010 start of “In Conversation,” which features interviews with the president and other guests on timely issues. Thousands of members use the site to check their collective agreement, send in their change of address and to read about the latest activity undertaken by the union. The “Events” section


of the website has been upgraded, allowing for more convenient use.

The “President’s Blog” on the website has provided an opportunity for the president to comment on specifi c items and to hear back from members, whose com-ments are posted.

The union has collected over 27,800 emails from members. The department sends out regular bulletins to selected groups of members as well as the popular weekly e-bulletin that reports on union events in one place, cutting down on unnecessary emails.

Social MediaStaff continue to expand the use of social media, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote the activity of the union. A BCGEU “app” is being developed for smart phones and staff will be reviewing the use of “QR codes” in future promotional material.

The use of social media continues to develop as technology develops. A steadily increasing number of members view the union’s email and website on mobile devices.

Conventions and ConferencesDepartment staff supported the 2008 constitutional convention, helping with setup, displays, printed materials, the convention newsletter, and an interac-tive site that provided information to delegates on the union’s many campaigns.

Staff worked with the union’s committees and components to produce materials and programs for conventions, policy conferences, equity and human rights forums, young worker conferences and regional women’s conferences.

The union was an active participant in the “Jobs, Justice, Climate: Building a Green Economy for B.C.” conference which brought together labour and environmental groups to explore common goals to

solve economic and environmental problems in the province. We produce materials for events such as the Day of Mourning, Pride Day, International Women’s Day, Aboriginal Solidarity Day and Community Social Services Awareness Month.

Staff also assisted at the union’s labour institutes and regional conferences in Kamloops and Prince George.

TrainingStaff also facilitated various workshops on message development and delivery, media training, and public speaking for components within the BCGEU.

Organizing SupportCommunications worked closely with organizers and the organizing communications offi cer on a variety of organizing driven communications materials, including: VanCity, independent health care facilities, Gateway Casino and child care centres.

Publications and MaterialsThe BCGEU communications department is responsible for the production of a number of regular publications including The Provincial, The Steward, the Occupa-tional Health and Safety newsletter, and component newsletters.

The department has also developed e-bulletins for the OH&S committee and the forestry campaign.

AwardsIn the last three years, Communications department work has been recognized with 15 awards from the International Labour Communications’ Association (ILCA), and several more from the Canadian Associa-tion of Labour Media (CALM).

COMPONENT 12

Administrative Services, BCGEU


he Administration department is responsible for providing overall administrative support to the union’s daily operations and ongoing projects.

Areas in the department include information tech-nology services, membership records, buildings and facility management, environment offi cer, conventions, conferences and travel administration, privacy offi cer, mail centre, BCGEU Direct, fi le registry and headquar-ters switchboard.

Over the past three years, the development of technology and how the union processes information has continued to contribute to the growth and work-load in the department. Constant review of internal procedures continues to streamline our systems and reduce the daily operating costs of the union.

Reporting ResponsibilitiesAdministration department staff report to the adminis-tration coordinator, who in turn reports to the director of advocacy, administration and fi nance. The director reports to the president and treasurer.

Information Technology ServicesThe union continues to ensure that computer equip-ment remains current with a technology refresh plan. Computers, notebooks and fi le servers are refreshed approximately every four years. Printers are main-tained through a cost-per-page program.

Information technology staff are presently engagedin the second phase of the UnionWare database imple-mentation. Phase two will incorporate the “Leave of Absence” system into the UnionWare membership sys-tem. UnionWare is a unifi ed database system using the membership database as the core of information struc-ture. All secondary database systems look to the central membership system for membership information, thus reducing the need for duplicate member records.

Video conferencing equipment was deployed to every area offi ce. This was a large project completed last year. Video conferencing will give the area offi ce the ability to conduct face-to-face meetings over the internet, reducing the need for travel. The project has been a great success, with more meetings each month being scheduled via video conference.

Building and Facilities Management Responsibilities of staff in this area include purchasing, inventory control, insurance, security, daily building maintenance, telephone systems, leasehold improve-ments and leasing space in the union-owned facilities in Burnaby, Victoria, Prince George, Langley, Nanaimo and Kamloops, as well as negotiating lease space in other area offi ce locations.

The union headquarters is located in the Norman T. Richards Building (Burnaby). This is the location of the Executive Offi ces and the departments of Administra-tion, Finance, Human Resources, Advocacy, Negotia-tions, and Research, Campaigns and Communications.

• The Lower Mainland area offi ce is located in the Nancy Hamilton Building (Burnaby). Meeting and training rooms are located on the fi rst fl oor along with work space for local offi cers. The BCGEU Direct is located in this building.

• The Victoria area offi ce is located in the John T. Shields building (Victoria).

• The Fraser Valley area offi ce and organizing staff are located in the George Heyman Union Organiz-ing Centre (Langley).

• The Prince George area offi ce is located in the Diane L. Wood Union Centre.

• The Kamloops area offi ce provides workspace for local offi cers, staff and meeting rooms.

• The new North Island area offi ce is located in Nanaimo. The building was completed spring 2011 and provides state-of-the-art workspace and meeting rooms for staff and members in the area.

• Area offi ces that are leased are Fort St. John, Terrace, Kelowna, Castlegar, Cranbrook, and Wil-liams Lake.

Membership RecordsMembership records is responsible for updating member, steward, offi cer and worksite information, and processing strike assistance. The number of new certifi cations requires more manual updating of pay lists, processing of membership applications and production of membership cards.

TADMINISTRATION


Staff continue to work with employers to secure member information electronically. Email addresses continue to be tracked for all members who volunteer them. Email lists for stewards and members by area and component are updated daily.

Conventions, Conferences and Travel AdministrationStaff in this area are responsible for the administration of the union’s triennial constitutional convention, affi liates conventions, conferences and delegations to working sessions/seminars, and general travel administration for the union, including researching unionized hotel facilities. Delegates/members attend-ing functions are able to register online which results in a more effi cient process.

Privacy Offi cerThe privacy offi cer processes requests from members concerning the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The purpose of PIPA is to govern the collec-tion, use and disclosure of personal information by organizations in a manner that recognizes both the right of individuals to protect their personal informa-tion and the need of organizations to collect, use or disclose personal information for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances. The privacy offi cer has processed 124 requests from members since the Act was proclaimed.

The BCGEU is committed to protecting the privacy, confi dentiality, accuracy and security of members’ per-sonal information. Information is used and retained for the purpose of conducting our duties as a trade union.

Mail CentreStaff in this area process and mail numerous work orders for general information including FYIs, The Steward, bargaining bulletins, minutes, meeting no-tices and agreements. They are also responsible for stationery and stock inventory. The mail centre also handles kit preparation and assembly for the various education courses being held throughout the province such as training for stewards, OH&S, local offi cer train-ing, women’s conferences, leadership conferences and bargaining conferences.

In the interest of environmental awareness and the department’s ongoing efforts to reduce the volume of

paper processed, we continue to monitor our distribu-tion procedures and alter these wherever feasible. The use of electronic mail and the iNet continues to reduce paper usage and postage costs.

Environment Offi cerThe mandate of the environment offi cer is to reduce the carbon footprint of the union. The environment offi cer works with staff in all offi ces to reduce, reuse and recycle. By implementing small changes in daily workfl ow, big gains can be achieved. The environment offi cer monitors the carbon footprint of the union, by tracking and analyzing data on an annual basis. The environment offi cer focuses on the six areas used for baseline analysis: energy use, air emissions, water use, solid waste, procurement and sustainable business.

File RegistryThis area’s primary responsibility is to centrally main-tain the union’s fi les and records. The computerized record management system allows for streamlined and effi cient processes to perform fi le maintenance and quickly retrieve information as requested.

File registry staff have the continuing task of purging old fi les and providing more space for active fi les. They also prepare material for archiving and microfi lming. Orientation sessions for this area are periodically given to Provincial Executive members and staff to acquaint them on fi le procedures.

BCGEU DirectThe member’s resource cen-tre is a centralized resource to answer members concerns and to add service to all area offi ces. All area offi ce calls go through the resource centre

to ensure consistent service for all members of the BCGEU.

Staff are trained to handle a wide variety of questions covering all areas of a collective agreement. The calls are tracked to ensure no query goes unanswered. Mem-bers can call to get information, change their address, fi nd out who their steward is, or learn how they can be more involved with their union. The resource centre can also assist activists on the ground with up-to-date information on events and union campaigns.


he Human Resources department is respon-sible for personnel and collective agreement administration for all staff covered by the

CEP 467 and COPE 378 collective agreements, and the full-time offi cers and excluded staff terms and conditions.

The Human Resources department administers and maintains personnel records, negotiates and adminis-ters benefi t plans and collective agreements, recruits support staff and monitors pension enrolment.

The Human Resources department oversees the Employee Wellness plan, the Occupational Health and Safety Program that covers all BCGEU worksites, and staff development.

HUMAN RESOURCES

T

FINANCEhe Finance department of the union maintains the books of account for the General Fund, Defence Fund, Solidarity

Holdings Ltd. and components.

Functions Carried Out• processing of expense claims, strike pay and

related expenses;

• processing direct billings for supplies and services;

• processing of requests for reimbursement of imprest accounts from area offi ces and cross-component committees;

• following up on annual fi nancial reports from locals, components and cross-component committees;

• administering the leave of absence system which facilitates time off for union business;

• preparing staff payroll and related pay period, monthly and annual reports;

• dues and monies owed to the union;

• remitting monthly/quarterly payments to components, labour affi liates and labour councils;

T • preparing and fi ling tax returns and other reports to government agencies;

• preparing a union-wide annual operating budget and budget revisions as required;

• preparing monthly fi nancial statements for the union and components;

• revising and distributing the Financial Manual and the Component and Local Treasurer Manual based on Finance committee and Provincial Executive adopted recommendations;

• monitoring the submission of completed component change of signing offi cer forms with Vancouver City Savings Credit Union;

• providing assistance with the components’ deliv-ery of educational courses for local treasurers;

• administering insurance policies and ensuring coverage;

• preparing for and coordinating year-end union and component audits;

• analyzing the fi nancial implications of proposed activities;

• negotiating banking and fi nancial arrangements;


• monitoring Defence Fund and General Fund investment returns;

• assisting other departments in dealing with fi nancial issues that effect members and/or staff;

• setting up systems to meet the accountability needs of the union as determined by the Provincial Executive;

• chart of accounts and chart of accounts dictionary are revised regularly and distributed.

Monitoring and Internal ControlsIn order to ensure the protection of assets and reliability of accounting and fi nancial reports, a number of control systems are maintained by the Finance department.

Examples:• all claims/requests for payment are checked for

authenticity, accuracy and appropriate authoriza-tion prior to being processed for payment;

• duties are divided amongst staff so no one person is responsible for a transaction from beginning to end;

• monthly budget variance analysis reports are prepared;

• verifi cation procedures are used to determine if leaves of absence are taken or not;

• departmental income and expense statements are distributed monthly to the Administrative commit-tee and to all coordinators for their review and monitoring of expenditures compared to budget;

• strike pay and related expenses are broken out by bargaining unit and reported to the Provincial Executive by the treasurer;

• monthly leave of absence commitment lists are sent to each component chairperson and treasurer for review;

• monthly dues remittance reports are produced for all bargaining units and reviewed by the treasurer;

• all special projects approved by the Provincial Executive are given separate chart of account codes and expenditures are reviewed monthly;

• fi nancial statements for the General Fund, Defence Fund and Solidarity Holdings Ltd. are produced monthly and are reviewed by the

union’s fi nance committee prior to being present-ed to the Provincial Executive.

Reporting ResponsibilitiesThe Finance department staff report to the assistant controller, who reports to the fi nancial controller, who reports to the director of fi nance, who reports to the president and treasurer.

The fi nancial controller is also assistant to the treasurer.

The fi nancial controller acts as secretary to the Finance committee and a trustee for the BCGEU Pension Plan. The assistant controller acts as the assistant secretary to the Finance committee.

Pursuant to the constitution, the union provides grants in aid to our membership for death or loss of home by fi re or fl ood. A list of these grants from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010 is appended.

Signifi cant Changes Giving Rise to Effi ciencies• The Finance department started using new fi nan-

cial software in early June 2008 for headquarters, and effective January 2008 for components. This new software allows for more effi cient tracking of revenues and expenditures.

• The Finance department now pays the majority of headquarters-paid Provincial Executive and staff expense claim reimbursements by electronic funds transfer, rather than by cheque. There are plans to expand this service in 2011 to all members for headquarters-paid expense reimbursements.

• The Finance department plans to provide staff access to biweekly payroll stubs electronically rather than by paper copy.


No. Comp # Amount

1491 4 400 1492 1 200 1493 20 400 1494 3 200 1495 6 400 1496 1 200 1497 4 400 1498 4 400 1499 2 200 1500 12 200 1501 20 400 1502 7 400 1503 20 300 1504 12 250 1505 12 400 1506 2 250 1507 6 750 1508 10 500 1509 6 500 1510 20 625 1511 17 500 1512 3 250 1513 17 500 1514 10 400 1515 12 625 1516 10 500 1517 4 625 1518 20 500 1519 17 500 1520 12 500 1521 12 500 1522 4 250

No. Comp # Amount

1523 4 250 1524 10 625 1525 12 500 1526 20 500 1527 6 375 1528 12 500 1529 17 500 1530 4 750 1531 4 750 1532 2 500 1533 2 250 1534 20 250 1535 1 500 1536 10 625 1537 7 750 1538 17 250 1539 4 750 1540 12 250 1541 3 500 1542 5 375 1543 6 625 1544 20 500 1545 6 500 1546 3 500 1547 3 500 1548 7 250 1549 6 250 1550 1 750 1551 1 250 1552 6 500 1553 4 875 1554 3 500

No. Comp # Amount

1555 7 500 1556 12 250 1557 12 500 1558 4 750 1559 10 250 1560 3 250 1561 20 500 1562 3 625 1563 7 250 1564 12 250 1565 4 250 1566 4 250 1567 12 250 1568 3 500 1569 7 250 1570 12 625 1571 10 625 1572 4 875 1573 12 500 1574 4 375 1575 20 250 1576 6 750 1577 6 250 1578 4 500 1579 6 250 1580 7 375 1581 7 750 1582 12 375 1583 5 500 1584 3 250 1585 1 250 1586 20 500

No. Comp # Amount

1587 3 750 1588 3 750 1589 6 500 1590 3 250 1591 1 250 1592 20 500 1593 4 250 1594 12 500 1595 10 625 1596 7 500 1597 3 250 1598 7 250 1599 12 250 1600 4 500 1601 10 500 1602 3 875 1603 12 625 1604 20 250 1605 10 500 1606 12 750 1607 20 500 1608 4 500 1609 3 250 1610 12 500 1611 4 250 1612 10 750 1613 6 1,250 1614 10 250 1615 8 250 1616 4 750

57,275

Grants in Aid 2011


Temp Rep Staff ListAnne ArmstrongJessica Asch Megan AshburyGilbert Astorga Abudi Awaysheh Jim BaglotAndres BarkerWill BealeShannon BeckettCatherine BellLaurel BischoffCarol BjarnasonJulie BrassingtonWilf BrodrickKeith CameronDebbie CampbellKathryn CampbellAnn ChambersJonathan ChapnickRose CheeSabrina ChenWei ChenGina CherubiniPai-Ping ChewUrsula ClarkPatrick CoghlanMJ ColquhounAlan Compagnon Anita CoteDulce CuencaVicky DaltonAnthony DaviesEmet DavisScott deLongOliver DemuthTria DonaldsonWilliam DowneyStephanie DrakeDiane DroskiCathy DunnCarrol EdwardsCynthia EgliAaron EkmanJenny EwingSarah Fawns

Chris FlatekvalBobbi FlintAnn ForrestColleen ForshawDavid FoxErnie GorrieMelodie GrecoSunshine GudlaugsonMaureen GuenetteBrandee HannahPatricia HarmstonKristina HayesPatrick HayesSam HeppellKim Howse Raj HundalAlex HuttNarvair Jandu Alicia JenksTamara KamachiCharlene KamensekRussell KatzerPeter KerekSheila KerfootChris KinkaidNicolas KirbySelena KongpreechaDaniel KrukHeidi LeFaiveLori LeungHelen LindsayRobert LogueThomas LouKen MacaulayLori MacNairWendy MahAngela MahlmannJason MannRobert MarcouxDarren McLeodChris MikulasikCindy MiraftabEddie MishraEarl MoloneyAmir NazaryMarilyn NelsonHartinder Nijjar

Jan O’BrienLea Oliver-CrossChantel O’NeillYvette OrtizJamie PaigeJames PapadopoulosBrenda PotterCraig ProctorCheryl ProwseMike PrystaeJeremy RadickSamantha RapoportHolly ReidLaura ReinkeKatie RieckenWayne RobertsOliver RohlfsPhillip RoweLinda RowleyCathy RutherfordStephanie RyanBrenda SavoieCarlo SayoMegan ScottSeagris, CathyStephanie SeamanWill ShawKim ShelleyShirley ShiagetzErin SikoraSussanne SkidmoreBrittany SkinnerDoreen SmithKevin StanelandEvan StewartJackie StewartMike SwetlikoffKaren TankardSheila TempleSandy TerleckiDanae TheobaldRichard TonesLisa TrollandHeather TurnerScott Van der reeMike WaldenBrenton Walters

Cameron WardellShannon WatkinsKathy WeaverJacqueline WhiteLynda WillsonThom YachninAnita Zaenker

Temp Support Staff List Kevin BarclayChristopher BellCorinne Bjorge Anna BrooksAmy Campbell (Wang)Nancy CatafordIsaac ChavezJoan ChooBradley ClarkLanna ClementsPatrick CoghlanBarb CousineauMelody CrossGrewa DalwinderKen DarchPenny DerAman DhaliwalDarleen DohertyDavy DosanjhSurena DosanjhDeidre DrobotBrandy DudasCarrol EdwardsLora EkkelDonna EldredDevray EvansMeghan Ford Pat Frederiksen Stacey FunkSarah GeorgettiLaura GibbonsNatalie GidoraCaitlin GilroyDal GrewalGwen GroeningKerry HackwellJeff Hook

Sue HoweCheryl HunterPauline JacksonAlison JayRuby JohnsonKelsey KainerKristina KavanaghJanet KnightShirley LewisChristina LiberaAnn LuSandy LyonsChyme MacGregorAiko MaekuboKathy MartynHaley MathisenMarie MayerCarmen McChesneyAudrey McDowellLori McKellarBrenda McQuayMichelle MedeirosTeresa MedeirosDawn MonsenShirley MooyAngela MunroSherry MurdochSharlet NoronhaLinsea O’SheaCindy PaivaNicole PalloneJeannie PasteuningKathy PlantKristy PlanteAnnette PlatanaElizabeth PontoInder PowarHeather PrinceZelda ProkoshJeremy RadickDonna RatcliffeLaura ReinkeTanis RidoutLinda RivardPaul RoopraSusan SandersonMary Jean Schmunk

Joan SchochenmaierJo-Anne ShieldsJay SkazlicDoreen Smith Jennifer SmithDoris StoweZahra TashkiniDanae TheobaldShawna TolhurstChristopher TorokJonathan TorokTricia TringhamChristine UngerMerna WatkinsDonna WeissGail WhiteTanya Wood

Servicing Staff Retirees Poul BechDebbie Boles Sharon Bronson Colleen FitzpatrickJeff FoxJim FrenchPaul JohnstonRoz KennedyWes LawBetty LiddleLinda LyttlePaul MartinDebby OffermannLynda ReidCliff StainsbyMona SykesLorna Waghorn-KiddJoe Whitman

Support Staff RetireesDonna BakerJudy BradleyAnita MiottoMarj OwenLouise ParentJackie Stewart

TEMPORARY STAFF AND RETIREES from May 2008 to April 2011


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PAGE 78

unions

matter

BCGEU 2011 CONVENTION – AFFILIATES’ REPORTS

Affiliates’ Reports

ver the past three years the dominant issue for our union is the negative fallout from the Ready Award and the changes that have been forced onto our membership

from Vince Ready.

Our union elected a new Provincial Executive and Ships’ Offi cers’ Component (SOC) Executive, respectively, in the spring of 2009.

The membership elected Brother Richard Goode to lead them through what promised to be a very diffi cult time. The union is still dealing with the rami-fi cations of the Ready Award and have begun to fi ght the company’s request for exclusions which would see the potential loss of up to 600 positions from the Bargaining Unit and a loss of membership.

Brother Brett Joyce was elected by the Ships’ Offi cers to lead the SOC as part of the new Executive. The main focus of his term has been exclusions. Brother Joyce has provided a report on behalf of the SOC.

Along with Brothers Goode and Joyce, the rank and fi le membership elected Brother Robert Downey, 1st vice-president, Provincial Executive, and Brother John Macdonald, 2nd vice-president, Provincial Executive. Sister Kelly Carson took over the post of secretary-treasurer, Provincial Executive. Brother Nelson Vega, Deas Dock Component president sits as a provincial offi cer. Brother Vega has provided a report on behalf of the Deas Dock Component.

BCFMWU has spent time, money and human resources fi ghting the exclusions awarded to the employer by Vince Ready. When faced with such a challenge to the foundations of our rights as a labour organization, we have to make sure we set a course for strength and leadership for the future of our union.

BC FERRY AND MARINE WORKERS’ UNION

Young Workers’ CommitteeWe are proud to report that our Young Workers’ com-mittee has been revitalized. The committee chair, Broth-er Jeremy Bryant along with Sisters Lukowska, Lajoie and Brothers Maynard, Newman and Gano are working very hard to encourage young workers to participate in BCFMWU and the labour movement as a whole.

Members have participated in the BC Federation of Labour Young Workers’ conference, CLC Harrison Winter School, CLC weekend workshops, and were delegates to the BC Federation of Labour Convention. Brother Bryant represents BCFMWU on the BC Federa-tion of Labour Young Workers’ committee and Brother Gano is a delegate for BCFMWU at the Nanaimo and Duncan District Labour Council.

Our Young Workers’ committee members are enthusi-astic, creative and strong unionists. We know our future is in good hands and we will continue to support and mentor our young members.

O


Human Rights CommitteeBCFMWU established a Human Rights committee. It is their mission to uphold the principle that:

All Human Rights Legislation in Canada establishes the right of every Canadian to equality of opportunity in employment and the right to be free of discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Sister Trippell, chair of the committee, along with Sister Albert and Brothers Wulff and Schulze are passionate about the committee and plan to bring awareness to issues faced by minorities and other groups within the union and society at large. Through education of the members and working with the employer, they hope to create a more positive working environment and a deeper understanding and celebra-tion of our differences and commonalities.

Stress is a major factor in many of our workplaces. How our members interact with each other, their supervisors and the travelling public plays an impor-tant role in reducing and/or dealing with stress. With the efforts of the Human Rights committee, our members should have better tools to deal with the diffi cult situations they may face. The safety of our members is our fi rst concern.

Education CommitteeSister Lynn Morin-Lust stepped down from the committee after many years of service to our union. We are grateful for the time and expertise she gave to educating our members.

We are fortunate to have a new chair, Brother Stuart Pelly, and Sister Robinson, as new additions to the committee joining Sisters Davis, and Keller. Our union, like many others, understands the importance of an educated rank and fi le. With today’s challenges we have to look at a broad range of education options, not only as representatives for our members in the workplace, but as activists and future leaders.

BCFMWU Convention 2012Plans have begun for our bargaining and constitutional convention set for April 2012. There is a tremendous amount of planning and preparation prior to the event and we have no doubt that our planning committee along with our offi ce staff will do a great job.

SOC Report – Brother Brett JoyceAt the end of a long non-prosperous set of negotia-tions we were legislated back to work and required to accept the services of a mediator, Vince Ready, who took several years to provide an Award. Part of that Award was giving himself the opportunity to hear and make decisions on the make-up of our bargaining unit. It seemed fairly straight forward in the Award that he would be following the Traditional Management Responsibilities Test or the contemporary test of “Management Team”. In 2008 BC Ferry Services contacted the union for permission to turn over 600 bargaining unit positions into excluded positions. We turned them down.

They took their request to Vince Ready who began a process starting with written submissions called a “Will Say” followed by hearings and ending with fi nal arguments. His fi nal Award allowed the employer to exclude fi ve categories that equaled just over 150 people.

The union, of course, has challenged his decision as we see that his Award did not follow the process he defi ned in his C/A Award. His decision to exclude does not seem to be based on the previously mentioned criteria but, as we see, a predetermined decision to give the company something.

The union has fi led a section 99 with the Labour Relations Board as well as a Stay of Execution supporting irreparable harm if it needs to be over-turned. The vice-chair was not convinced of our reasons and ruled against the Stay. We have also fi led with the BC Court of Appeal regarding a possible Charter of Rights challenge.

We have also requested that the BC Federation of Labour seek intervenor status on behalf of labour as this decision goes far beyond BC Ferries and the BCFMWU. As of the writing of this report no response has been received on the intervenor status or our section 99 appeal.

We have been required to work with the employer in implementing these exclusions to mitigate the nega-tive impact on our members. Our C/A was woefully inadequate to answer the situations that this award presented to us. Our membership is actively working to ensure that we continue to advance their needs while continuing to support a broader union agenda.


Deas Dock Component Report:Brother Nelson VegaThe following items of concern relate not only to our members at Deas Dock, but to workers throughout our province.

APPRENTICESHIPS – Our workforce is getting older and many are ready to retire, we will fi nd ourselves with a shortage of skilled trades people. We need to fund our apprentice programs, increase availability and access to trade training; we need to train our young workers.

HEALTHY WORKPLACE – We live in the 21st century and we have achieved many great things. Medical advances, space exploration, just to name a couple of topics, but it seems that society has forgotten about the safety of the worker.

We are still dealing with asbestos, lead and the use of epoxy paints that contain carcinogens, known cancer causing agents; maybe we should have a look at what is going on in California where the epoxy paint was

banned, and fi nd a substitute paint product that does not contain carcinogenic agents. We should launch a campaign ban, from the province, on any product that contains carcinogenic agents, or at least to agree to minimum usage levels that will allow workers to enjoy retirement and save lives.

CONTRACTING OUT – This is one of the biggest issues facing organized labour today, companies are contract-ing out more and more work. This is a problem at Deas Dock and perhaps BCGEU and its affi liates should look at forming a committee to look at ways to fi ght this.

In ClosingCongratulations to BCGEU executive, members, and staff for organizing this convention. BCFMWU is a proud affi liate and we are committed to working together on common concerns and issues, to put our members fi rst and promote labour’s concerns locally, provincially, nationally and globally.

The Aftermath of the Big Bangn May 11, 2009 the WCB cut the ribbon on its new, web-based Claims Management System for processing all injured work-ers’ claims and related payments. The new

multi-million dollar program had been promoted as a more secure system that would clear claims faster, track costs better and give stakeholders more accurate information on claims status.

But within days of the launch, it was clear that something was seriously wrong. Computer crashes, errors, and missed payments for workers and service providers brought the system to a virtual halt. The sheer magnitude of the change-of-work processes proved overwhelming for many CEU members. They became unable to provide the degree of service they wanted to, and many hours of overtime and distressing workdays took its toll on members’ health.

Amidst evidence of signifi cant payment errors, the CEU called for an independent audit by the provincial Auditor General. We also met with the Labour Critic to express our concerns with the lack of actions by board management to address the service failure for stake-holders and the impact on employees.

COMPENSATION EMPLOYEES’ UNION

O


Now, nearly two years later, the system is still far from perfect. Members continue to have challenges with the slower work processes; they spend time “feeding the machine” rather than meeting with injured workers. The refrain from the staff is that quality and customer service are suffering.

Early Bargaining to Achieve GainsIn December of 2008, the CEU went to the table early to secure another three years of employment security. We received modest wage increases for the 2008 and 2009 years, wage reopeners in 2010 and 2011, and some signifi cant gains in benefi t coverage.

The CEU has completed bargaining early the last couple of rounds and has no plans to undergo this type of bargaining next round. While there may be a place for early bargaining in some climates, it does cause a degree of disengagement from the member-ship and PSEC guidelines make it very diffi cult to achieve meaningful gains without a strike mandate.

Working With Our Friends and AlliesThe CEU co-hosted a second joint health & safety seminar with the BCGEU. Events of this nature enrich the relationship between the two unions, and we hope to continue this collaborative work.

We have also had three young workers selected to act as facilitators for the BC Federation of Labour Health and Safety. This opportunity has spiked an interest in the union with young members, and one of these facilitators has already stepped forward to become a shop steward!

Looking ForwardThe Public Compensation Coalition (PCC) was a mecha-nism for the CEU to work with allies outside the WCB to protect the public workers’ compensation system. While not perfect, we believe that this type of system, when fairly balanced, protects injured workers’ rights more equitably than the private insurance or legal system. We have set the PCC on stand-by for now, but would like to thank all the affi liates and the BCGEU for the support of this coalition in its fi ght to restore adequate pensions to injured workers. It is clear that without a change in government, there will be no appetite in Victoria to address the negative impact of the 2002 legislative changes to the Workers Compensation Act.

And, in the meantime, the CEU is watching with unease the predicted impact the new CMS is having on worker’s entitlements as discretion is slowly narrowed or elimi-nated to fi t the parameters of a computer program. We may need to reactivate the coalition, to take on new challenges on behalf of all injured workers in the province.

Other affi liates include the Brewery, Winery & Distillery Workers’ Union, the Interior Brewery Workers’ Union and the Grain Workers’ Union, Local 333

This report is 100% post-consumer waste printed on process chlorine free, neutral pH/acid-free paper and is made with

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