The British Columbia Government and Service Employees` Union (BCGEU) is a union representing over 80,000 workers in British Columbia. These workers include those in the public service, community social services, and direct government services.
One of the main responsibilities of the BCGEU is to negotiate collective agreements on behalf of its members. A collective agreement is a contract between an employer and a union that outlines the terms and conditions of employment for the workers represented by the union. The collective agreement covers a variety of issues, including wages, benefits, hours of work, and workplace rights and responsibilities.
The most recent BCGEU Public Service Collective Agreement was negotiated in 2019. This agreement covers over 26,000 workers in the BC Public Service and is in effect until March 31, 2022.
Some of the highlights of this agreement include:
1. Wage increases: Workers covered by this agreement will receive a wage increase of 2% in each year of the agreement.
2. Joint job evaluation: The union and the employer will establish a joint job evaluation process to ensure that jobs are classified and compensated fairly.
3. Paid leave for domestic violence and sexual assault: Workers will be entitled to up to 104 hours of paid leave if they or their children experience domestic violence or sexual assault.
4. Improved parental leave: The parental leave benefit will increase from 37 weeks to 41 weeks.
5. Health and safety improvements: The employer will implement new measures to address workplace violence and harassment, including the creation of a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
Overall, this agreement provides important improvements for workers in the BC Public Service. The BCGEU will continue to negotiate on behalf of its members to ensure that they are treated fairly and have safe and healthy workplaces.