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Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2018
BCGEU
employees
ratify
agreement
VANCOUVER — The BC
Government and Service Em-
ployees' Union (BCGEU) said
that workers in the Community
Social Services (CSS) sector
voted by 85.7 per cent in favour
to ratify a new collective agree-
ment on Aug. 26.
"After 16 years of cuts and
wage restraint leading the sector
into crisis, this agreement with
a government that wants to put
people first provides a founda-
tion to build on," said Stephanie
Smith, BCGEU president.
"We are pleased to see sub-
stantial gains to support the vi-
tal work CSS workers do. How-
ever, the low support among the
membership for the Indigenous
services' contract demonstrates
how much more needs to be
done," said Smith
The three-year contract pro-
vides significant compensation
increases for workers, said the
union.
CSS consists of three collec-
tive agreements: community liv-
ing workers ratified their agree-
ment by 82.3 per cent; general
services ratified by 95.8 per cent;
and Indigenous services ratified
by 50.9 per cent, according to
BCGEU.
The ratified agreement is
the result of negotiations be-
tween the 10-union Commu-
nity Social Services Bargaining
Association (CSSBA) and the
Community Social Services
Employers' Association (CS-
SEA), said the union.
The new collective agreement
will be in effect from April 1,
2019, until March 31, 2022.
The BCGEU represents about
two-thirds of the unionized
community social service work-
ers in British Columbia.
Workers at
Rocky Ridge
in Calgary
join AUPE
CALGARY — The Alberta
Union of Provincial Employ-
ees (AUPE) welcomed about
100 new members at Calgary's
Rocky Ridge Retirement Com-
munity.
After many ongoing issues at
the worksite, workers voted in
favour of the union at a vote on
Aug. 22, according to AUPE.
"We are excited for these nurs-
ing care and general support ser-
vices workers to join our union,"
said Bonnie Gostola, AUPE vice-
president.
"Together, as members of a
union, these workers can de-
mand improved working condi-
tions and accountability."
Placentia, N.L.,
applies for
conciliation
PLACENTIA, N.L. — Rep-
resentatives for the Canadian
Union of Public Employees
(CUPE), Local 1761 remain
hopeful that a negotiated collec-
tive agreement can be reached
with the Town of Placentia, N.L.,
despite receiving notice on Aug.
26 that the employer has applied
for conciliation.
"We're disappointed that
the town has taken this step,
which we feel is premature at
this time," said Derrick Barrett,
CUPE national representative.
"Progress has been made and
issues have been resolved
through the regular collective
bargaining process."
Six exchanges have taken
place since bargaining began
in May 2018, according to the
union.
CUPE 1761 represents 15 em-
ployees who are inside and out-
side municipal workers with the
Town of Placentia.
A seaman holds a rope next to a moored passenger ferry during a second consecutive 24-hour strike of
Greece's seamen's federation PNO against austerity policies affecting their sector, at the port of Piraeus,
Greece, on Sept. 4. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
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