B.C. highways workers ready for new round of bargaining

Leaders united on strategy to achieve fair contract settlements

Vancouver (25 Oct. 2006) - The British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has set the stage for the next round of bargaining by highway workers across the province with a successful conference to prepare for negotiations.

The union says negotiators for highway workers held two productive days of talks. They agreed on general bargaining goals, adopted an overall negotiating strategy and emerged "unified and committed to achieving fair contract settlements."

Gary Bennett, the bargaining coordinator, says several priorities were identified.

“These include a fair wage increase, enhanced protections for bargaining unit members, and measures to make up for lost ground. Based on the conference and outreach to rank and file highways workers, my sense is that members want to send a clear message that they are prepared to do what it takes to achieve a fair settlement."

BCGEU has 26 different contracts with highways maintenance employers. The first expired in September and the rest will end by early 2007. By November, the union expects bargaining for new contracts to be under way. A communications plan has been adoped to keep members up to date as negotiations proceed. NUPGE